Multimedia authorship tool for the teaching of foreign languages in a multi-agent environment

Abstract

Communication is essential in the activities of a globalized world in which knowledge and technology are the keys to progress. In this scenario, having command of other languages is a vital support for people in their activities. The system for teaching foreign languages in Brazil, both in public schools and in part of the private institutions, fails to offer the basic conditions for people to acquire solid knowledge of a foreign language, according to their potential and time availability, and without affecting the other activities they develop in their daily lives. The objective of the present paper is to introduce a multimedia authorship tool for the teaching of a foreign language, which is continually available on the Internet and therefore accessible from any place at any time. The toll will be built based on a multi-agent architecture constituting a shared environment similar to people's cooperation, fulfilling effectively the task of teaching. The languages, initially English and French, will comprise three modules: basic, intermediate and advanced. After being available on the Web, the tool will be validated by user criticism during a period from six to twelve months, and will be periodically assessed by the managers of the program. The tool will afford access to effective learning of foreign languages to anyone interested, according to their potentiality, interests, and time available.