Computer Assisted Language Learning David Len Informatica Educativa

Computer Assisted Language Learning

Computer Assisted Language Learning is a method that was used from the 1960, as far as it can be tracked back. It was taught that it was simply the aid of the computers in a class for a presentation. But it has a deeper meaning than this. CALL is a great method that has been helping language learning for many years to be more effective and easier but just like everything in life, CALL also has its disadvantages. For the 30 years that CALL has been known and used it has also developed in some areas and they are divided in three areas which are; Behavioristic CALL, Communicative CALL and integrative CALL.

"The search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning" (Davies, 2011). This is the definition that is given by Levy and it is the definition in which many CALL practitioners agree with. CALL was used in the 1960s but just in the 1970s it was confined in the universities. The Plato project was begun in the late 1960 in the University of Chicago Illinois but with the development of the personal computers (PC) CALL grew its range in audience. This resulted in the boon of its development (Davies, 2011). Since the late 1970s CALL has been an important area of research since there is still a ton of theories, information and ideas that are waiting to be discovered.

Advantages and Disadvantages

One advantage that CALL has it is that offers a powerful self-access facility (Domingo, 2011). That is that it gives that autonomous learner freedom of choice. The students will become the masters of their own learning experience; this means that they can choose to learn whenever the student would prefer. But to this advantage there is also a counter-argument which is the fact that many teacher say that the computer are undertaking functions that should be done by trained teachers. Another main advantage is that gives a new role to teaching materials, (Domingo, 2011) that means that thanks to CALL the materials adapt to the requirement of the student, they become interactive. But according to Phillip this is the counter-argument, to what extent is it desirable that more of the management of learning be embodied in the materials themselves rather than in the way they are exploited? There is also one advantage and one disadvantage in the methology

Computer Assisted Language Learning David Len Informatica Educativa

area, the advantage is the following, brings about changes in the teaching methodologies of English, (Domingo, 2011). The disadvantage that comes with this advantage is the fact that teachers only use the computer to fill in the blank, that is that they put the student in front of the computers just to fill in the gap exercises.

Three Phases of CALL

For the 30 years that CALL has been known and used it has also developed in some areas and they are divided in three areas which are; Behavioristic CALL, Communicative CALL and integrative CALL. Behavioristic phase is based on the Behavioristic theories of the 1950s, but it was implemented in the 60s and 70s. This phase is described as the computer as a tutor (Warschauer, 2011), that is that through drill and practice. The computer worked as a messenger of instructions and material for the student. Communicative CALL was based in the communicative approach that became prominent in the 1970s and 80s. It was taught that the drill and practice did not have enough authentic communication. According to John Underwood this are some advantages of Communicative CALL: focuses more on using forms rather than on the forms themselves; teaches grammar implicitly rather than explicitly; avoids telling students they are wrong and is flexible to a variety of student responses. (Warschauer, 2011). The last phase of is the integrative CALL which is divided in two: multimedia and internet. When it talks about the multimedia is the advantage that is has to have a C DROM, which allows text, sound, animations and videos be accessible from single machine. This makes the autonomous learning easier since the only thing that the learner has to do is to point with the mouse and click. The internet provides a constant and permanent communication of the learner with other learners and with the teacher. Computer Assisted Language Learning has been implemented since the 1960s. It has developed many things that have increased the knowledge and the use of the technology in language learning. It has developed in many ways that have created phases in CALL which have brought advantages and disadvantages. Even though it has brought a ton of new knowledge there are still many more things to be discovered from it.

Computer Assisted Language Learning David Len Informatica Educativa

References
Davies, G. (2011, August). llas. Retrieved August 28, 2011 Domingo, N. (2011, August). www.terra.es/personal/nostat/ Terra. ict4lt. Retrieved Retrieved August August 28, 29, 2011, 2011, from from

Warschauer, M. (2011, July 20). www.ict4lt.org/en/warschauer.htm