"Chinese Signs Explorer" CD, The Design and Development of a Chinese Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Program

• Main Authors: Aviya Feldman, 費愛薇
• Other Authors: C.C. Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2000
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/99904490549855069242

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 華語文教學研究所 === 88 === Can Chinese public signs be used as instructional materials? How can a large variety of authentic Chinese public signs be compiled as interactive and fascinating instructional materials? Multimedia offers some effective solutions for self-instruction or for language teachers who aim at making their classes rich in content using authentic materials. Certain applications can promote communicative competence, offer a balance of guided learning and free navigation and provides corrective feedback. This work focuses on the design and development of a computer assisted language learning (CALL) program “Chinese Signs Explorer”. The instructional CD is based on the communicative language teaching (CLT) approach and uses multimedia human computer interaction (HCI) to introduce Chinese L2 learners with a large variety of public signs in China and Taiwan and to assist students to fully function in a Chinese speaking environment. The program presents students with a comprehensive, easy to use database of over 470 Chinese public signs divided to 25 subject-oriented units. Each unit introduces users with a selection of visual authentic materials, English translation, Pinyin romanization, audio files for correct pronunciation, grammatical and cultural glosses, practice and testing. Chinese and English overall search application, help and user-friendly navigation are available throughout the program. For a better adjustment to students needs and in order to enhance the learning process, the program presents all learning materials (including the practice and testing sections) in both simplified and traditional Chinese forms which can be displayed at any given time. In addition, the program offers learning management applications such as a study record save and load functions for efficient learning. It is believed that “Chinese Signs Explorer” program can serve both as instructional material and a reference database, it can assist Chinese L2 learners to better understand Chinese public signs as well as identify the nature of new signs (such as prohibition, caution, direction etc.). Thus, “Chinese Signs Explorer” may not only teach L2 learners Chinese through signs, it may also ease their adjustment and to a Chinese speaking environment both in Taiwan and China.