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Computer-Based Foreign Language Learning Programs for the Elderly – A Review Study

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Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. Healthy and Active Aging (HCII 2020)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 12208))

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Abstract

Technologies among elderly people are now increasing on their popularity of use. Older people use them to communicate with their relatives and friends, making appointments with a doctor, or doing shopping. The purpose of this article is to discuss the use of computer-based foreign language learning programs for healthy elderly with special focus on English language learning. More specifically, the author aims to explore benefits and limitations of the use of these computer-based foreign language learning programs for the well-being of the elderly. The methodology is based on a literature review conducted in two databases: Web of science and Scopus. The findings of this review article reveal that the use of technologies among elderly people is rising. Moreover, these technologies might be utilized in cognitive training of these people, for instance, in foreign language learning, which also has a positive impact on the plasticity of their brain and thus on the maintenance and/or enhancement of their cognitive functions. However, there is an urgent need of research in this area, as well as fast implementation of cognitive trainings, such as computer-based foreign language learning, among healthy older individuals.

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Acknowledgements

This study is supported by the SPEV project 2020, run at the Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. The author thanks Josef Toman for his help with the data collection.

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  1. University of Hradec Kralove, Rokitanskeho 62, 500 03, Hradec Kralove 3, Czech Republic

    Blanka Klimova

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  1. Blanka Klimova
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Correspondence to Blanka Klimova .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Qin Gao

  2. Chongqing University, Chongqing, China

    Jia Zhou

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Klimova, B. (2020). Computer-Based Foreign Language Learning Programs for the Elderly – A Review Study. In: Gao, Q., Zhou, J. (eds) Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. Healthy and Active Aging. HCII 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12208. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50249-2_44

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50249-2_44

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