(Chen, 2012)

Prepared by
Samah Al-Jirjawi ,Dept. of English linguistics,
The University of Jordan.

What is CALL?
CALL stands for Computer Assisted in Language
Learning. (Levy, 1997) defines CALL as
"the search for and study of applications of the
computer in language teaching and Learning.

(Peters, 2011)

Brief History of CALL

CALL dates back to the 1960s, when it was first
introduced on university mainframe computers.
The PLATO project, initiated at the University of
Illinois in 1960, is an important landmark in the
early development of CALL (Marty, 1981).[10] The
advent of the microcomputer in the late 1970s
brought computing within the range of a wider
audience, resulting in a boom in the development
of CALL programs and a flurry of publications of
books on CALL in the early 1980s.

The categorizations of CALL

Behavioristic CALL(1960s): it focuses on behaviorist and
structural theories of learning by giving practices and
drills. These are useful because of offering repetition for
the drills and getting immediate feedback.
Communicative CALL(1970s&1980s): it focuses on the
content rather than the forms themselves by teaching the
grammar implicitly. Many students like this approach
because it is flexible and interesting.

Integrative CALL(last decade):it focuses on multimedia and

electronic communication in language learning. This
approach is more authentic. It integrates all the skills with
eacg other ( writing, speaking, reading, listening).

What are the roles of the computer

in language learning?
(Skylark, 2015)
Computer works as a teacher.
Computer works as a medium between the
participants. (British council, 2015)
Computer offers free courses .
Computer offers immediate suggestions and
corrections.
Computer offers free games and apps to
communicate with native speakers.

How computer can be used for

language learning?
CALL programs can help in decreasing the
anxiety levels.
CALL makes learning-teaching more
interesting and less boring by providing the
learners with helpful and enjoyable games.
(Mulyanah, 2011)

 CALL programs promote the self-studying.

CALL programs enable the students to get
materials which are not easy to get in the
traditional ways of learning.

CALL programs offer repetitive practices that help

the learners to understand well.

CALL programs develop the learners skills

(reading, writing, speaking and listening ) by
using professional apps designed for this
purpose.

Apps and programs can help in

language learning:
Skype is an application that offers video calls,
chats and many other services. It is used to
enable the people to communicate with each
other. Learners use this app to help them
improve their language. They can communicate
with the native speakers of the language they
want to learn. In doing so they will learn the
pure language and their speaking skills
will improve.
(Jofoley, 2016)

Busuu is an application that is used to learn

many languages like English, Arabic, Chinese,
polish, German, Italian, Spanish, French
Portuguese's and Russian. It offers thematic
vocabulary, written corrections, chats with
native speakers, goal oriented, mobile app,
recording your voice, reinforce what you learn
and forums. Koko, (2013)

Some photos for CALL

(Admin, 2016)
(Yalinayakli,2015)

(Sharma, 2016)

(Snehansu, 2013)

To check your understanding, please take the quiz in the

following link
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctu4IsFsddVKaniKs
yDq-OaLWc354BmfeWz3KyPkQvwBccyA/viewform

References
British council.(2015,February 6), Computer-assisted language
learning (CALL) today a critique. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BnZ-mcNdn8&t=43s

koko.(2013, August 22),should you consider Busuu when

learning languages? Retrieved from
http://kokothepolyglot.net/2013/08/22/should-youconsider-busuu-when-learning-languages-review/
Kumar, Snehansu.(2013,June 28). Why Teachers Who Use
Technology Will Replace Teachers Who Don't?.Retrieved from
http://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/insights/401-teachers-whouse-technology-replacing-teachers-who-dont
Levy, M. (1997) CALL: context and conceptualization, Oxford:
Oxford University Press. Oxford