Language, Culture, and Information Technology

Preface

Language, Culture, and Information Technology offers invaluable insights on cross-cultural communication, computer technology in language teaching, and second language acquisition in Asia. Although each work is unique, the roles of cultural values and English learning in EFL contexts are woven throughout this collection.

Established by Professor Michiko Nakano of Waseda University in 1999, the Cross-Cultural Distance Learning(CCDL) Program Provides themed-based distance learning courses with an attempt to promote the understanding of different cultures and the acquisition of global literacy. In 2004, Professor David Wibel pioneered Tamkang University’s undertaking of its first CCDL course. Since then, Tamkang University has worked closely with Waseda University in collaborative joint cyber seminars to encourage a new mode of cross-cultural communication which breaks geographical boundaries and extends cultural exchange using English as a medium of communication. Over the years, many instructors have contributed to this program, namely, Darrel Doty, Carrie Chang, Kevin Lewis, and others. Currently, Alex, Tu, Yi-Ti Lin, Jui-min Tsai, and Iain Brown are in charge of the CCDL courses at Tamkang University, and the collaboration with Michiko Nakano, Yusuke Kondo, Sayako Maswana, and Kazuharu Owada has made this program beneficial to students at Tamkang University. The tie has strengthened over the years and now Tamkang University offers four CCDL classes with Waseda University. In 2014, we will enhance the collaboration and instead of cyber seminars between two universities, a multinational collaboration will take place among Tamkan University, Weseda University, Korea University, and Yonsei University.

Section I focuses on CCDL Programs with related research investigating the impacts of CCDL on language learning and cultural development. In this section, Michiko Nakano’s paper, “Networked English Language Education,” focuses its attention on the cyber interactions between Tamkang University and Waseda University since 2004. Her work not only outlines, but also evaluates the DCC (Digital Campus Consortium) initiatives for the development of CCDL programs to be conducted. In their collaborative essay entitled “ Promoting Networking among Asian Students in the ELF Context：A Questionnaire Survey of Japanese University Students in the Cross-Cultural Distance Learning Program,” Kazuharu Owada, Satoshi Yoshida, and Michiko Nakano highlight the importance of English as a lingua franca in the Asian context and how CCDL programs facilitate cultural awareness and develop global literacy. Yi-Ti Lin looks at the impacts of cross-cultural communication on the cultural orientations of Taiwanese university students in terms of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, while Iain Brown’s paper examines and reflects on personal teaching experiences of CCDL programs.

Section II touches on the use of information technology in general for cross-cultural communication and language learning, Jui-min Tsai’s study of non-English major freshman students suggests that a task-based approach will increase students’ confidence with the use of English-learning websites. In writing of Tamkang’s cooperation with international schools, Yi-Ju Ada Chen’s research demonstrates that online learning and related technology are equally important in modern second language education as theories of language learning. In addition, Yusuke Kodo and Yutaka Ishii’s paper traces the development of an automated scoring system for second language speech, one that is valid, reliable, and comparable to ratings given by evaluators.

Section III includes two studies on writing and reading in second language acquisition. Carrie Chang’s research is concerned with the ways in which productive peer comments can be derived, especially when both writers and reviewers participate in such a mutually beneficial activity. As for Jia-ling Charlene Yau, her study concludes the both vocabulary knowledge and metacognitive knowledge are indispensable in building up students’ reading comprehension.

Taken together, this collection of works adds much to the library of language instructors, course designers, and learning institutions is Asia. We are proud to make it available.

Robin Chen-Hsing Tsai

Guy Redmer

Preface

Language, Culture, and Information Technology offers invaluable insights on cross-cultural communication, computer technology in language teaching, and second language acquisition in Asia. Although each work is unique, the roles of cultural values and English learning in EFL contexts are woven throughout this collection.

Established by Professor Michiko Nakano of Waseda University in 1999, the Cross-Cultural Distance Learning(CCDL) Program Provides themed-based distance learning course...

Robin Chen-Hsing Tsai
Guy Redmer

Section I：Cross-Culture Distance Learning
Michiko Nakano │1.Networked English Language Learning from English Tutorials to Cyber Interaction at Waseda University
Kazuharu Owada/
Satoshi Yoshida/
Michiko Nakano │2. Promoting Networking among Asian Students in the ELF Context：A Questionnaire Survey of Japanese University Students in the Cross-Cultural Distance Learning (CCDL) Program
Yi-Ti Lin │3. Impacts of Cross-Cultural Communication：Changes in Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions of Taiwanese University Students
Iain Brown │4. Waseda University’s Cross-Cultural Distance Learning Program：A Teacher’s Discussion of CCDL

Section II：Technology in Teaching
Jui-min Tsai │5. A Task-Based Approach to Preparing EFL Students for the Use of Web Resources in Language Learning
Yi-Ju Ada Chen │6.An Introduction to Technology Used in International Distance Learning Courses at Tamkang University
Yusuke Kondo/
Yutaka Ishii │7. Bridging the Gap Between Second Language Acquisition Research and the Development of Automated Scoring System for Second Language Speech
Section III：Second Language Acquisition
Carrie Yea-huey Chang │8. Writer’s Decision-Making Process and Revision Behaviors in L2 Peer Review
Jia-ling Charlene Yau │9. The Role of Metacognitive Knowledge Concerning Strategy Use in First and Foreign Language Reading Comprehension：An Investigation of Taiwanese Adolescent Readers of Chinese and English

Notes on Contributors

Robin Chen-Hsing Tsai
Guy Redmer

Section I：Cross-Culture Distance Learning
Michiko Nakano │1.Networked English Language Learning from English Tutorials to Cyber Interaction at Waseda University
Kazuharu Owada/
Satoshi Yoshida/
Michiko Nakano │2. Promoting Networking among Asian Students in the ELF Context：A Questionnaire Survey of Japanese University Students in the Cross-Cultural Distance Learning (CCDL) Program
Yi-Ti Lin │3. Impacts of Cross-Cultural Communication：Changes in H...