Applied Linguistics and Informatics: the intersection of the two areas in the construction of an application for the formation of a database of didactic support in Italian teaching

Abstract

In this study we propose an intersection between two fields of study: applied linguistics in teaching/learning italian language and computer science, in order to build an online application that allows the linguistic description and classification of exercises to be used in Italian teaching/learning. The exercises and textbooks inserted into the database and linguistically classified can be retrieved by the application in exercise lists. The didactic material inserted can be catalogued by teachers in two categories: (i) in exercise groups defined by the teacher by level of education, by learning stage, or by linguistic category; and (ii) according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), following the classification of linguistic skills expected from foreigners, at each level of language competence. By allowing thematic selection of exercises for each skill to be developed, the application assists the teacher in the selection and elaboration of the additional didactic material, which prevents, in the didactic development of the Italian language courses, the teacher not to focus only on the textbook. In addition, the application assists in the classification and sequencing of the didactic material according to the CEFR criteria.