Abstract

The current study examines the implementation of one computer-assisted language learning program (CALL) called Technology Assisted Language Learning (TALL) in a pilot language curriculum at the LDS Missionary Training Center. Because CALL implementation is determined in large part by how successfully users are able to use the computer program to learn language, a primary purpose of this study was to investigate which implementation issues affected the language learning success of the missionaries that used TALL in the pilot curriculum. A survey was, therefore, designed and administered to 86 missionaries from French, Spanish, German, and Mandarin language areas in order to determine which CALL user characteristics were predictive of TALL user success. Through a regression analysis , this study found that the most highly predictive factors on TALL user success were (a) a high indication of pro-activity on the part of the learners in figuring out how to use TALL to their advantage, (b) a high indication of goal-orientation in approaching TALL use with a specific purpose in mind, and (c) a high indication of interaction with the TALL program through frequent use of the electronic glossary feature, the "listen to your voice" feature, and the strategy of repeating out loud the words and phrases encountered while working on TALL. The missionary survey was also analyzed descriptively, and results from this analysis revealed that missionaries in the pilot curriculum felt that more training on how to use TALL effectively would have helped them to be more successful. Focus groups with the missionaries were also conducted in order to better understand their experiences with the TALL program. The analysis of these focus groups revealed that although many missionaries reported liking TALL, there were many who did not sufficiently understand how to successfully use it within the pilot curriculum; a lack of training seemed to be a big contributor to this lack of user success. Additionally, focus groups found that missionaries believed the TALL listening activities to be the most helpful TALL activities. A teacher survey was also designed and administered to the 19 teachers who taught missionaries in the pilot curriculum. Results of the teacher survey revealed a desire for more formal training on how to train missionaries to use the TALL program effectively. In conclusion and based on evidence in the literature and from this study, suggestions are provided for more effective teacher and learner training on TALL.

Degree

MA

College and Department

Humanities; Center for Language Studies

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2011-08-05

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd4719

Keywords

computer-assisted language learning (CALL), implementation, evaluation, language curriculum, Missionary Training Center (MTC)

Language

English

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