LESSON(2)
TECHNOLOGY ANDLANGUAGELEARNING
Computer-Assisted Language
Learning (CALL)
WHATISCALL?
CALL stands for "Computer Assisted Language
Learning".
It is defined as "the search for and study of
the application of the computer in
language teaching and learning"
BEGINNINGOFCALL
The idea of using the computer in teaching
language dates back to the 1950s.
However, the first real application of the computer
in teaching language was in the 1960s and 1970s.
CALL , CALI & TELL
The term CALI (Computer-assisted language
instruction) was in use before CALL since the
1950s.
CALI fell out of favouramong language teachers as
it appeared to imply a teacher-centredapproach
(instructional), whereas language teachers are
more inclined to prefer a student-centred
approach, focusing on learning rather than
instruction.
CALL , CALI & TELL
In the 1980s, the communicative approach to
language teaching changed the focus from teaching
and instruction into learning.
The whole process changed into CALL (Computer
Assisted Language Learning) as it provided a highly
interactive and communicative support for the four
skills and the use of multimedia, CD-ROMs and the
internet.
CALL , CALI & TELL
In the 2000s different types of technology were
presented besides computers and the Post-
communicative approachesto teaching and
learning effected the advance of TELL(Technology
Enhanced Language Learning).
NATUREOFCALL
of CALL is essentially a tool that helps teachers to
facilitate the language learning process.
It can be used to reinforcewhat has been already
been learned in the classroom or as a remedial tool
to help learners who require additional support.
The design of CALL materials generally takes into
consideration principles of language pedagogy
and methodology, which may be derived from
different learning theories (e.g.
behaviourist, cognitive, constructivist) and second
language learning theories.
GENERALHISTORYOFTECHNOLOGY IN
LANGUAGELEARNING
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).
GENERALHISTORYOFTECHNOLOGY IN
LANGUAGELEARNING
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.
THREEPHASESOFCALL
The history of Call is usually divided into three
phases:
Behavioristic CALL
Structural CALL
Restricted CALL
Communicative CALL
Open CALL
Integrative CALL
Integrated CALL
BEHAVIORISTICCALL
(STRUCTURALCALL, RESTRICTEDCALL)
The firstphase of CALL
It was conceived in the 1950s and implemented in
the 1970sand 1980s,
It was based on the then-dominant behaviorist
theoriesoflearning.
Programs of this phase entailed repetitive
languagedrills.
Drill and practice courseware is based on the model
of computerastutor. In other words the computer
serves as a vehicle for delivering instructional
materials to the student.
BEHAVIORISTICCALL
(STRUCTURALCALL, RESTRICTEDCALL)
The rationalebehind drill and practice is briefly put
as follows:
Repeated exposure to the same material is beneficial or
even essential to learning
A computer is ideal for carrying out repeated drills, since
the machine does not get bored with presenting the
same material and since it can provide immediate non-
judgmental feedback
A computer can present such material on an
individualized basis, allowing students to proceed at
their own pace and freeing up class time for other
activities
BEHAVIORISTICCALL
(STRUCTURALCALL, RESTRICTEDCALL)
Based on these notions, a number of CALL tutoring
systems were developed for the mainframe
computers which were used at that time.
One of the most sophisticated of these was the
PLATO system, which ran on its own special
PLATO hardware, including central computers and
terminals.
The PLATO system included vocabulary drills, brief
grammar explanations and drills, and translations
tests at various intervals.
BEHAVIORISTICCALL
(STRUCTURALCALL, RESTRICTEDCALL)
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, behavioristic
CALL was undermined by two important factors.
First, behavioristic approaches to language learning had
been rejected at both the theoretical and the
pedagogical level.
Secondly, the introduction of the microcomputer allowed
a whole new range of possibilities. The stage was set
for a new phase of CALL.
COMMUNICATIVECALL (OPENCALL)
The second phase, Communicative CALL, is based
on thecommunicative approachthat became
prominent in the late 1980s and 1990s.
In the communicative approach the focus is on
using the language rather than analysis of the
language, and grammar is taught implicitly rather
than explicitly. It also allows for originality and
flexibility in student output of language.
The communicative approach coincided with the
arrival of the PC, which made computing much
more widely available and resulted in a boom in the
development of software for language learning.
COMMUNICATIVECALL (OPENCALL)
The first CALL software in this phase continued to
provide skill practice but not in a drill format, for
example: paced reading, text reconstruction and
language games, but the computer remained the tutor.
In this phase computers provided context for students to
use the language, such as asking for directions to a
place, and programs not designed for language learning
such asSimCity,SleuthandWhere in the World is
Carmen Sandiego?were used for language learning.
Criticisms of this approach include using the computer in
an ad hoc and disconnected manner for more marginal
aims rather than the central aims of language teaching.
INTEGRATIVECALL (INTEGRATEDCALL)
The third phase of CALL, Integrative CALL, starting from
the 2000s, tried to address criticisms of the
communicative approach by integrating the teaching of
language skills into tasks or projects to provide direction
and coherence.
It also coincided with the development of multimedia
technology (providing text, graphics, sound and
animation) as well as Computer-mediated
communication (CMC).
CALL in this period saw a definitive shift of the use of
the computer for drill and tutorial purposes (the
computer as a finite, authoritative base for a specific
task) to a medium for extending education beyond the
classroom.
INTEGRATIVECALL (INTEGRATEDCALL)
Multimedia CALL started with interactive laser
videodiscs such asMontevidisco(Schneider &
Bennion1984)andA la rencontrede
Philippe(Fuerstenberg1993),both of which were
simulations of situations where the learner played a
key role.
These programs later were transferred to CD-
ROMs, and newrole-playing games(RPGs) such
asWho is Oscar Lake?made their appearance in a
range of different languages.