Language and Technology

Catalog description

Applied Linguistics is an interdisciplinary field that investigates and aims to study social issues through a linguistic lens. APLNG 260 - Language and Technology - is designed to introduce students to how technology helps shape language learning, education in general, and its impact on society. To develop students' skills in Social and Behavioral Science (GS), students are introduced to various learning theory-informed technological applications, such as natural language processing. These applications include virtual reality, gaming, speech recognition within deep learning, and virtual assistants. To develop students' skills in humanities (GH), students will develop critical and ethical awareness of applying technology use in education based on learners' needs. Theories of learning and methods will be introduced and applied to technological applications, such as learner-centered design, cloud computing, and open-source learning. The intersection of language learning and technology will be examined by understanding what is second language acquisition (SLA) and its technologies that support SLA, such as using a corpus and using mobile apps to aid in pronunciation production. Through critical reflections and designing instructional methods/materials integrating technology into various educational contexts, students will broaden their intellectual horizon regarding technological use in society, and more importantly, gain further understanding on the possible research directions linking technology, language learning within Applied Linguistics, and education.