Call?.....CALL!

     Hi, everyone! Back with today's topic which is Introduction to CALL. So what is CALL actually? Is it the one when you're calling people with your phone? Uh-oh no, CALL stands for Computer Assisted Language Learning that defines as an approach to language teaching and learning in which the computer is used as an aid to the presentation and assessment of material to be learned. However, this program is rarely used nowadays because now we have Internet and use it every single day.

     Software used in a CALL environment can be designed specifically for foreign/second language learning or adapted for this purpose. For example, most language textbook publishers offer educational software (CD-ROMS) of some sort, whether it is meant to support a paper textbook or to stand alone for self-study. In addition, our lecturer also explained about the progression of CALL in the class. There are 3 types of the theories that being implemented; behavioral CALL, communicative CALL, and integrated CALL. So, what are these actually? 

1) Behavioral CALL 

- The first phase of CALL, conceived in the 1950s and implemented in the 1960s and '70s, was based on the then-dominant behaviorist theories of learning

- Computers did not get bored or impatient with learners and it could present material to the student as his/her own pace and even adapt the drills to the level of the student.

- Can provide immediate feedback 

- Efficient record keeping

2) Communicative CALL

- The second phase of CALL was based on the communicative approach to teaching which became prominent in the 1970s and 80s.

- The focus is on using the language rather than analysis of the language and perfect grammar. It also allowed for originality and flexibility in student output of language.

- Greater student involvement

3) Integrated CALL

- Starting from the 1990’s, tries to address these criticisms by integrating the teaching of language skills into tasks or projects to provide direction and coherence.

     Many educators (Jonassen 1996, Salaberry 1999, Rost 2002 in Lai 2006) indicate that the current computer technology has many advantages for second language learning. From here, we know that CALL programmers can provide student ways to learn English through computer games, animated graphics, and problem-solving techniques which can make drills more interesting. Not only that, they can decide on their own which skills to develop and which course to use, as well as the speed and level by their own needs. Alright, that's all for today's topic. See you at another time fellas! Annyeong!