Creating a Virtual Language Center on TANET

Abstract

Foreign language educators around the world are paying more and more attention to the power of computer networking in language education. In this paper, the design and the contents of a virtual multimedia language center at National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) are introduced and its possible contributions to foreign language learning are also discussed. The NTOU virtual language center can deliver online language courses that include digital audio and digital video. It can also provide interactive language exercises, diagnostic tests, and language reference database (i.e., online bilingual and collocation dictionaries). Moreover, opportunities for teacher-student and peer interaction (via asynchronous online discussion forum and synchronous chatting) are also available in this learning environment. These learning resources and tools should be able to significantly enhance the quality of foreign language education.