Eye movements of online Chinese learners

Authors

  • Ursula Stickler The Open University
  • Lijing Shi London School of Economics

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/calico.v32i1.25964

Keywords:

eyetracking, Synchronous computer mediated communication (SCMC), Chinese as a Foreign Language, stimulated recall, Computer Assisted Language Learning

Abstract

Although online tutorials are becoming commonplace for language teaching, very few studies to date have provided insights into learners’ behaviours in synchronous online interactions from their own perspective. This study employs eyetracking technology to investigate ten learners’ attention during synchronous online language learning in a multimodal environment. The participants were learners of Chinese as a Foreign Language at beginners or lower-intermediate level. While learners took part in two different online activities, one focussing on reading, the other on interaction with others, their gaze focus was tracked, and in subsequent stimulated recall interviews the learners reflected on their engagement with the screen and their intentions while reading or speaking online. Our findings show that during reading tasks, when Pinyin transcriptions as well as Chinese characters were presented, all beginner and lower intermediate participants focused to some degree on the Pinyin. In the interactive task learners’ gaze was drawn to elements of the screen that were not immediately necessary for technical or linguistic reasons but that could be interpreted as containing social presence information, e.g. names listed and emoticons employed by other users.

Author Biographies

  • Ursula Stickler, The Open University
    Ursula Stickler is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Languages at the Open University (UK) and convenor of the Open Languages Research Group. Her research interests focus on independent and technology-supported language learning. She is actively involved in several European projects collaborating in the area of autonomous online learning, and teacher training. She has written a number of articles and book chapters on language learning and teaching, and has supervised students on the university’s PhD and EdD programmes.
  • Lijing Shi, London School of Economics
    Lijing Shi (Ph.D. in Technology Enhanced Language Learning, M.Ed. in Educational Technology & TESOL), is currently an assistant co-ordinator of Mandarin in the London School of Economics and Political Sciences where she teaches Mandarin Chinese degree and certificate courses. Her main research areas are: online language teaching and learning, and intercultural communicative competence.

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Published

2014-12-08

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Articles

How to Cite

Stickler, U., & Shi, L. (2014). Eye movements of online Chinese learners. CALICO Journal, 32(1), 52-81. https://doi.org/10.1558/calico.v32i1.25964