A balancing act: how can intelligent computer-generated feedback be provided in learner-to-learner interactions?

Markus Dickinson, Soojeong Eom, Yunkyoung Kang, Chong Min Lee, and Rebecca Sachs

Computer Assisted Language Learning

Task-based synchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC) may represent an optimal psycholinguistic environment for form-meaning connections, but learners do not receive feedback from a trusted authority. Intelligent computer-assisted language learning (ICALL) provides feedback, but the encouragement of communicative interaction remains largely unexplored. To combine the benefits of ICALL and CMC, we are designing a parser-based system that provides feedback on particle usage for first-year L2 Korean learners while they chat in CMC. Both to facilitate the use of a new orthography by beginning learners and to make processing feasible for the ICALL system, we guide the content of the activity by using picture-based information-gap tasks and a game record, and we control the range of allowable learner input by using a word bank. These constraints enable the system to address L2 errors in meaningful, goal-driven interactions.

Electronically available file formats:

Note: The electronic version of the publication linked on this page is the last version I had the copyright for. Where a publisher copyedited and/or typeset the papers, the electronic copies linked here are NOT identical to the officially published version, which should be used for any quotes, references to page numbers, etc.

Bibtex entry: 

@Article{dickinson:ea:08,
  author =  {Markus Dickinson and Soojeong Eom and Yunkyoung Kang and 
             Chong Min Lee and Rebecca Sachs},
  title =   {A balancing act: how can intelligent computer-generated 
             feedback be provided in learner-to-learner interactions?},
  journal = {Computer Assisted Language Learning},
  year =    {2008},
  volume =  {21},
  number =  {4},
  pages =   {369--382},
  month =   {October},
  note =    {\url{http://jones.ling.indiana.edu/~mdickinson/papers/dickinson-ea-call08.html}}
}