Abstract
This research addresses how an Intelligent Language Tutoring System can effectively help to solve a practical problem of transfer in students' second language learning of Chinese. Our empirical data shows that the problem of transfer accounts for most of the errors observed in the linguistic output of English-speaking students in their study of Chinese. This accords with views of other experts on transfer in the field of second language learning, such as Selinker [15], Cornu [6], Sheen [16] and Cowan [7]. A technique of mixed grammar of Chinese and English is used to tackle the problem of transfer. In this paper, we describe the importance of transfer, explain the data that has been collected, present an overview of the three main models, demonstrate the technique that we use to handle errors of transfer and finally discuss how our system is going to be evaluated.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
J. Barchan, B. Woodmansee, M. Yazdani: “A Prolog-Based Tool for French Grammar Analysis“, Instructional Science, 15, pp 21–48, 1986.
J. Barchan: Language Independent Grammatical Error Reporter, M. Phil. thesis, Dept. of Computer Science, Univ. of Exeter, Britain, 1987.
M. E. Catt: Intelligent Diagnosis of Ungrammaticality in Computer-Assisted Language Instruction, MSc. thesis, Dept. of Computer Science, Univ. of Toronto, Canada, 1988.
L. Chen, B. L. Kurtz: “XTRA-TE: Using Natural Language Processing Software to Develop an ITS for Language Learning”, Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on AI and Education, pp 54–63, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 24–26 May 1989.
S. P. Corder: “The significance of Learners' Errors”, in Second Language Learning: Contrastive Analysis, Error Analysis, and Related Aspects, edited by B. W. Robinett, J. Schachter, pp 163–172, The Univ. of Michigan Press, 1983.
M. Cornu: “La France en direct, 1er degre, au fil des leçons”, Bulletin CILA, 17, 1973.
J. R. Cowan: “Towards a Psychological Theory of Interference in Second Language Learning”, in Second Language Learning: Contrastive Analysis, Error Analysis, and Related Aspects, edited by B. W. Robinett, J. Schachter, pp 109–119, The Univ. of Michigan Press, 1983.
W. Daelemans: “Learning Heuristic Diagnostic Rules in an Intelligent Tutoring System”, Third International Symposium on Knowledge Engineering, pp 113–118, Madrid, 17–21 October 1988.
F. Halasz, T. P. Moran: “Analogy Considered Harmful”, in Eight Short Papers in User Psychology, edited by T. P. Moran, Cognitive and Instructional Sciences Series, CIS-17, pp 33–36, Xerox Palo Alto Research Centers, Palo Alto, CA, 1982.
T. Odlin: Language Transfer: Cross-Linguistic Influence in Language Learning, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1989.
F. Pijls, W. Daelemans, G. Kempen: “Artificial Intelligence Tools for Grammar and Spelling Instruction”, in Instructional Science, 16, pp 319–336, 1987.
D. E. Rumelhart, D. A. Norman: “Analogical Processes in Learning”, in Cognitive Skills and Their Acquisition, edited by J. R. Anderson, Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, pp 335–360, 1981.
E. Schuster: “The Role of Native Grammars in Correcting Errors in Second Language Learning”, Computational Intelligence, 2, pp 93–98, 1986.
C. B. Schwind: “An Intelligent Language Tutoring System”, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 33, pp 557–579, 1990.
L. Selinker: “Language Transfer”, General Linguistics, 9, pp 69–92, 1969.
R. Sheen: “The Importance of Negative Transfer in Speech of Near-Bilinguals”, International Review of Applied Linguistics, 18(2), pp 105–119, 1980.
D. H. Sleeman: “Assessing Competence in Basic Algebra”, in Intelligent Tutoring Systems, edited by D. H. Sleeman, J. S. Brown, pp 185–199, Academic Press, 1982.
E. Wenger: Artificial Intelligence and Tutoring Systems, Los Altos: Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc., 1987.
P. H. Winston: Learning and Reasoning by Analogy: the Details, MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, AI Memo 520, 1980.
Y. Wang, R. Garigliano: “A Language Tutoring System for Handling Transfer Errors”, Technical Report 4/91, School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Durham, Britain, 1991.
M. Yazdani et al: LINGER — A Natural Language Corrector in Prolog, software in public domain, contributed by O'Brien, M. Yazdani, Exeter Univ., Britain, 1988.
M. Yazdani: “A Multi-Purpose Database of Learning Materials (M-DBLM) “, Computer Assisted Learning, Proceedings of 3rd international Conference, ICCAL90, pp 29-35, Hagen, FRG, June 1990.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Wang, Y., Garigliano, R. (1992). An intelligent language tutoring system for handling errors caused by transfer. In: Frasson, C., Gauthier, G., McCalla, G.I. (eds) Intelligent Tutoring Systems. ITS 1992. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 608. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-55606-0_47
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-55606-0_47
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-55606-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-47254-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive