Using Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) materials in English as Second Language (ESL) classrooms: perspectives of teachers and students in United Arab Emirates

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-62
Author(s):  
Ramia DIRAR SHEHADEH MUSMAR
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
English As Second Language ◽  
Teachers And Students

Using Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) materials in English as Second Language (ESL) classrooms: perspectives of teachers and students in United Arab Emirates

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramia DIRAR SHEHADEH MUSMAR
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Technologies ◽  
Student Diversity ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Learning And Teaching

Integrating scaffolding-learning technologies has been recognized for its potential to create intellectual and engaging classroom interactions. In the United Arab Emirates, having language teachers employ computers as a medium of new pedagogical instrument for teaching second languages generated the idea of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) as a medium of an innovative pedagogical instrument for facilitating and scaffolding language learning, with an aspiration that it will lead to improved English language attainment and better assessment results. This study aims at investigating the perspectives of students and teachers on the advantageous and disadvantageous impacts of CALL on learning and teaching English as a second language in one public school in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The results show that CALL has a facilitating role in L2 classroom and that using CALL activities is advantageous in reducing English learning tension, boosting motivation, catering for student diversity, promoting self-directed language learning and scaffolding while learning English. The results additionally report that numerous aspects like time constraints, teachers’ unsatisfactory computer skills, insufficient computer facilities, and inflexible school courses undesirably affect the implementation of CALL in English classrooms. It is recommended that further studies should be undertaken to investigate the actual effect of CALL on students’ language proficiency. 

A Review of CALL and L2 Reading

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lance R. Askildson
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Acquisition ◽  
Second Language Reading ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
Self Study ◽  
Incidental Vocabulary

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the present state of second language reading research and computer-assisted glossing for reading comprehension and vocabulary acquisition. Although computer-assisted language learning, in general, and computer-assisted glossing, in particular, are often cited as facilitative pedagogical and self-study tools for second language reading development (Chun, 2001; Al-Seghayer, 2003; Ko, 2005; Blake, 2007; Stockwell, 2011), the state of computer-assisted glossing research presents a much less compelling and far more nuanced picture of efficacy and facilitation (Ariew & Ercetin, 2004; Bowles, 2004; Taylor, 2006, 2009; AbuSeileek, 2008; Sato & Sazuki, 2010). Research on glossing for reading comprehension presents a mixed collection of findings suggesting facilitation (Leffa, 1992; Lomicka, 1998; Ko, 2005) and inhibition (Hegelheimer, 1997; Plass et al., 2003; Akbulut, 2005; Sakar & Ercetin, 2005), although affective and attentional benefits of glossing for reading comprehension are widely acknowledged. On the other hand, research on incidental vocabulary acquisition as a result of glossing – and particularly multimedia glossing – suggests significant effect and a compelling rationale for ulitization of glossing tools in classroom and self-study contexts (Ariew & Ercetin, 2004; AbuSeileek, 2008; Taylor, 2009; Stockwell, 2011; Aljabri, 2011).

CALL research archive: How can an online knowledge base further communication among second language professionals

ReCALL ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-253
Author(s):  
JANE L. HANSON ◽  
SVETLANA DEMBOVSKAYA ◽  
SOOJUNG LEE
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Second Language Learning ◽  
Keyword Search ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Search Index

The inspiration for our project arose from a perceived gap between research in foreign/second language learning and classroom practice. In order to address this issue, we created a web site containing summaries of seminal articles in the area of CALL – computer assisted language learning. The summaries are useful for many teachers who do not have time to read full text journal articles and understand the statistical terms, but would like to take advantage of the research findings. Researchers will receive feedback from teachers in the form of comments, which may give insight for further research. Other features of the website are: a database of teachers' comments and demographic information, keyword search, index, glossary, chronological and alphabetical bibliography, links to research archives and sites assisting with statistical terminology and design of experiments.

Observations in the computer room: L2 output and learner behaviour

ReCALL ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTINE LEAHY
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Oral Interaction

This article draws on second language theory, particularly output theory as defined by Swain (1995), in order to conceptualise observations made in a computer-assisted language learning setting. It investigates second language output and learner behaviour within an electronic role-play setting, based on a subject-specific problem solving task and the Internet as source of primary information. Students were given a task which includes the collaborative development of a marketing strategy for a chosen product. Data collected consists of the following corpora: emails exchanged between groups, the recorded discussions between each group’s members while engaged in the problem solving activity, oral presentation of the groups’ results as well as the individually written summaries. One area of particular interest is the analysis of the oral L2 output while solving a computer-assisted language learning task. How can the oral interaction be characterised? What kind of conclusions regarding the use of CALL can be drawn from the comparison of the oral interaction and the written output? Another area of interest is the analysis of the written L2 output. Is there evidence of second language acquisition and/or acquisition of content? Can such a CALL setting promote second language acquisition (SLA) and/or acquisition of content? Finally, the study aims to identify whether student-initiated focus on language form can be found. The article answers the questions posed above. Furthermore, the results of this study show that a very high percentage of all communication took place in L2 and occurrences of acquisition of content and language can be demonstrated.

scholarly journals The Effects of the Multimedia ‘English Discoveries’ Program on the Learning of Five Different Language Skills with High School Students

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Benavides
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Traditional Classroom ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
School Students ◽  
Oral Production ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
High Level

This study determines the effects of the application of multimedia technology -Computer-Assisted language learning (CALL) in the development of five language skills using ‘English Discoveries’. It shows that the effects of multimedia materials for language learning are not necessarily better as a whole, but different from those obtained in traditional classroom work. Only two of the five variables showed significant differences in favor of the use of Multimedia: pronunciation and oral production. However, grammar showed opposite results. The teachers’ and students’ reactions suggest the need to adapt their roles to the new context in the future use of CALL and multimedia. The high level of acceptance of this type of materials by the students shows the need for more research and better adaptation of activities to the new context.

scholarly journals Young L2-learners' meaning-making in engaging in computer-assisted language learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Anna Hell ◽  
Anna-Lena Godhe ◽  
Eva Wennås Brante
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Young Students

<p>This study explores how newly arrived young students created meaning, communicated, and expressed themselves using digital technology in the subject of Swedish as a second language (SSL).  The qualitative case study presented in this article focuses on how the orchestration of teaching contributed to opportunities for digital meaning-making in the SSL subject in four classrooms at three schools in a city in Sweden. The notion of language as being fluid, which involves a critical approach to languages as separable entities, considers linguistic and embodied meaning-making, including digital technology, in social processes. This approach recognizes the roles of technology and digital meaning-making in young students’ second language acquisition. Moreover, technological innovations facilitate immediate and accessible communication.  In today’s language studies, ethnicity only is not considered an adequate focus of analysis. Furthermore, the meaning-making practices of newly arrived primary school-aged students remain under-investigated. In the present study, data collected in classroom observations and teacher interviews revealed three themes regarding the students’ utilization of digital technology to develop their multilingual skills. One insight was that the newly arrived students used digital technology strategically when they engaged in meaning-making activities with peers and teachers. When the students took the initiative in computer-assisted language learning, they displayed agency in meaning-making by being their own architects. The findings of this research provided insights into how the orchestration of teaching in Swedish as a second language to newly arrived students affects their opportunities to use multilingualism in meaning-making while employing digital technology.</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document