Kelly Arispe recently presented a paper with co-author Jack Burston of Cyprus University of Technology at the 34th annual Convention for Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The presentation, “Bridging the Gap from Intermediate to Advanced Level Foreign Language Competency in American Colleges and Universities: The Contribution of CALL,” stems from their meta-analysis of studies in computer assisted language learning and exposes the fact that almost all of the research has been geared towards beginner learners.
Their presentation focused on the scarce 17 studies that did include intermediate learners and found that most fell short because of oversights stemming from foreign language pedagogy. As a result, they suggested a pedagogical framework that integrates proficiency-based assessments, learner autonomy and instructional technology to appropriately scaffold intermediate learners towards improved linguistic competence. Specifically, Arispe reported on the results from the 241 oral proficiency interviews that have been conducted in the Spanish program over the last four years as compelling evidence that language learners at the 300-level are in dire need of augmented opportunities for language practice outside of the classroom.
Instructional technology, if implemented appropriately, is one way to leverage augmented language practice.