Computer Assisted Language Learning CALL

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Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL)

• Ingrid K. Bowman
• Senior English Language Fellow, Tunis

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Overview

• Why use computers to teach English?
• The ALIVE theory
• Teachers and computers
• Ways to integrate computers
• Your action plan
• A few tips

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Why use computers to teach English?

• The Internet is one of the worlds primary means
  of communication, especially in global business.
• Projected number of worldwide Internet users in
  2005 is 350 million (compared to 150 million in
  1998).
• The Internet offers vast resources in all fields
  at a relatively low cost.

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How can the Internet make your English teaching
come alive?For more on the alive theory, see
Warschauer, Internet for English Teaching. TESOL
2000.

• Authenticity
• Literacy
• Interaction
• Vitality
• Empowerment

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Authenticity

• Language learning is most successful when it
  takes place in authentic meaningful contexts.

• The Internet is a real context of communication
  used by people and businesses.
• Students have 24-hour access to any topic and
  up-to-date information in their fields.
• It offers real opportunities for communication
  and publishing (real life practice).

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Literacy

• A primary form of literacy in the business
  world of the 21st century is the ability to read,
  write, communicate, research and publish on the
  Internet.

• Combining English and technology in the classroom
  helps your students master skills for academic
  and occupational success.

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Interaction

• Achieving fluency in a language is best
  approached through interactive or communicative
  activities.

• The Internet is the most available form of
  24-hour interaction.
• The Internet offers local, national and
  international possibilities to interact.

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Vitality

• One of the most common teacher challenges is
  motivating students or how to create fun and
  meaningful activities.

• Younger generations grew up with computers.
• For them the Internet is fun, flexible,
  interactive, multi-modal and related to real-life
  needs.

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Empowerment

• Self-motivation and autonomy in learning increase
  the personal power of both teachers and students.

• Empowering learners to find what they need, when
  they need it, helps us construct new knowledge.
• By mastering the Internet, teachers and students
  will shape the multimedia future.

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With computers, why do we need teachers?

• Just as students cant learn by simply sitting in
  a classroom, neither will they improve by sitting
  in front of a computer.
• The teaching makes the difference,while the
  technology is a useful tool (as long as it is
  effectively taught and applied).

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Web-based suggestions for integrating computers
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Create an action plan today!

• Teachers post a syllabus online.
• Create email access for teachers and students to
  communicate with each other.
• Organize your own, small professional development
  workshops. Agree to observe each other.

• Assign teams to each level. Choose topics and
  links. Collect lesson plans.
• Create teacher web sites with resources.
  Coordinate to avoid overlap.
• Integrate computers in class work for students.

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Learning the hard way. A few suggestions from the
trenches...

• Dont be afraid of knowing less than your
  students.
• Pair and group students. Encourage meta-language
  discussion about what they are doing.
• Offer choices to students.

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A few more suggestions

• Balance! A little computer time is better than
  none.
• Learner autonomy is our goal.
• Always know that technology isnt smooth sailing.

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A special thanks

• Mark Warschauer, Heidi Shetzer, Christine Meloni
  Internet for English Teaching. TESOL
  Publications. 2000.