From E-Content to E-Learning in Computational Linguistics Localisation of Teaching materials for less processed languages Kiril Simov *, Petya Osenova *,#, Nikolai Vazov # * BulTreeBank Project, Linguistic Modelling Laboratory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and # Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

2 Plan of the Presentation Our Research Expertise Our Teaching Expertise Combining Research and Teaching E-learning for Less Processed Languages Conclusion

3 Research Expertise Language Resources for Bulgarian –Text Archive, Treebank, Morphological Lexicon, Gazetteers, Valency Lexicon, Semantic Lexicon Language Processors for Bulgarian –Morphological Analyser, Disambiguator, Chunk Grammars Language Processors for French –Time Expression Grammar

4 Teaching Expertise CLaRK Programme: Tübingen-Sofia International Graduate Programme in Computational Linguistics and Represented Knowledge –Summer schools Tübingen (1999), Sozopol (2000) and Sozopol (2002) –Electronic teaching materials Lecture notes in Computational Morphology, Declarative Knowledge Representation and WordNets: Principles and Applications –Project-oriented master’s and PhD student education POS disambiguation, XML Corpus Linguistics, Web-based materials

5 Combining Research and Teaching (1) Bachelor Seminar on Computational Corpus Linguistics at the Department for Bulgarian Language, the Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski” Formal languages, XML, Disambiguation, Chunk Grammars Master Programme in Computational Linguistics at the French Department, the Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski” A full programme covering Mathematical Methods, Logic, Linguistic Theories, Corpus Linguistics, Programming

6 Combining Research and Teaching (2) The best results have been achieved by students who were also involved in a research project In such an environment they receive: –support in acquiring additional knowledge –practical experience in solving research problems –possibilities for further realisation in academic or industrial institutions

7 The main Problem of Teaching CL (in Bulgaria) There is no Institution devoted to research and education in Computational Linguistics The experts in the area work in different places Solution –Multi-institutional research and teaching teams –Distant E-learning –International co-operation

8 E-learning for Less Processed Languages (1) We consider the teaching in CL at two levels: –Basic level: mathematical methods in CL, linguistic models, basic technologies –Advanced level: linguistic theories and treatment of specific language phenomena, machine learning, applications

9 E-learning for Less Processed Languages (2) Basic level Existing teaching materials (in other languages) can be used directly or after translation Advanced level Existing teaching materials need adaptation to Bulgarian language We call the process of adaptation to Bulgarian Localisation of teaching materials

10 From E-Content to E-Learning We see our role in a joint project for distant learning in CL in the following way: Localisation of existing teaching materials to Bulgarian Providing Bulgarian Language Resources and Processing Modules Development of Multi-Lingual Resources and Applications for Distant Learning

11 Conclusion Distant learning in CL can cover the existing institutional and/or expertise gaps The less-processed languages can provide (interesting or different) language data and processing modules Localisation of teaching materials can be done through the development of multi- lingual applications