IT Skills in Supporting ELT

Introduction to Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL)

Dr Wang Lixun

Department of English, HKIEd

What is CALL?

Any process in which a learner uses a computer and, as a result, improves his or her language.

(Beatty, K. (2003) Teaching and Researching Computer-assisted Language Learning. London: Longman. p.7)

Computers are tools

to support teaching and enhance learning (e.g. powerpoint presentation, software for learning)

For inquiry and problem solving (e.g. database, Web)

To communicate ideas & information (e.g. email, online chat, discussion board)

Computer as a tool in ESL Learning

Computer in different areas of language studies

Machine Translation

Started in the 1950s Cold War political motivations A couple of online Machine Translation

systems:

http://www.foreignword.com/Tools/transnow.htm

http://babelfish.altavista.com/

Human-Machine Conversation

Eliza: a software seeking clarification and simulates a sympathetic listener through a series of general comments, requests for explanations and paraphrases of the learners’ comments with additional question tags.

http://www-ai.ijs.si/eliza/eliza.html

Computer-based Language Exercises

Multiple-choice True or False Text reconstruction Gap-filling Speed-reading Listening comprehension Vocabulary games

Interesting things for ESL studentshttp://www.manythings.org/fq/

Activities for ESL Studentshttp://a4esl.org/

Language Games

Hangman

http://www.billsgames.com/hangman/

Crossword puzzleshttp://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/xword/XWordApp/default.htm

Chicktionary

http://www.primarygames.com/reading.htm

Speech Synthesizer Text-to-speech synthesizer: ReadPlease 2003

http://www.readplease.com/english/downloads/#rp2003

Text-to-speech synthesizer: RealSpeakhttp://www.scansoft.com/speechworks/realspeak/demo/default.asp

Step 1 :select file quality [realspeak solo(better quality)]Step 2 :select language [English, U.S.]Step 3 :select speaker (if any) [English, U.S.-Jennifer]Step 4 :type in the text in the box provided.Step 5 :press [next], wave file will be generated.Step 6: save and open the .wav file.

Multimedia learning environment

SimulationWho is Oscar Lake?

http://www.languagepub.com/oscar/oscar.html

Electronic storybooksClifford’s Interactive Storybooks http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/

Film makingD.Film MovieMaker http://www.dfilm.com/new_site/movie_2.0.html

Learning through the Internet

Tandem learning (through emails)http://www.languages.dk/tandem/

Online Bulletin board (discussion board, forum) Online chat (r u ready 2 go?) video conferencing MUD (Multi-User Dungeons)

http://www.livinginternet.com/d/d.htm WebQuests

http://webquest.org/ Web Blogging (online journal)

http://www.blogger.com/start

Artificial intelligence

Virtual Learning based on artificial intelligence

http://www.isi.edu/%7Ejmoore/Mankin/MankinTLWeb.mov

TEEM

Teachers Evaluating Educational Materials

http://www.teem.org.uk This is a very useful site that includes teachers’

evaluations of a large number of software and websites. It also includes detailed case studies of how teachers used the resources as well as publishers’ information. Highly recommended.

Technology driving CALL

Past (from 1950s): basic textual gap-filling tasks and other simple exercises

Present: hyperlinked, interactive multimedia presentations with sound, animation, full-motion video, and artificial intelligence.

Theoretical perspectives of CALL

1970s-1980s 1980s-1990s 21st Century

Structural Communicative Integrative

Behaviorist learning

Cognitive constructivist learning

Sociocultural theories of learning

Dependant Independent Collaborative

Drill and practice

Communicative exercises

Authentic discourse

The role of the teacher when using computers in ESL Learning

The traditional role of the teacher has been to present ready-made information and to organise learning experiences for students

How can IT be used in the classroom to facilitate or even take over those roles to some extent?

The computer provides access to additional sources of information. It has the potential to reduce student’s dependency on the teacher, so that they become more autonomous and active learners.

If students are more autonomous in their learning, the teacher’s role can be less didactic, and gain the freedom to function as ‘enablers of quality learning experiences” (Somekh & Davies, 1991)

Seven competencies in IT for teachers of English

Positive attitudes towards IT Understanding the educational potential of IT Ability to use IT effectively in subject teaching Ability to manage IT use in the classroom Ability to evaluate IT use Ability to ensure differentiation and progression Technical capability to use an appropriate range of

IT resources and to update these skills

The National Council of Educational Technology, UK