COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING

Abstract

The search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning is called 'Computer -assisted language learning.(CALL)It includes ICT applications to teaching and learning of languages and Foreign Languages. Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) program was started during 1960. The development of personal computer application, including games, and word processor opened up new technological possibilities.. Computer assisted language learning and teaching is a new and rapidly evolving field that explores the role of information and communication technologies in language learning and teaching. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Headnote

ABSTRACT

The search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning is called 'Computer -assisted language learning.(CALL)It includes ICT applications to teaching and learning of languages and Foreign Languages. Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) program was started during 1960. The development of personal computer application, including games, and word processor opened up new technological possibilities.. Computer assisted language learning and teaching is a new and rapidly evolving field that explores the role of information and communication technologies in language learning and teaching.

INTRODUCTION

The field CALL is inherently multidisciplinary. It applies research from the fields of second language acquisition, linguistics, and natural language processing to second language pedagogy. CALL combines the above mentioned disciplines with technology related fields such as computer science, artificial intelligence and media/ communication studies. Computer serves as a communication between the programmer and the user. By applying the use of computer skills, one can learn more. Hence the use of computer in Language Teaching will enhance the quality of teaching-learning process. A well designed program may help the users to solve their problems .Learning language through computer will help the learners as well as teachers.

HISTORICAL BACK GROUND OF CALL

CALL dates back to the 1960s, when it was first introduced on university mainframe computers. The PLATO project, initiated at the University of Illinois in 1960, is an important landmark in the early development of CALL (Marty 1981). The advent of the microcomputer in the late 1970s brought computing within the range of a wider audience, resulting in a boom in the development of CALL programs and a flurry of publications of books on CALL in the early 1980s.

With the arrival of multimedia and the internet, the role of computers in language instruction has now become an important issue confronting large members of language teachers throughout the world. In the field of language learning, the computer could interact with the learners. There are many packages for teaching language available in the market; each one has its own merits and demerits.. The development of personal computer application, including games, and word processor opened up new technological possibilities for CALL. Computer assisted language learning and teaching is a new and rapidly evolving field that explores the role of information and communication technologies in language learning and teaching the field CALL is inherently multidisciplinary. It applies research from the fields of second language acquisition, linguistics, and natural language processing to second language pedagogy. It melds these disciplines with technology related fields such as computer science, artificial intelligence and media/ communication studies.

NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING

NLP is a cover term which refers to the computational processing of textual material in natural human languages. Two primary motivation of NLP are listed below;

1. Natural language interference to databases.

2. Machine translation system.

3. Text analysis and generation system.

4. Information retrieval system.

5. Computer aided instruction system.

6. Question- answering system.

Cognitive science motivation is to gain a better understanding of how human communication using natural language and thereby to build artificial intelligence for the purpose of building up expert systems.

COMPUTER IN LANGUAGE LEARNING

Computer serves as a communication between the programmer and the user. By applying the use of computer skills, one can learn more. Hence the use of computer in Language Teaching will enhance the quality of teaching-learning process. A well designed program may help the users to solve their problems. Learning language through computer will help the learners as well as teachers.

With the advent of multimedia and the internet, the role of computers in language instruction has now become an important issue confronting large members of language teachers throughout the world. In the field of language learning, the computer could interact with the learners. There are many packages for teaching language available in the market; each one has its own .merits and demerits.

CALL TRAINING PACKAGES

Looking at the learners and the function of CALL, three important categories can be distinguished. Basic Training for CALL can take place in schools, colleges and universities. Schools are the main place for the basic training of CALL packages. CALL packages are not fully fit for the specific requirements of school education. Syllabus, teaching methods and school environment vary from one country to another. So, it is difficult to design CALL package for schools for the world wide usage.

CONTINUOUS AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Computer Aided Language Learning packages are used for the purpose of vocational training in companies. Some of the world wide exporting firms have lost their business because of the poor linguistics ability of their employees. Assuming this, each company, which has been affected by this problem, has installed CALL packages to improve the language skills of the employees.. The demand of English language learning in larger companies is naturally defined by their tasks and need to communicate with the partner or customer in other countries, which applies to international companies and export departments. The large companies mainly make use of custom-made products, which are defined to train special skills. An important consideration is that for large companies, developing CALL packages in house may be much cheaper than spending employees to language training centers.

PERSONALITY MOTIVATED TRAINING

It is also known as individual learning. Home use of multimedia is growing faster than office use, largely because of the increasing offer of CD-ROMs for entertainment and edutainment. This can be done through individual learning. Individual Learning through CALL packages facilitate individualized learning, when personal computers become more common and less expensive. The major criticism is that even after several years of instruction; the students have difficulty in using English for communication. In class rooms, the same information is given to all students and everyone studies in the same way.

Students are expected to learn the information from the textbook and teacher's lecture Individualized instruction means giving a suitable instruction to each student. It is not teacher-centered because different students learn using different methods and at different paces. It is a student centered education, and its purpose is helping students to learn what they need, using their learning independently. This can be done through the CALL package effectively. Learners and the functions of CALL can be distinguished in three important categories. They are:

1. Preparation of learning materials which covers linguistics and communicative aspects of learning.

2. Inclusion of grammatical aspects of language.

3. Preparation of lesson plan, drill, tests and evaluation.

ADVANTAGES OF CALL PACKAGES

CALL packages obviously offer interesting alternative to the traditional classroom environment. CALL programs provide immediate, fair and unbiased feedback to the users. CALL packages offer practice in specific area of language. Training in technical language is provided by the CALL software. Some programs are designed to prepare the students for special examinations focusing on the knowledge needed. CALL package offering integrated consulting feature are time saving, in comparison with the normally spent by using dictionaries and grammar books. Students with special educational needs gain an improved access to learn language through CALL.

The learner's learning improves by using CALL system. For teachers the support of recording and reporting student's progress makes it easier to setup more effective learning programs. Language learning system through CALL makes it entertaining, because many things can be presented by the CALL packages. It provides a well designed and nice looking graphical user in order to make teaching language.

PROBLEMS IN USING CALL PACKAGES

There are some demerits or problems in using CALL packages. The students who use CALL package may complain about

1. Inadequate user interfaces and the general lack of user friendliness

2. The lack of adaptivity

3. The restricted menu of exercises

4. The lack of adequate language processing methods

CONCLUSION

Apart from these complaints some people simply dislike or mistrust computer in general. This problem is obviously caused mainly by computer illiteracy. The current philosophy of CALL puts a strong emphasis on student-centred materials that allow learners to work on their own. Such materials may be structured or unstructured, but they normally embody two important features: interactive learning and individualized learning. CALL is essentially a tool that helps teachers to facilitate the language learning process. It can be used to reinforce what has been already been learned in the classroom or as a remedial tool to help learners who require additional support.

References

REFERENCES

Brown DH. Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. New Jersey: Printice Hall Regents.

Larsen-Freeman D. Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching. Hong Kong: Oxford University Press, 1993.

Richards JC, Rodgers TS. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching: A description and analysis. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1990.