The use of corpora in Computer-Assisted Language Learning

Our Russian partner has suggested that we share this article with the community. Abacus products are created using concordancer tools and based on the pedagogical principles of corpus linguistics, that is "we present language based on frequency of use in specific language contexts". We look forward to your comments.

The aim of this module is to introduce the student to corpus linguistics. Corpora are often used by linguists as the raw material from which language description may be fashioned - the role is no less relevant for CALL package designers. Corpora can provide the basis of accurate, empirically justified, linguistic observations on which to base CALL materials. Additionally, the corpora themselves, typically via concordancing, may become the raw material of CALL based teaching itself. A knowledge of the corpus method to CALL package designers is increasingly indispensable.


For the full article, visit http://www.ict4lt.org/en/en_mod3-4.htm


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EXPOLINGUA Berlin 2005 / EXPOLINGUA Praha 2005

We often receive information about international events that we would like to share with you.

Please find below information about EXPOLINGUA Praha 2005 and EXPOLINGUA Berlin 2005, International Fairs for Languages, Education, and Cultures. We would like to remind you that in order to benefit from our 5% early-bird discount we have to receive your application by May, 1. If you book both events before that date you will profit from a 5% discount for Berlin and a 10 % discount for Praha.

Do not miss the opportunity to present your products and services to your target group and to meet potential customers at the 15th EXPOLINGUA Praha (November, 11 - 12) and at the 18th EXPOLINGUA Berlin (November, 18 - 20)!

Please have a look at our actual brochures and application forms:
- Brochure EXPOLINGUA Berlin 2005
- Application form EXPOLINGUA Berlin 2005
- Brochure EXPOLINGUA Praha 2005
- Application form EXPOLINGUA Praha 2005

For further information regarding stand sizes and costs please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to assist you at every step of your planning and participation.

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Silke Lieber (EXPOLINGUA Berlin) & Cornelia Horn (EXPOLINGUA Praha)
ICWE GmbH
Leibnizstrasse 32
10625 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 327 61 40
Fax: +49 (0)30 324 98 33
Email: international@expolingua.com
www.icwe.net
www.expolingua.com

Abacus Web Newsmaster

Educational Blogging

EDUCAUSE Review, vol. 39, no. 5 (September/October 2004): 14–26.

Educational Blogging by Stephen Downes

Stephen Downes (http://www.downes.ca) is a Senior Researcher with the E-Learning Research Group, National Research Council Canada, Moncton, New Brunswick.

The phenomenon known as blogging, or weblogging, is sweeping the Internet. A February 2004 report published by the Pew Internet & American Life Project noted that at least 3 million Americans have created blogs, with similar numbers being seen worldwide.5 And schools have not been immune from this trend. While nobody can say for sure just how many students are blogging, inside the classroom or out, it seems clear that their numbers are equally impressive.

And the number of educational bloggers is growing daily. The Educational Bloggers Network, sponsored by the Bay Area Writing Project and Weblogger.com, is a community of some 120 teachers and educators involved in blogging. The following announcement on the site, by San Diego State University’s Bernie Dodge, is typical: “It’s that time of semester again. Tonight I introduced blogging to my class of pre-service English and foreign language teachers.” The result: twenty-eight new student blogs.7 This same pattern is being repeated in schools and universities across the United States and around the world.


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EDUCAUSE and EDUCAUSE Review are registered trademarks. Copyright © 2005 by EDUCAUSE. Materials may be photocopied for noncommercial use without written permission provided appropriate credit is given to both EDUCAUSE Review and the author(s). Permission to republish must be sought in writing (contact editor@educause.edu). Statements of fact or opinion are made on the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the EDUCAUSE Board of Directors, staff, or members. For more information about copyright, see www.educause.edu/copyright.

FLEXIBLE ONE TO ONE TEACHING

THE CENTRAL LONDON ELT LIBRARY invites you to a talk by NORMAN RENSHAW on FLEXIBLE ONE TO ONE TEACHING


This presentation is designed to suggest a strategy for running a successful 1:1 course. It offers an approach to 1:1 which has relevance to teaching in a non-classroom environment, particular emphasis on Home Tuition, covering ideas for course planning that deliver student centred courses and discuss a range of techniques which are fluency based, encourage variety, incorporate the hosting element and help alleviate intensity.


Wednesday 18th May 2005
7.00 - 8.30pm

Wine and refreshments served from 6.30 – 7.00pm

Norman Renshaw is Managing Director of InTuition Languages set up in 1990 to become the first British Council Accredited Home Tuition company. Specialising only in one to one they have become a centre of excellence in this particular field running over 800 one to one courses each year. They have developed a distance training programme aimed at freelance teachers.


Entrance fee: £4.00. Places must be reserved by phoning
020 7833 2773

or e-mailing eltlibrary@stgiles.co.uk

The Central London ELT Library, 154 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 5AX


If you have any comments do not hesitate to contact us. You can send us an e-mail to info@abacus-communications.com

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