scholarly journals Identifying the contradictions in the technology enhanced language classroom

Seminar.net ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Miles

This study takes place in the context of a federal laptop-mediated English language pre-university course in the United Arab Emirates. Despite predictions and claims from policy makers and practitioners that 1:1 classroom devices would revolutionise teaching and learning, student results remain static and student attrition remains high. Through the lens of activity theory this paper identifies ten contradictions, and their discursive manifestations, potentially causing failure and attrition. This paper contributes to the fields of technology enhanced learning, 1:1 device initiatives, English language teaching, computer assisted and mobile assisted language learning and activity theory by highlighting several problematic experiences in teachers’ practices and mapping these within the activity system context. The paper also questions the positive impact of a 1:1 laptop initiative in this particular context, with implications for future research.

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-103
Author(s):  
Rup Narayan Shrestha ◽  
Bharat Pahari ◽  
Jai Raj Awasti

The present article discusses the importance of language, in general, and English, in particular, in the context of engineering education in Nepal. It mainly discusses the importance and application of language laboratory for the enhancement of skills and proficiency of English language in the learners of Bachelor's level in engineering in Nepal. The main objective of the present article is to highlight the importance of teaching and learning of English language in the B.E. level in engineering by using language laboratory. In course of the present study, literature available in different accessible sources was reviewed for collecting necessary data and designing theoretical framework for the same. From the study, it has been found that language laboratory is tremendously helpful in creating favourable atmoshphere for language learning and helping the learners to acquire necessary language skills useful to them in sharpening their study at present and streamlining their research and innovative activities in their further studies in the future. English language is now the language of worldwide communication, and therefore, it is very essential for the students of engineering to be proficient in communication through English not only for grabbing job opportunities open at present but also to furthering their future research and innovative endeavors and publishing their reports and research articles based on them. Language Laboratory is highly instrumental for attaining ample proficiency in English language, the means of global communication.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jie.v10i1.10882Journal of the Institute of Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2014, pp. 94–103


Author(s):  
Christina Gitsaki ◽  
Abbad Alabbad

The positive effects of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) have been widely acknowledged in the body of literature. While the majority of studies concern the use of CALL in the West, there is a dearth of research on the use of CALL in the Middle East and in particular in the Arabian Gulf where the English language plays a prominent role and being able to speak English is the passport to attending higher education and gaining employment. This chapter documents two case studies in higher education institutions in the Gulf, one in Saudi Arabia and one in the United Arab Emirates. The studies show how the use of CALL positively affected Arab students’ language skills and their attitudes towards learning English with technology, paving the way for further research in the Arabian higher education context, where the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for teaching and learning is gaining ground at a fast pace.


2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 356-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melina Porto ◽  
Ann Montemayor-Borsinger ◽  
Mario López-Barrios

In this article we review research on English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching and learning published in Argentina between 2007 and 2013. This is the first review of a Latin American country in this series. Argentina has a century-long tradition of training EFL teachers but a comparatively shorter though fruitful history of foreign language (FL) research. The article examines 88 articles that appeared in locally published peer-reviewed conference proceedings, academic journals and one edited collection. The contributions cover a wide spectrum of topics that illustrates prominent research interests in the country, such as the role of imagination, emotion and affect in language comprehension and production, intercultural dimensions, FL teacher education and development, content and language integrated learning (CLIL), computer-assisted language learning (CALL), the teaching of English for academic or specific purposes, testing, assessment and evaluation, and materials design and course development. The review includes work by specialists whose research may not be known outside the boundaries of Argentina but who produce high-quality situated research that accounts for the specificity of the local educational setting.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
Robert C Kleinsasser

This paper further develops information from a plenary address given during the inaugural UHAMKA International Conference on English Language Teaching (ELT) and Computer assisted language learning (CALL) (UICELL 2017) in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 23, 2017. This article encourages inquiry into hybrid (blended, connected, etc.) and second language acquisition (SLA) research, teaching, and learning. Panoramic sketches survey current hybrid research and practice. Heeding Fishman and Dede’s (2016) advice, readers will be challenged to consider shifting from “educational evolution to transformation and disruption” and “investing in a robust, flexible infrastructure of people and tools” (pp. 1320-1321). Second language (L2) acquisition elements will offer potential to broaden the edges of various landscapes of L2 teaching and learning (e.g., face-to-face, online, and hybrid), while offering avenues of innovative research potential for hybrid types of investigations, in general. Readers will be enjoined to consider macro- and micro- issues where they can puzzle about the creation and development of vibrant (L2) hybrid (blended, connected, etc.) teaching, learning, and research agendas.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramia DIRAR SHEHADEH MUSMAR

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. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wachyu Sundayana ◽  
Panusak Meekaeo ◽  
Pupung Purnawarman ◽  
Didi Sukyadi

Washback refers to influences of testing on teaching and learning. In Thailand and Indonesia, washback of the Ordinary National Educational Test (O-NET) and Ujian Nasional (UN) inevitably occurs on teaching and learning in classrooms at every level. This present study aims to explore and compare the washback effects of the O-NET and UN on English language learning as perceived by Thai and Indonesian ninth-grade students. It is a multi-case study (Thailand case and Indonesia case) by using triangulation design as the research design. The questionnaires concerning washback effects of national exams on English language learning were distributed to 200 ninth-graders in the two cases. In addition, six students from each case were interviewed. The results reveal that in both cases, the participants focus to learn on contents and skills that were likely to appear in the national exams. The participants learned English harder to perform well in the tests rather than to improve their English ability. Moreover, the students had high anxiety during the test preparations and feared for low O-NET and UN scores. The results of the study contribute to future washback study and improvement of English language teaching and learning at ninth-grade in Thailand and Indonesia.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-271
Author(s):  
Evi Mahsunah

This study explores the changing students’ habit update status in social media into update chapter to increase their achievement in English. It is a learning strategy in English language teaching and learning using social media technology. The aim is to motivate students more active to read their literature and then share and discuss their reading in social media. The students not only have to update their chapter in reading, but also have to give comment or respond to their friends update. So, this strategy makes the students discuss their lesson more than usual. This study uses questioner and documentation technic to collect the data. Based on the data, it is known that students are already using social media for purposes that include the social and the educational. Update chapter make them using this technology in class/after class. Social media brings learning outside the classroom autonomous, independent, motivational and fun. Therefore, the students‘achievement in English language teaching and learning also increases significant.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Irena Kuzborska

This article is based on the plenary talk given at the inaugural UHAMKA International Conference on English Language Teaching (ELT) and Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) (UICELL 2018) in Jakarta, Indonesia, 23 November 2018, and focuses on the explanation of reading as a communicative rhetorical act. Outlining the key features of such reading, it then considers the benefits of reading texts rhetorically. A specific focus is given to the role of rhetorical reading in writing. While the article acknowledges the limited research on the relationship, it provides some evidence that reading texts rhetorical can lead to both more effective reading and more effective writing. A specific technique on how to teach students to read texts rhetorically is also presented in this article.


2021 ◽  
pp. 136216882110609
Author(s):  
Kim Murray ◽  
José Reis-Jorge ◽  
Julie-Anne Regan

Research in language learning indicates that process drama (PD), an educational approach where students and teachers work in and out of role to explore themes and issues, can be well suited to the Japanese higher education (HE) context. Despite the benefits highlighted in the literature, PD remains a niche approach to language teaching and learning, with a limited number of practitioners in Japan. This study seeks to uncover language teachers’ experiences of becoming Process Drama Practitioners (PDPs) and using and sharing PD as an English language teaching approach in Japanese HE. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with six experienced PDPs. The findings indicate that prior positive experiences with drama was an encouraging factor of the adoption and self-directed initial use of PD in their teaching practices. Positive student outcomes and feedback were primary motivators for continued use of PD. Experiences of sharing PD led to a perceived need to distinguish PD from theatre-based approaches and establish connections to familiar approaches to language teaching.


Author(s):  
Revathi Viswanathan

With the advancement in technological tools and devices, language teachers can foster learning of communication skills through mobile devices. There is a growing interest among students to use the latest gadgets for getting connected with their peers. It must be admitted that the usage of these devices would bring in a real revolution in the teaching and learning process. It has been widely accepted that mobile learning promotes students' active participation. Teachers also now understand that one of their responsibilities is to create more opportunities to make their students practice language skills. Although numerous researches has been done in the field of English Language Teaching in India, research on mobile assisted language learning is still in an infancy stage. In this chapter, the author discusses the possibility of offering training through mobile apps, based on research she conducted recently.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document