In the field of education there have always been different kinds of teaching English techniques as a foreign language, but nowadays technology has taken over of teaching process. Teachers need to be updated with children, teenagers and adults are relate more today, and it is the technology. There are some important methods to teach English, but the most important ones are Computer-assisted language learning and information and communication technology.
CALL (Computer-assisted Language Learning). García A. (2011) defined CALL as the search for study of application of computers in language teaching and learning, however it can also be explained easily as a languagividual practice on certain language points.e instruction which is aided though the usage of computers providing more ind
It became popular since the 1960s and 1970s and the fact that made possible to spread it worldwide was the arrival of the Personal Computers (PC) on the 70s.
CALL is also defined by Levy (1997: p. 1) as "the search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning". CALL embraces a wide range of ICT applications and approaches to teaching and learning foreign languages, from the "traditional" drill-and-practice programs that characterized CALL in the 1960s and 1970s to more recent manifestations of CALL, e.g. as used in a virtual learning environment and Web-based distance learning. It also extends to the use of corpora and concordancers, interactive whiteboards, Computer-mediated communication (CMC), language learning in virtual worlds and Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL)”.
The current philosophy of CALL puts a strong emphasis on student-centered 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.
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. behaviorist, cognitive, constructivist) and second language learning theories such as Stephen Krashen's monitor hypothesis.
Although some people think that the usage of computers in education interferes in the students oral production, including fluency, we consider there are several advantages of using CALL in the educational context. One important advantage of CALL is that the use of personal computers connected to the Internet allows students to learn from different teachers of the target language, for example, they can watch videos of classes from a native American teacher or from a local linguist. Another advantage is that technology and information are being improved everyday different form textbooks, therefore it is easy to have contact with the target language in use nowadays by natives. In addition a great benefit of using CALL in English as a Foreign Language and English as a Second Language is that it avoid the frustration in students when we have to repeat several times something they did not get it; they just have to repeat the video, recording or activity; this advantage helps their self-steem and increases their motivation.
In conclusion, Computer-assisted language learning and information is a method that every teacher have to use to get a better learning in their students through world-wide material and multimedia activities that catch their attention.
References
García, A. (2011). Computers and Language Teaching. Computer-assisted Language Learning. Retrieved October 24th from the World Wide Web: http://www.csi-csif.es/andalucia/modules/mod_ense/revista/pdf/Numero_42/ANTONA_GARCIA_1.pdf
Graham, D. (n.d) Computer-assisted Language Learning. Retrieved October 24th from the World Wide Web: http://www.llas.ac.uk/resources/gpg/61#toc_0
Howe, D. (2010). Information and Communication Technology. Retrieved October 24th from the World Wide Web: http://foldoc.org/Information+and+Communication+Technology
Kelly, J. (2000). What the web is doing for schools. . Retrieved October 24th from the World Wide Web: http://specials.ft.com/lifeonthenet/FT3NXTH03DC.html
Lamy M.-N. & Hampel R. (2007) Online communication in language learning and teaching, Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan.
Levy, M. (1997) CALL: context and conceptualisation, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Schmid, E. (2009) Interactive whiteboard technology in the language classroom: exploring new pedagogical opportunities, Saarbrücken, Germany: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller.
Shield L. & Kukulska-Hulme A. (eds.) (2008) Special edition of ReCALL (20, 3) on Mobile Assisted Language Learning.
