Dr. Mosaik: a holistic framework for understanding the English tense–aspect system based on ontology engineering

This article introduces a novel, holistic framework--named Dr. Mosaik--that encompasses explanations of the entire tense-aspect system, while highlighting eight comprehensive rules that explain the main workings of the system. In turn, this provides a limited number of "anchor points" on which to time-efficiently address instruction and corrective feedback. The framework was introduced in advanced-level intensive English programs as an additional option to what was offered in pedagogical materials, and was readily adopted by learners. Deployment and testing of the Dr. Mosaik framework demonstrated that most students successfully understood tense and aspect, and in far less time than with conventional methods. The paper is organized as follows. After the introduction, a literature review describes the English tense-aspect system as well as the main hurdles to understanding its meaning and use. The third section addresses the problem, a possible solution, the research questions, and a literature review of ontology engineering. The fourth section outlines the research methodology. The fifth section discusses the various steps that were followed and includes a semi-ontological discussion of occurrents. The end of the discussion, preceding the conclusion, presents the preliminary results of experimentation with learners using the framework that resulted from this research endeavour.