A Generic Cognitively Motivated Web-Environment to Help People to Become Quickly Fluent in a New Language

To speak fluently is a complex skill. In order to help the learner to acquire it we propose an electronic version of an age old method: pattern drills (PD). While being highly regarded in the fifties, pattern drills have become unpopular since then. Despite certain shortcomings we do believe in the virtues of this approach, at least with regard to the memorization of basic structures and the acquisition of fluency, the skill to produce language at a 'normal' rate. Of course, the method has to be improved, and we will show here how this can be achieved. Unlike tapes or books, computers are open media, allowing for dynamic changes, taking users’ performances and preferences into account. Our drill-tutor, a small webapplication still in its prototype phase, allows for this. It is a free, electronic version of pattern drills, i.e. an exercise generator, open and adaptable to the users’ ever changing needs.