Computer assisted language learning
- 1. Computer Assisted Language Learning: an Introduction
- 2. CALL It is categorized in terms of three phases *behavioristic CALL *communicative CALL *and integrative CALL (cf. Barson & Debski 1996).
- 3. Behavioristic CALL "drill and practice“ Drill: model of computer as tutor (Taylor 1980). the computer serves as a vehicle for delivering instructional materials to the student. Repeated exposure to the same material is beneficial or even essential to learning A computer is ideal for carrying out repeated drills, since the machine does not get bored with presenting the same material and since it can provide immediate non-judgmental feedback A computer can present such material on an individualized basis, allowing students to proceed at their own pace and freeing up class time for other activities the PLATO an system special hardware that includs vocabulary drills, gramar explanations, and tranlation tests at variour intervals (Ahmad, Corbett, Rogers, & Sussex 1985).
- 4. Communicative CALL Agains drill program fro missing authentic communication to be value. John Underwood: “premises for ‘communicative CALL’ : focuses more on using forms. teaches grammar implicitly. allows and encourages students to generate original utterances does not judge and evaluate everything . avoids telling students they are wrong and is flexible to a variety of responses. uses the target language exclusively and creates an environment in which using the target language feels natural, both on and off the screen. will never try to do anything that a book can do
- 5. all CALL courseware and activities should build on intrinsic motivation and should foster interactivity - both learner-computer and learner- learner(Stevens 1989). a variety of programs to provide skill practice. courseware for paced reading, text reconstruction, and language games (Healey & Johnson 1995b). In this programs the computer remains the "knower-of-the-right- answer" (Taylor & Perez 1989:3) computer as tutor model, the process of finding the right answer involves a fair amount of student choice, control, and interaction.
- 6. Second model of computer as stimulous the computer as stimulus (Taylor & Perez 1989:63). the purpose of the CALL activity is to stimulate students' discussion, writing, or critical thinking. Softwares include a variety of programs such as: Sim City,Sleuth, or Where in the World is San Diego? (Healey & Johnson 1995b).
- 7. Computer as tool computer as tool (Brierley & Kemble 1991; Taylor 1980) or, the computer as workhorse (Taylor & Perez 1989). empower the learner to use or understand language including word processors, spelling and grammar checkers, desk-top publishing programs and concordancers. the dividing line between behavioristic and communicative CALL does involves not only whichsoftware is used, but also how the software is put to use by the teacher and students. The challenge for advocates of CALL was to develop models which could help integrate the various aspects of the language learning process.
- 8. Steps toward integrative CALL: multimedia Approaches to CALL are based in multimedia computers and the Internet. Multimedia technolgy allows: text, graphics, sounds, animation, and video. It also entails hipermedia: multimedia resources linked together. Hypermedia´s adventages: authentic learning evironment, skills easily integrated, it is natural to conbine Reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students control their learning going forwards and backwards. Encourages students to ados an appropiate learning strategy.
- 9. Steps toward integrative CALL: the Internet Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) the single computer application to date with the greatest impact on language teaching. language learners can communicate directly, inexpensively, and conveniently with other learners or speakers of the target language 24 hours a day, from school, work, or home. can be synchronous (synchronous, "real time"), using programs such as MOOs, which allow people all around the world to have a simultaneous conversation by typing at their keyboards. Allows one-to-many communication. but also lengthy (formatted or unformatted) documents - thus facilitating collaborative writing - and also graphics, sounds, and video. Using the World Wide Web (WWW), students can search through millions of files around the world to locate authentic materials. They also can use the Web to share their own multimedia materials with the general public.
- 10. Conclusion Garrett (1991), "the use of the computer does not constitute a method it is a medium in which a variety of methods, approaches, and pedagogical philosophies may be implemented“. The effectiveness of CALL cannot reside in the medium itself but only in how it is put to use.