Using CALL in Learning English.

Using CALL in Learning English as a Second Language.

Aya Ayman Ibrahim Al-Ali

Ayh0124022@gmail.com
CALL Course
Ms. Emily Clymer
December 2016

Using CALL in Learning English.

Using CALL in Learning English as a Second Language.

Technology has been an essential part of peoples lives for many

years; it made a great impact to our lives by making them easier, more
dynamic and more comfortable. Technology has enlightened our
minds, enriched and developed our lives in many fields like science,
medicine, business and education. Focusing on education, technology
has revolutionized the educational system; an example of this is CALL
which is an acronym for computer-assisted language learning. CALL is
the learning of a language with the help of computers and mobile
devices to assist and improve certain language learning skills like
speaking and listening which develop positive attitudes towards
learning a new language, and according to Beatty (2010) CALL is
defined as any process in which a learner uses a computer and, as a
result, improves his or her language (p.7). In the Internet TESL Journal
Kuang-wu (2000) wrote that other than improving certain language
skills, CALL also prepare learners for workplaces and professional lives,
increase their motivation, helps them communicate on a global level,
and enhances their achievements. Another example of how technology
revolutionized the educational system is the internet.
It is one of the most important sources of information that most people
rely on and use for learning and gaining knowledge. It became an

Using CALL in Learning English.

inseparable part of peoples daily lives especially after the emergence
of social media ten years ago.
According to the Redric an Punie (2010) studies made by the
Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) suggest that the
high take up of social media applications outside of formal educational
settings provides new opportunities for innovating and modernizing
Education and Training institutions and for preparing learners for the
21st century. Videos are a powerful educational tool and as Youtube
being the second largest video search engine with over a billion users
which is almost the third of all internet users and a main part of social
media, many people rely on it for studying purposes as a form of selfdirected learning. In a research made on Youtube, Alimemaj (2010)
suggests that one can listen to all kinds of spoken language (formal,
informal, colloquial, slang) and all genres (songs, debates, talks,
poems) and learn a lot of vocabulary in context, which, without doubt,
will help learners to memorize more easily. Youtube provides videos
from all over the world and covers almost every possible topic in many
languages but mostly in English, and it could be very successful in the
help of acquiring a second-language. It is easily accessible, and it
provides many educational videos in an entertaining way. Youtube can
be used on computers, laptops, tablets and mobile device. People
usually use it to watch, upload or comment on different videos. Based
on an article the British council website, Donghy (2010) points out the
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Using CALL in Learning English.

ways videos can help in learning English. He wrote that Film provides
a source of authentic and varied language. Film provides students with
examples of English used in real situations, and the visuality of film
makes it an invaluable language teaching tool, enabling learners to
understand more by interpreting the language in a full visual context.
Therefore, by listening to Youtubers while speaking using their first
language, people learn a language unconsciously while not focusing on
the process of learning which decreases the pressure and as a result
they learn easily in a long term memory. All they have to is subscribe
to their favorite channel and wait for the daily to weekly upload of
videos. There are varieties of channels a language learner can
subscribe, to either they are about, video blogging (Rachel and Jun
Channel), makeup (Huda Beauty Channel), cooking (everydayfood
Channel), science (AsapScience Channel), documentaries (Collection of
documentary films Channel) or channels that are owned by educators
who are specialized in giving online courses. Examples of channels
owned by educators are, Learn English with Lets talk- Free English
Lessons, James ESL English Lessons, and English Lessons with
Adam. These Audio and Video lessons help in grammar skills,
vocabulary, expressions and using idioms skills, pronunciation and
communication skills. Many people spend hours on Youtube watching
videos which helps in developing independent language skills because
videos on Youtube have various materials that can improve the
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Using CALL in Learning English.

listening and the understanding skills. Also watching videos on
Youtube increases the knowledge of a language by repetition; learners
can pause and repeat the video as many times as they want, and when
using Youtube, learners are exposed to a variety of genres of English
like music, commercials, comedies, social experiments, and
documentaries. Learners also have the opportunity to interact with
other learners by commenting and expressing their opinions on the
videos they watch.
Another type of social media that can be used in learning a
language is Snapchat. Snapchat is a mobile application that has
according to Chief Executive Officer Evan Spiegel (2016) more than
100 million daily users who spend an average of 25 to 30 minutes on
the app each day. It allows its users to share videos, pictures, texts
and voice notes to each other, and then terminated after 24 hours
unless they were saved. Snapchat can be used in learning English and
many other languages; when users follow bloggers and celebrities who
speak English, they unintentionally learn and acquire the language, or
they can follow specialized teachers who post Language educational
Snaps. Users who also want to learn a language can document their
daily routines by either recording a 10 seconds video or taking a
picture and include a caption to it. Also, According to Kerstin (2016)
Snapchat users can also make a vocabulary resource by taking pictures
of their surrounding and adding their names in English. Doing these
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Using CALL in Learning English.

activities with other language learners and friends helps in forming a
complete meaningful sentence. In addition to this, Snapchat has
channels that combine magazines, news, articles that are either texts
or videos. Such channels help in building a strong vocabulary base,
gaining grammar, communication, and speaking skills.
In conclusion, the internet and technology is the present and the
future. Therefore, they should be used efficiently in a way that will
benefit people in learning either a foreign language or learning
anything else. Aside from using CALL mostly in classrooms, it has
developed with the help of technology the language learning skills for
self learners. For example, watching videos develops listening skills,
and develops vocabulary; chatting with friends on social media and
sending email to colleagues develops writing skills; surfing the internet
and reading online magazines and newspapers develops reading skills;
Talking to people using video calls develops speaking skills. For
example, watching videos develops listening skills, and develops
vocabulary; chatting with friends on social media and sending email to
colleagues develops writing skills; surfing the internet and reading
online magazines and newspapers develops reading skills; Talking to
people using video calls develops speakin..

Refrences

Using CALL in Learning English.

Alimemaj, Z. (2010). Retrieved from
http://www.anglohigher.com/magazines/magazine_detail/61/32
Anonymous. (2016). 5 Ways to Use Snapchat as A Teaching and
Learning Tool in Higher Education. Retrieved from
https://www.isocialfanz.com/5-ways-use-snapchat-teaching-learningtool-higher-education/
Brnner, I. (2013). Using Language Learning Resources on Youtube .
Beatty, K. (2010). Teaching and researching: Computer-assisted
language learning (2nd ed.). Harlow, England: Longman
Donaghy, K. (2014). How can film help you teach or learn English?
Retrieved from British Council: https://www.britishcouncil.org/voicesmagazine/how-can-film-help-you-teach-or-learn-english
Dow, L. (2016). How I Use Snapchat for Language Learning. Retrieved
from http://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/how-i-use-snapchat-forlanguage-learning/
Duffy, P. (2009). Engaging the YouTube Google-Eyed Generation:
Strategies for. Hong Kong .
Frier, S. (2016, April 28). Snapchat user Stories fuel 10 Billion daily
video views. . Retrieved from
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-28/snapchat-usercontent-fuels-jump-to-10-billion-daily-video-views.
Hanson, E. Introduction: Using Technology inTeaching Languages. In
Learning Through Technology. Ohio: Kent State University.
Kerstin. (2016). How to Learn a Language Using Snapchat . Retrieved
from http://fluentlanguage.tumblr.com/post/147588773039/how-tolearn-a-language-using-snapchat-podcast
Lee, K.-w. (2000). English Teachers' Barriers to the Use of Computerassisted Language Learning. Retrieved from
http://iteslj.org/Articles/Lee-CALLbarriers.html
Redecker, C., Ala-Mutka, K., & Punie, Y. (2010). Learning 2.0 - The
Impact of Social Media on Learning in Europe. Spain.

Using CALL in Learning English.

Statistics YouTube Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/yt/press/en-GB/statistics.html