Towards the Normalization of Web-Based Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) in College English Instruction

Author(s):  
Hongmei Wang ◽  
Hui Yuan ◽  
Shanshan Zhang

Since the turn of the 21st century, many Chinese higher institutions followed the trends of Web-based Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL) in College English instruction. After one decade's development, the effectiveness of this west-originated approach remains to be investigated. This chapter analyses two cases from two Chinese higher institutions, examining to what extent Web-based computer-assisted language learning is integrated into College English teaching and how the instructors and students adapt to it. The findings in the two cases show that lack of training for both faculty and students, technological defects of online systems, hybrid levels of students' English proficiency within one class have presented great challenges to the implementation of the new mode of instruction. While defining these obstacles, the second case, in particular, explored ways to address some of these challenges by the innovative use of internet technology.

Author(s):  
Hongmei Wang ◽  
Hui Yuan ◽  
Shanshan Zhang

Since the turn of the 21st century, many Chinese higher institutions followed the trends of Web-based Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL) in College English instruction. After one decade’s development, the effectiveness of this west-originated approach remains to be investigated. This chapter analyses two cases from two Chinese higher institutions, examining to what extent Web-based computer-assisted language learning is integrated into College English teaching and how the instructors and students adapt to it. The findings in the two cases show that lack of training for both faculty and students, technological defects of online systems, hybrid levels of students’ English proficiency within one class have presented great challenges to the implementation of the new mode of instruction. While defining these obstacles, the second case, in particular, explored ways to address some of these challenges by the innovative use of internet technology.


2005 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-123

05–206Chan, Tun-Pei & Hsien-Chin Liou (National Tsing Hua U, Taiwan, China), Effects of web-based concordancing instruction on EFL students' learning of verb–noun collocations. Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) (London, UK) 18.3 (2005), 231–251.05–207Chang, Mei-Mei (National Pingtung U of Science and Technology, Taiwan, China), Applying self-regulated learning strategies in a web-based instruction – an investigation of motivation perception. Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) (London, UK) 18.3 (2005), 217–230.05–208Coleman, James A. (The Open U, UK; [email protected]), CALL from the margins: effective dissemination of CALL research and good practices. ReCALL (Cambridge, UK) 17.1 (2005), 18–31.05–209Eslami-Rasekh, Zohreh (Texas A and M U, USA; [email protected]), Raising the pragmatic awareness of language learners. ELT Journal (Oxford, UK) 59.3 (2005), 199–208.05–210Foley, J. (SEAMEO RELC, Singapore; [email protected]), English in…Thailand. RELC Journal (Thousand Oaks, CA, USA) 36.2 (2005), 223–234.05–211Frankenberg-Garcia, Ana (ISLA, Lisbon, Portugal; [email protected]), Pedagogical uses of monolingual and parallel concordances. ELT Journal (Oxford, UK) 59.3 (2005), 189–198.05–212Hansson, Thomas (U of Southern Denmark, Denmark), English as a second language on a virtual platform – tradition and innovation in a new medium. Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) (London, UK) 18.1/2 (2005), 63–79.05–213Hu, Guangwei (Nanyang Technological U, Singapore), Using peer review with Chinese ESL student writers. Language Teaching Research (London, UK) 9.3 (2005), 321–342.05–214Jung, Udo O. H. (Bonn, Germany; [email protected]), CALL: past, present and future – a bibliometric approach. ReCALL (Cambridge, UK) 17.1 (2005), 4–17.05–215Kaltenböck, Gunther & Barbara Mehlmauer-Larcher (U of Vienna, Austria; [email protected]), Computer corpora and the language classroom: on the potential and limitations of computer corpora in language teaching. ReCALL (UK) 17.1 (2005), 65–84.05–216Lasagabaster, David & Juan M. Sierra (U del País Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Spain), Error correction: students' versus teachers' perceptions. Language Awareness (Clevedon, UK) 14.2/3 (2005), 112–128.05–217Liu, Gi-Zen (National Cheng Kung U, Taiwan, China; [email protected]), The trend and challenge for teaching EFL at Taiwanese universities. RELC Journal (Thousand Oaks, CA, USA) 36.2 (2005), 211–221.05–218Lundy, Garvey F. (Pennsylvania U, USA; [email protected]), School resistance in American high schools: the role of race and gender in oppositional culture theory. Evaluation & Research in Education (Clevedon, UK) 17.1 (2003), 6–30.05–219Nemtchinova, Ekaterina (Seattle Pacific U, USA; [email protected]), Host teachers' evaluations of non-native-English-speaking teacher trainees: a perspective from the classroom. TESOL Quarterly (Alexandria, VA, USA) 39.2, 235–262.05–220Nickerson, Catherine, Marinel Gerritsen & Frank v. Meurs (Radboud U, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; [email protected]), Raising student awareness of the use of English for specific business purposes in the European context: a staff–student project. English for Specific Purposes (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) 24.3 (2005), 333–345.05–221Palfreyman, David (Zayed U, Dubai, UAE), Othering in an English Language Program. TESOL Quarterly (Alexandria, VA, USA) 39.2, 211–234.05–222Sonck, Gerda (U Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium), Language of instruction and instructed languages in Mauritius. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development (Clevedon, UK) 26.1 (2005), 37–51.05–223Svalberg, Agneta M. L. (U of Leicester, UK), Consciousness-raising activities in some Lebanese English language classrooms: teacher perceptions and learner engagement. Language Awareness (Clevedon, UK) 14.2/3 (2005), 170–193.05–224Wegerif, Rupert (Southampton U, UK; [email protected]), Reason and creativity in classroom dialogues. Language and Education (Clevedon, UK) 19.3 (2005), 223–237.


Author(s):  
Khoiriyah Khoiriyah

Listening skills, considered by many to be the most critical language learning skills, have yet to emerge a variety of problems for learners. In order to have an effective listening class, teachers can use one of the many technology-enhanced language learning tools, web-based materials. In this article attempts have been made to make a comprehensive review on the grounded theory of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Second Language Learning (SLA) related to the use of web-based resources in teaching and learning English, especially for listening skills. This article also proposes a framework for conducting CALL evaluation that is worthy for website materials. The result yields a good guideline for teachers to make judgment or decision in choosing the most congruent web-based sources for teaching listening skills. As a result, teachers are able to adapt a proper teaching materials and methodology for listening skills.


ReCALL ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Phoebe Lin

Abstract This paper presents IdiomsTube (https://www.idiomstube.com), the first-ever computer-assisted language learning tool for facilitating the learning of English idiomatic expressions from YouTube videos. The web-based tool is designed to automatically (1) assess the speech rate and lexical difficulty level of any learner-chosen English-captioned YouTube video; (2) generate a range of vocabulary-building and revision tasks (e.g. fill-in-the-blanks, the classic spelling game hangman, pronunciation, flashcards); and (3) recommend YouTube videos based on learners’ individual learning progress, class teachers’ instructions, and current trends. This paper describes the app’s current features in conjunction with the challenges endemic in the development of applications that automatically generate English language learning content out of internet video content. At the time of writing, the IdiomsTube app had over 8,000 registered users worldwide.


Author(s):  
Wai Meng Chan

The nature of learners’ interactions with the computer has received thus far relativelylittle attention in computer assisted language learning (CALL) research. In particular,few studies have investigated the role of metacognition, acknowledged in cognitiveand constructivist learning theories as an important factor contributing to thelearning outcome, in the processing of CALL tasks. This chapter reports on a qualitativestudy that examined the relationship between subjects’ metacognition and theirinteractions with a German language CALL grammar exercise. The data collected seemto indicate that the effective use of interactive aids is dependent on the extent oflearners’ metacognitive knowledge. Conversely, it was observed that interactive aidshad a positive effect on learners’ metacognition by supporting their strategy use andhelping them build new metacognitive knowledge. Excerpts from subjects’ think-aloudreports and retrospective interviews will be presented to illustrate these insights.


2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (02) ◽  
pp. 411-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
VICTORIA TSIRIGA ◽  
MARIA VIRVOU

In this paper we present and discuss the results of the evaluation of an Intelligent Computer Assisted Language Learning (ICALL) system that operates over the Web. In particular, we aimed at evaluating the system along three dimensions: a) the effect of the intelligent features of the system on the learning outcome of students, b) the system's ability to provide individualized support to students that leads to more effective use of the system and c) the general usability and friendliness of the ICALL. To achieve this, we conducted an empirical study, where we compared the intelligent system with a non-intelligent version of it. The results of the study revealed that the students of the Web-based ICALL had gained more knowledge of the domain and had been able to interact with the system more effectively as compared to the students that had used the non-intelligent version of the system. However, the students of the intelligent version of the system found it more difficult and they needed more time to get acquainted with the system in comparison to the students of the non-intelligent system.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 1555-1563
Author(s):  
Anashia Ongonda ◽  
Mary Nguvi Muindi

The application of an appropriate teaching methodology plays an important role in the acquisition of language skills. Soft skills such as oral and listening skills are all important for young adults who are about to enter the working world. However, soft skills are not well captured in the curriculum at the university level. Thus, employing Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) may hinder learners from noticing these important skills that are useful in real life. This study aims to demonstrate that the combination of TBLT and web-based language learning enhances student’s ability to acquire soft skills that are paramount in their real life. The following hypothesis guided the study: soft skills are enhanced through the use of a combination of task-based language teaching and web-based language learning. The experimental research design was used for the current study where a pre-test/post-test methodology was utilized. The target population for the current study was 300 third-year students studying English as a second language. Therefore, thirty students formed a sample size of the current study and were subjects of the experiment during one semester. The experiment consisted of exposing two groups fifteen each, randomly sampled, to a set of activities but using different methods, one of which was Computer Assisted Language Learning. Participant observation method was also used and was deemed important for the interpretation of the quantitative data. Data were analysed quantitatively.  Thus, the results of the current study were derived from statistical analysis. The mean in the performance of the control group and the experimental group was significantly different. The findings of the study show that when learners are exposed to the web and visual aids, they become actively involved in the process of learning unlike in an aural environment. The study recommends the use of Computer Assisted Language Learning as a method of motivating and enhancing student’s development of soft skills. The application of an appropriate teaching methodology plays an important role in the acquisition of language skills. Soft skills such as oral and listening skills are all important for young adults who are about to enter the working world. However, soft skills are not well captured in the curriculum at the university level. Thus, employing Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) may hinder learners from noticing these important skills that are useful in real life. This study aims to demonstrate that the combination of TBLT and web-based language learning enhances student’s ability to acquire soft skills that are paramount in their real life. The following hypothesis guided the study: soft skills are enhanced through the use of a combination of task-based language teaching and web-based language learning. The experimental research design was used for the current study where a pre-test/post-test methodology was utilized. The target population for the current study was 300 third-year students studying English as a second language. Therefore, thirty students formed a sample size of the current study and were subjects of the experiment during one semester. The experiment consisted of exposing two groups fifteen each, randomly sampled, to a set of activities but using different methods, one of which was Computer Assisted Language Learning. Participant observation method was also used and was deemed important for the interpretation of the quantitative data. Data were analysed quantitatively.  Thus, the results of the current study were derived from statistical analysis. The mean in the performance of the control group and the experimental group was significantly different. The findings of the study show that when learners are exposed to the web and visual aids, they become actively involved in the process of learning unlike in an aural environment. The study recommends the use of Computer Assisted Language Learning as a method of motivating and enhancing student’s development of soft skills.


ReCALL ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 432-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
VOLKER HEGELHEIMER ◽  
KETTY REPPERT ◽  
MEGAN BROBERG ◽  
BRENDA DAISY ◽  
MAJA GRGUROVIC ◽  
...  

As more and more teacher preparation programs realize the need to include courses that deal with computer-assisted language learning, a crucial decision as to what is taught needs to be made, taking into consideration the various post-graduation goals ranging from teacher or teacher-trainer to researcher. Thus, the question of whether to go beyond teaching the potential uses of the computer and the Internet and to delve into how to create relevant computer-based tasks using the WWW and to train teachers in the use of advanced web page development techniques, including Flash, web-enabled databases, and the interactive possibilities of the WWW needs to be addressed. This paper tackles these issues and illustrates a sample approach in dealing with the grooming of the new generation of CALL researchers and practitioners. What can be accomplished during the first year of an MATESL program that highlights the importance of technology is explored through a reflective questionnaire, a computer capabilities matrix, and an analysis of web-based course projects. Nine first-year M.A. students participated in the study, which revealed that despite widely differing initial computer and Internet expertise among these future teachers and researchers, their knowledge of creating and using web-based materials increased significantly, culminating in a project in which the skills acquired throughout the semester were successfully integrated.


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