UFR LLASICLanguage, literature, performing arts, information and communication, journalism

This prototype grew out of the work of M. and C. Laurent (cf. Laurent, 2014) and their existing software for school audiences (ages 9-16). As part of an initial project funded by IdEx Formation in 2017-2020, GrammOrtho has been adapted for an adult audience (particularly students), in a web-based version exclusively for the computer.

At the end of this IdEX project, Students wishing to develop their language skills independently (outside the classroom) will now be able to practice on their smartphones: A survey of more than 400 GrammOrtho users showed that learning grammar and spelling is a peripheral activity for them, something they do in their spare time (e.g. on the move, in queues); the telephone format is therefore the most suitable for this context.

Offering a wide range of exercises, GrammOrtho is a unique tool in today's spelling and grammar software landscape. Based on an inductive and multimodal approach, in line with scientific advances in the field of academic literacies, the tool enables learners with writing difficulties to construct the rules of language functioning from the observation of corpora.

The IdEX program will fund the technical development of the application, which will focus on 3 areas:

• attractive, ergonomic and intuitive design,
• gamification of the app, to develop a world of games and loyalty,
• IT and technical development of the different versions of the application.

The project is also being used for research purposes within the Lidilem laboratory (Linguistics and Didactics of Foreign and Mother Tongues), in particular to evaluate the effects of using the software on the learning of specific adult audiences.