Thursday, June 22
5:30 PM-6:30 PM
EDT
Edison D

Online Hypertext Translation Is Not Always Desirable: An Example for Lower Level EFL Students

Poster/Demo ID: 50683
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    John Maune
    Hokusei Gakuen University

Abstract: Filling out school application forms is a time-consuming mundane task that first-year Japanese EFL students wishing to study abroad must do. Online forms with helpful hypertext translations in Japanese streamlined the process saving valuable class time for the mainly lower-intermediate English level students. Thus, switching to online forms seemed an obvious improvement. However, after only two semesters the easy online interface was dropped to return to paper-based applications. Based on observations and semi-structured interviews, it appeared that simply filling out applications in English promoted teamwork and increased social bonds, and was a task that increased student's confidence in the target language (usually four or more students attend the same study-abroad school). What was a task to be completed as quickly as possible unexpectedly became a useful lesson that was fine tuned over subsequent years.

Presider: Joyce Johnston, George Mason University

Topic

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