Director's Note

Welcome to the website of the Texas Language Technology Center (TLTC) at the University of Texas at Austin!

The Internet is a rapidly growing context for cross-cultural communication, and its potential impact on the study of languages and cultures is enormous.  For many students, the Internet has already become the most common place to encounter foreign languages as well as to interact with speakers of foreign languages.  TLTC seeks to improve foreign language instruction by exploring the potential of emerging technologies (e.g., podcasting, wikis, chat, email, IM, hypermedia, online games, virtual communities, etc.).

In particular, TLTC aims to

• develop and implement state-of-the-art instructional materials in foreign languages, especially materials in less commonly taught languages
• disseminate foreign language materials and better practices
• assess the efficacy of foreign language instructional technology
• increase external funding for foreign language education
• create a community of scholars, teachers and learners interested in exploring the applications of technology to language learning

So come explore with us!  Post a comment on our blog.  Attend one of our events, open to the public (brown bag lunches, lecture series).  Test drive some of our online language learning materials.  And don't forget to send us email.  We invite you to join us in discovering new ways to learn foreign languages.

– Carl Blyth