Web-based foreign language teaching is a new phenomenon in education area. It appeared with the development of the Internet and the Website. The literature review supports the assertion that the Web-based Instruction is a growing trend. The project used Web-based Chinese instruction as an example to reveal the strengths and weakness of the Web in foreign language teaching and learning.
The collected data provided a lot of useful information for us to evaluate the Web’s educational value in foreign language teaching: it is helpful to improve the
communicative skills, especially the reading skill; it is an efficient supplement of the traditional classroom teaching; it makes the teaching more interesting, etc. On the other hand, this project also revealed some questions: how to use the Web to improve the listening, speaking and writing skills? What is the best and effective way to combine the Web with the classroom teaching?
Only when we realize both the advantage and the disadvantage of the Web, Web will become an effective supplement for classroom teaching and learning.
Also, we should realize there are some limitations about this project. For example, for most of the participants, they have used the Web to assist Chinese study for only 3-6 months. It’s not a long time to evaluate the Web’s role completely. If the participants have used the Web longer, how will they evaluate the Web? The result is probably different. In addition, I used Chinese study as an example only, if I invited the
So, it’s the responsibility for the future researches to find the effective solutions to solve the problems that exist in this field.
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Appendix A: Information Handout
Introduction to the Study:
■ To invite the students in two sections of Chinese 002, one taught by Li Zhao, and one taught by Dr. Eric Henry to participate in a survey that aims to measure the role of the Web in Chinese language learning and teaching;
■ Li Zhao, a graduate student in the school of Information and Library Science, UNC-CH is doing this study.
Purpose:
■ To find out whether on-line Chinese practice can improve the learner’s Chinese language ability;
■ Whether Web can improve the learner’s communicative skills, if yes, for the four communicative skill, which skill can benefit from the web the most;
■ What we learn from this project will contribute some useful information to
evaluate the educational value of Web in foreign language teaching and learning.
What Will Happen During the Study:
This is what will happen during the study:
■ You are asked to fill out the questionnaire to find out your opinion of using Web in your Chinese learning.
■ It will take you about 15-20 minutes to complete the questionnaire.
■ If you have any questions or concerns about this project, you should contact Li Zhao at (919) 914-7791 or via email: [email protected]. Also you can contact her Master thesis advisor, Dr. Greg Newby at (919) 962-8064 or via email: [email protected]
Your Privacy is Important:
■ We will make every effort to protect your privacy.
■ You don’t need to write down your name on the questionnaire. There is no possible link between your identity and your data.
■ When the study is finished, the questionnaires will be destroyed.
Risks and Discomforts:
We do not know of any personal risk or discomfort you will have from being in this study.
Your Rights:
■ You decide on your own whether or not you want to be in this study.
■ You will not be treated any differently if you decide not to be in this study.
■ If you decide to be in the study, you will have the right to stop being in the study at any time.
■ If you decide not be in the study or to stop being in the study, this will not affect your grades or any other services from the University of North Carolina --
remember, the questionnaire is totally anonymous and neither of the instructors of Chinese 002 will know who participated.
Institutional Review Board Approval:
■ The Academic Affairs Institutional Review Board (AA-IRB) at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has approved this study.
■ If you have any concerns about your rights as a participant in this study, you may contact the AA-IRB at (919) 962-7761 or at [email protected].
If you are willing to participate, please complete the questionnaire, put it in the envelope provided. Dr. Henry will give the envelope to me, the investigator of this study.
Remember, there is no way that the instructors of Chinese 002 will know who has decided to participate and who has not.
Appendix B: Pre-Test Questionnaire
1. What is your age? _____________
2. What is your sex? _____________ Female _____________Male 3. What is your status?
a. Undergraduate student b. Graduate student a. Faculty
b. Staff
c. Other: ______________ 4. How long have you studies Chinese?
a. About 1 year b. 1 - 2 years c. 3 - 4 years
d. More than 4 years
5. Have you used Web-based Chinese Instruction to assist your Chinese Study? a. Yes.
b. No.
Note: If a, please finish question 1 to question 10 on Post-test questionnaire If b, please finish question 11 on Post-test questionnaire
Appendix C: Post-Test Questionnaire
1. How long have you used Web-based teaching materials and on-line exercise to assist you to study Chinese?
a. Less than 1 month. b. 1-3 months
c. 3-6 months d. 6 months – 1 year e. More than 1 year
2. On average, how long did you spend on websites that are related with your Chinese study to improve your Chinese language ability every week?
a. Less 1 hour b. About 1 hour c.1-2 hours
d. More than 2 hours. Please specify the number of hours here ________.
3. Based on your own experience, do you think the Web is helpful to improve your Chinese language ability overall? (Choose one)
a. Yes. Strongly agree. b. Yes, Agree.
c. Tend to agree.
d. No. Strongly disagree. e. No. Disagree.
f. Undecided.
4. Do you think the Web can improve your Chinese language listening ability?
a. Yes. Strongly agree b. Yes. Agree
c. Tend to agree. c. No. Disagree.
d. No. Strongly disagree. e. Undecided.
*Note: Please specify the reason for your answer briefly
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
5. Do you think the Web can improve your Chinese language speaking ability?
b. Yes. Agree c. Tend to agree. c. No. Disagree.
d. No. Strongly disagree. e. Undecided.
*Note: Please specify the reason for your answer briefly
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
6. Do you think the Web can improve your Chinese language reading ability?
a. Yes. Strongly agree b. Yes. Agree
c. Tend to agree. c. No. Disagree.
d. No. Strongly disagree. e. Undecided.
*Note: Please specify the reason for your answer briefly:
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
7. Do you think the Web can improve your Chinese language writing ability?
a. Yes. Strongly agree b. Yes. Agree
c. Tend to agree. c. No. Disagree.
d. No. Strongly disagree. e. Undecided.
*Note: Please specify the reason for your answer briefly:
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
8. For the 4 communicative skills, which one do you think can benefit from the Web the most? (Please choose only one)
a. Listening ability b. Speaking ability c. Reading ability
d. Writing
e. Comprehensive ability. f. None.
9. Which exercise format do you prefer?
a. Paper-based exercise b. On-line exercise c. I have no preference.
d. Please specify your reason ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________.
10. Do you think Web can replace a human instructor when you study Chinese language?
a. Yes. Strongly agree b. Yes. Agree
c. Tend to agree c. No. Disagree.
d. No. Strongly disagree.
*Note: If c or d, please indicate the reason / comment here briefly:
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
11:What is the most important factor that has discouraged you from using the Web to assist you to study Chinese?
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Would you please give me your additional suggestions or comments:
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
Appendix D: Demographic of Participants
Item Age Gender Chinese Used Web Web-based How long spend
No. Experience To Assist Chinese on Web to assist
Chinese Experience Chinese/week
1 19 F 1 year No 2 20 F 1 year No 3 23 M 1 year No 4 20 M 1-2 years No 5 19 F 1 year No 6 22 M 1 year No 7 26 M 1 year No 8 18 M 1 year No 9 19 M 1 year No 10 18 F 1 year No 11 19 F > 4 years No 12 18 F 1 year No
13 19 F 1-2 years Yes < 1 month 1-2 hours
14 19 M 1 year Yes 1-3 months < 1 hour
15 18 M 3-4 years Yes < 1 month < 1 hour
16 20 M 1-2 years Yes < 1 month < 1 hour
17 20 M > 4 years Yes 1-3 months 1 hour
18 19 F 1-2 years Yes 3-6 months 1 hour
19 22 M 1 year Yes 3-6 months < 1 hour
20 20 F 1 year Yes 3-6 months < 1 hour
21 20 M 1 year Yes < 1 month < 1 hour
22 18 M 1 year Yes 3-6 months < 1 hour
23 19 M 1 year Yes < 1 month < 1 hour
24 20 M 1 year Yes 6 months-1 year < 1 hour
25 19 F 1 year Yes 1-3 months < 1 hour
26 20 M 1 year Yes > 1 year 1 hour
27 19 M 1 year Yes 3-6 months < 1 hour
28 19 F 1 year Yes < 1 month < 1 hour
29 20 F 1-2 years Yes < 1 month > 2 hours
30 19 M 1-2 years Yes > 1 year 1 hour
31 19 F 1-2 years Yes 3-6 months 1 hour
32 29 M 1 year Yes 3-6 months 1 hour
33 20 F 1 year Yes < 1 month < 1 hour
34 18 F 1 year Yes 3-6 months < 1 hour
35 20 M 1 year Yes 1-3 months < 1 hour
36 20 F 1 year Yes 3-6 months < 1 hour
37 19 M 1 year Yes 6 months-1 year 1 hour