This presentation demonstrates a Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) program, "Kantango," a user friendly web- based publishing system that enables the creation of vocabulary kanji lists and study materials. In addition to presenting the system, we provide an analysis of the program's usability and investigate the learning performance impact on its users.
Previous studies show that mastering Japanese vocabulary and kanji is the most challenging aspect of learning Japanese for many individuals. The traditional approach to learning vocabulary includes highlighting words in a text, creating wordlists and flashcards to study from. In addition to being time consuming, and thus detracting from time spent actually learning words, these approaches tend lack central organization.
The Kantango site is designed to help both Japanese language learners and educators. It provides the following functionality.
1) Central access to an extensive online dictionary enables users to instantly create and share wordlists with other users on the web.
2) A morphological analyzer embedded into the system can segment Japanese sentences into individual words that can be directly imported into a wordlist.
3) Shared lists can be freely used by other users on the system.
4) Users can mark words they need review or that they have mastered.
5) Random flashcards, written quizzes and answer keys can be generated for each wordlist.
By using Kantango, instructors can easily create word lists and share them with their students and other instructors. Students can keep track of words studied, freeing them from the monotony of wordlist management. As a result, students are able to spend more time on learning and internalizing Japanese vocabulary. Students who have used Kantango report that they have been able to learn a greater number of new words in a shorter amount of time and retain those words longer than they did with traditional paper-pencil learning tools.