“Contextual” vocabulary acquisition is the active, deliberate acquisition of a meaning for a word in a text by reasoning from textual clues and prior knowledge, including language knowledge and hypotheses developed from prior encounters with the word, but without external sources of help such as dictionaries or people. But what is “context”? Is it just the surrounding text? Does it include the ...

In this paper, we describe a framework for vocabulary acquisition using audio books. The proposed framework performs automatic alignment of text and large speech files in audio books. This enables highlighting of words and sentences during voice over. The proposed framework can be easily extended to a large number of audio books. We evaluate this framework on a set of subjects between the age o...

This work explores the use of an adaptive mobile tool for language learning. A schoolbased deployment study showed that the tool supported learning. A second study is being conducted in informal learning environments. Current work focuses on building models that increase our understanding of the relationship between application usage and learning.

The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence to support direct vocabulary intervention practices for primary school-age children with language impairment (LI). A rationale for providing direct vocabulary intervention for children with LI is outlined by reviewing typical and atypical vocabulary acquisition, evidence of instructional strategies from research in mainstream and special educatio...

In the study influences on the productive vocabulary are examined regarding 16 month old children with, or with no siblings at home (n = 121). A parental report form, CDI, was used as instrument.Hypotheses regarding effects of different interaction environments were derived from the literature, and significant effects on the productive vocabulary were found; The first effect was that the produc...

The structure of curriculum plays a vital role in our learning process, both as children and adults. Presenting material in ascending order of difficulty that also exploits prior knowledge can have a significant impact on the rate of learning. However, the notion of difficulty and prior knowledge differs from person to person. Motivated by the need for a personalised curriculum, we present a no...

The REAP tutoring system provides individualized and adaptive English as a Second Language vocabulary practice. REAP can automatically personalize instruction by providing practice readings about topics that match interests as well as domain-based, cognitive objectives. While most previous research on motivation in intelligent tutoring environments has focused on increasing extrinsic motivation...

Vocabulary acquisition is a cognitive activity that poses significant challenge to second language learners. Non-literal language, particularly metaphor, has long been recognized as potent and linguistic tool for expressing understanding abstract concepts, emotions, experiences. However, some contend learning non-literal may impede L2 vocabulary acquisition. This research paper aimed investigat...

Vocabulary acquisition is of great importance in learning a foreign language. Since vocabulary knowledge reflects one’s language capability to a great extent, it has long been felt to be a crucial factor in language learning. However, vocabulary learning is also a major difficulty which impedes learners’ progress in language learning. This paper analyzes the impact of several factors on vocabul...

Learning a new language is a difficult endeavor, the main encountered problem being vocabulary acquisition. The learning process can be improved through visual representations of coherent contexts, best represented in serious games. The game described in this paper, Semantic Boggle, is a serious game that exercises vocabulary. It is based on the traditional word-guessing game, but it brings edu...