Web 2.0 Based e-Learning System for CEFR Kohji Shibano Research Institute for Languages and Culture of Asia and Africa Tokyo University of Foreign Studies ECML Conference

Language Education Requirements LL, CALL Unique requirements can be found in LL or CALL Complements traditional language education However, Five skills training is needed 1. listening, 2. spoken interaction, 3. spoken production, 4. reading and 5. writing General requirements can be found in “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (Council of Europe 2001).” ECML Conference

CEFR Requirements ECML Conference Learning Teaching Assessment Skill Listening Reading Spoken Interaction Spoken Production Writing Reference Level A Basic User B Independent User C Proficient User A2 Waystage A1 Breakthrough B1 Threshold B2 Vantage C1 Effective Operational Proficiency C2 Mastery

An Example of Comprehensive Teaching Material (JPLANG Requirements) ECML Conference Generate e-Learning Contents Based on Complete Materials from “Breakthrough” to the University level (“Threshold”) competence 18 books for 900 hours of class room education 2,634 printed pages

Comprehensive Japanese language text books in an e-Learning environment Based on published text books written by our university’s Japanese Language Center. 900 hours of class room teaching. Introductory Japanese: 1,754 pages of published textbook In total 2,634 pages. Published textbooks include three audio tapes covering about 500 pages of them. Addition of 20,500 sound files for foreign learners ECML Conference

Trial Use of Existing Systems Chosen Systems WebCT, Blackboard, Moodle Can not meet our requirements Generation of several thousand pages is very difficult Sound/multimedia support is not sufficient for language learning Can not provide a real time monitor of learner’s actions but real time monitor can be found in traditional LL systems ECML Conference

What is Web 2.0 Originally Semantic Web proposed by W3C Based on RDF (Resource Description Framework) Reality 2005 Web technology revolution CGM (Consumer Generated Media) Blog, Wikipedia, Flickr, YouTube ECML Conference

2005 Web Technology Revolutions Ajax – Desktop Usability to Web Apps Google suggest, Google map, Google Apps Ruby on Rails – Agile Development Amazon, Rakuten (Japanese Largest Internet Shopping Mall), Twitter Flash Media Server –True Multimedia YouTube Using these technologies, we can develop a real e-Language Laboratory ECML Conference

Objectives of JPLANG Project 1. To develop an original Web 2.0 based e- Learning system for language education 2. To develop complete educational materials for teaching Japanese from introductory Japanese to university level 3. To use these systems and contents to improve our teaching in our class rooms 4. To provide e-Learning services for Japanese learners and teachers in the world ECML Conference

Current State of the Project An original e-Learning system using emerging technologies such as Ajax, Ruby on Rails, and Flash Media server. Introductory Japanese language text books contents 1,692 web pages 20,500 sound files for 300 hours of teaching and have been servicing for about a year Registered Users 2,519(as of , 1,295 as of , 100/month new users last year, 200/month this year) registered users from more than 30 countries ECML Conference

History of JPLANG Development Base Technologies Ver. 0.1 Java + PostgreSQL + JavaScript + Flash Ver. 0.2 PHP + PostgreSQL + JavaScript + Flash Ver. 0.3 → Ver. 0.9 Ajax + Ruby on Rails + MySQL + JavaScript + Flash + Flash Media Server Current version up and running since April, ,201 users as of new users per month in new users per month in 2007 ECML Conference

Content Generation ECML Conference

Core DTD ECML Conference

Navigations and Controls ECML Conference

ECML Conference

LMS User Portal Page ECML Conference

Speech recording using Flash Media Server ECML Conference

Use of 2005 Technologies in JPLANG Ruby on Rails JPLANG development framework Monthly release of new services and content additions Ajax Corrections and comments feedback on “Writing” task Real time recording of user’s behavior log and of responses to an assignment Drag and drop editing of assignments Flash Media Server Server side recording of a user’s speaking production ECML Conference

Demonstration ECML Conference

Concluding Remarks We have developed; Contents generators for large scale materials Complete Japanese learning contents Ajax and Flash based rich contents Web 2.0 based original LMS In Progress; German Polish Future Work; Speaking interaction support Voice annotation support Enhanced course managements ECML Conference

ECML Conference

Thank you for your attention ECML Conference