Innovative uses of technology for French language instruction are examined, including interactive video, information networks, and electronic mail. Illustrations are drawn from systems used in France. (MSE)

Reviews recent research on intercultural learning and reports on a yearlong e-mail exchange between Spanish and English second year university students. Identifies key characteristics of e-mail exchanges that helped to develop learners' intercultural communicative competence. Outlines elements of e-mail messages that may enable students to develop…

Examined effects of computers on writing efficiency and quality among intermediate learners of Japanese. Subjects corresponded with Japanese peers by email and took computer and hand-written tests. Response times, accuracy rates, and t-units were compared. Results suggest learners benefited from computer writing. (VWL)

Discusses the role of the Internet in foreign-language instruction from the perspective of a French teacher. Topics include Gopher, subject-oriented Gophers, finding e-mail addresses, Veronica and Archie, Wide Information Area Server, Hytelnet, and Mosaic. For those who are new to the Internet, Gopher is the simplest navigational tool to use as it…

An electronic mail project designed to create personal dialogue between native speakers and college students in a modern French civilization course is described. It was found that French participants added nuance to generalizations about their culture and brought understanding to certain historical events occurring during the course. Linguistic…

Describes a three-year project devoted to fostering semester-long e-mail exchanges between American and German college students. Based on the tandem approach to language learning, peer tutoring via e-mail helped improve students' writing ability and cross-cultural competence. Presents types of writing activities and suggestions for setting up…

Investigated the efficacy of integrating task-based e-mail activities into a process-oriented English-as-Second-Language (ESL) writing class. Particular focus was on the linguistic characteristics of 132 pieces of e-mail writing by ESL students in tasks that differed in terms of purpose, audience interaction, and task structure. Computerized text…

Describes how 7th graders learning Spanish at one New York school corresponded with students in Latin America via the Internet to personalize their language-learning experience. Students researched the chosen countries and exchanged electronic mail in Spanish with Latin American students. Guidelines are presented for replicating such a project.…

Describes a cross-cultural e-mail exchange that provided students in the United States and Chile with an ongoing source of authentic cultural input from the target country. The exchange was organized between a class of U.S. college students of advanced Spanish conversation and composition and a class of Chilean university students of advanced…

This paper describes two groups of students learning French online, one earning college credit through California's Coastline Community College and one studying for self-enrichment with the Annenberg/CPB Project and the University of Maryland University College. Students receive and are encouraged to explore weekly/semi-weekly current Web sites.…

Research suggests electronic mail can be a powerful motivator for authentic second language (L2) interaction, but little is known about the efficacy of this medium in the development of target language proficiency. This study examines Email exchanges between university learners of Japanese as a foreign language and native Japanese university…

Describes how many Israeli English-as-a-Second-Language students use cyber-English to chat with peers worldwide via the Internet, suggesting that this is a useful addition to standard instruction because it is a motivating and powerful means of communication, and using English language e-mail is a vital skill that all students need for the 21st…

Presents and analyzes the results of a cooperative electronic-mail project conducted at Mount Holyoke College (Massachusetts) and Ohio State University, to determine whether an e-mail exchange between two intermediate-level German classes would improve students' writing and speaking skills. Suggestions and practical tips are offered to instructors…

This case study examines the motivation of two intermediate foreign language learners engaged in a remote language exchange partnership. A learner of English in Japan and a learner of Japanese in Australia completed language exchange activities using the telephone, Internet text chat, and e-mail over 10 weeks. Quantitative and qualitative methods…

This study investigated the influence of e-mail on English language learning among college freshmen enrolled in a remedial English class. English was considered the first or second foreign language for all participants. Students were divided into two groups. One group was allowed face to face communication in class and during office hours with the…