Utilities of CALL in Classroom

Computer Assisted Language Learning 1

Utility of Computer-Assisted Language LearningIn Classroom

Syeda Zainab Kubra 11021502-012

Javaria Nadeem 11021502-56

Samra Amjad 11021502-71

Maryum Butt 11021502-33

Sadaf Yaqoub 11021502-007

GCWU,Sialkot.


Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the Uutilities of CALL in

classroom.In this age of technology,no doubt,every one is

aware of the advantages which can be taken by the right use

of technology.Computer,Internet,Web and stuff like that is

very essential in every field of life,i-e: Business,Keeping

Records,Banking etc.This paper highlights the use of such

technology in the particular field of Language Learning.It

will be explored that how language learning can be made

effective through the aid of computer.Online journals and

Books have been concerned in order to know those utilities

of CALL.Observations are made to judge the authenticity of

current research.All in all,this study will focus on major

contribution which CALL has made towards the field of

language learning.

Keywords:CALL,Utilities,Classroom,Language Learning


Content

Utility of Computer-Assisted Language Learning In Classroom……………….4-5

Analysis of Utilities of CALL in classroom……………….……………….………6

Social Media……………….……………….……………….………………………6-7

Facebook……………….……………….……………….……………….…………7

Twitter……………….……………….……………….……………….……………7-8

Blog……………….……………….……………….……………….……………….7-8

Youtube……………….……………….……………….……………….………….8

Instagram……………….……………….……………….……………….………..8-9

Edmodo……………….……………….……………….……………….…………9-10

Email……………….……………….……………….……………….……………10-12

Skype……………….……………….……………….……………….……………12-13

Multimedia usage in Classrooms……………….……………….……………….14-15

Print Text……………….……………….……………….……………….………16

Internet……………….……………….……………….……………….…………16

Films……………….……………….……………….……………….……………16-17

Educational Softwares……………….……………….……………….…………18

Importance of Educational Softwares……………….……………….…………21

Conclusion……………….……………….……………….……………….………22-23

References……………….……………….……………….……………….………24

Bibliography……………….……………….……………….……………….……25

Appendix……………….……………….……………….……………….…………26-27


Utility of Computer-Assisted Language Learning In Classroom

Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) is an approach to

teaching and learning foreign language where the computer and

computer-based resources such as the Internet are used to

present, reinforce and assess material to be learned. It usually

includes a substantial interactive element. It also includes the

search for and the investigation of applications in language

teaching and learning. Except for self-study software, CALL is

meant to supplement face-to-face language instruction and not

replace it. In recent years, CALL researchers have investigated

the advantages of using computers as teaching/ learning tools in

improving different language skills. Many studies indicate that

CALL provides an innovative and effective alternative for

language instructors. In addition, many studies indicate that

there has been an increase in emphasis on computer technology and

its integration at all level of education.Furthermore, computer

would allow learners to progress at their own pace and work

individually to solve problems, provides immediate feedback,


allows learners to know whether their answers are correct or not,

and provides them with the correct answers if their answers are

not correct.

Moreover, there are many more advantages of CALL. Motivation is

one such advantage. Motivation can be promoted in students by

personalizing information, having animated objects on the screen,

and providing practice activities which incorporate challenges,

curiosity and providing a context. Adapting to the learning of

students is a second advantage of CALL. This means that the

student controls the pace of learning and makes choices in what

and how to learn, which in turns makes students feel more

competent in their learning. The third advantage of CALL is

authenticity, the opportunity to interact in one or more of the

four language skills by using or producing texts meant for an

audience of the target language, not the classroom evaluation.

Students feel less stressed and more confident in this language

learning situation, in part because surface errors don’t matter

so much. The fifth advantage of CALL is development of critical

thinking skills. It is found that the use of computer technology

in classroom generally improves self-concept, mastery of basic


skills and more active processing resulting in higher-order

thinking skills and better reCALL.

As Pakistan is an under developing country and most of the

students are not well aware of the advantages of CALL.They

can’t,thus,utilize Computer assisted language

learning.It,then,become necessary to establish the utilities of

CALL in details.So,this paper aims to demonstrate those ways

through which we can gain benefits from the CALL in Classroom.


Analyzing Utilities of Computer-Assisted Language

Learning in CALL

Eager to explore the opportunities of promising technologies and

to assess their added value for language education, CALL

researchers and practitioners have recently shown a growing

interest in the social web. Independently of the reasons why the

CALL community is getting more and more interested in social

media it is undeniable that social media have been generating

enthusiasm, skepticism, expectations and even illusions since

2004, when the term web 2.0 was coined by Tim O'Reilly and his

colleagues in the field of computer assisted language learning.

Social media is an ingrained part of today’s educational

system. Students are constantly on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter,

skype, whatsapp and likely many sites we’re not hip enough to

know about them. If you want to bring the “real world” into the

classroom, consider integrating social media into your lessons.

When used carefully, social media can be a useful tool rather

than a distraction. Nowadays using social media not only brings


current technology to the classroom, but it also helps bridge the

digital divide among lower-income students. Education-based sites

such as Edmodo, Edublog, and Kidblog provide alternative social

media sites for posting status updates and announcements,

blogging, and micro blogging. But even the commercialized sites

can be useful for demonstrating social media to students.There are

some ways of learning through social media:

1- Create a Class Facebook Group:-

Facebook is known as a place to post status updates,

announcements, photos, and video all things that we likely use

in our classes anyway. Create a Facebook group for each class, on

which you can post assignments, make announcements, and remind

students about important deadlines. Parents can also access the

site to monitor what is going on in your class.

A Facebook group also creates a space for students to ask and

answer questions. When students get home and begin working on

their homework, they can post a question to the group’s wall that

either you or a classmate can answer. Since students often learn

from others, having students share their questions, insights, or


experiences with a topic can expand learning for other students.

In short, it extends the classroom discussion beyond the

classroom.

A Facebook group is also ideal for teachers using the flipped

classroom. Post videos, photos, documents, and other resources on

the group’s wall so that students can access them before class or

while working on their assignments. Of course, with the help of

CALL students can access all these opportunities for

announcements and resources foe effective learning.

2- Start a Topical Twitter Feed:-

Like Facebook, Twitter offers a quick way to post class

announcements and reminders as well as real-time information on

class field trips. Twitter also helps classes track information

on a topic.

For instance, for a class discussing a current event or topic

such as career ideas, Twitter can provide up-to-date information,

eliminating the need for extensive research. By following the

Twitter feeds of experts in the field or even hashtags focused on

a current world issue, students can learn more about what is


happening in the world around them. You can use this information

in a variety of class discussions, research, and writing

projects.

Twitter is made not only for reading, but also for responding.

Encourage students to interact with others via Twitter by posting

their favorite quotes or facts from a particular lesson. Have

them interact with experts by tweeting questions or comments.

Many organizations offer Twitter chat sessions with which

students can interact.

3- Require Students to Blog:-

Student writing improves the more they do it. Instead of

traditional writing projects, blogs create great

opportunities for students to write and display their writing on

a larger scale. The topic ideas are endless. Have students

reflect on lessons or field trips, document research for a larger

project; or review movies, books, or audio recordings. Ask

students to illustrate their thoughts with photos or videos.


By having students read each other’s blog posts, they will create

a stronger community with one another, discovering shared

experiences and reactions. Because their work becomes part of the

greater World Wide Web, students have increased motivation to

carefully consider their language, spelling, and grammar usage as

well as how they draw in outside information. In this vein,

blogging can be an excellent segues into a discussion on

plagiarism, voice, and writing style.

4- Post Student Videos to YouTube:-

Like Facebook, YouTube is an excellent option for flipped

classrooms in that students can watch lectures and resources

before entering the classroom. We have all probably shown a

YouTube clip or two to illustrate a point in the classroom.

Instead of watching material created by others, why not have

students create their own material?

Similar to blogging, the opportunities for student-created video

are plenty. Students will enjoy watching each other explain a

concept, review a book or movie, stage their own interpretation

of a scene from a play, create public service announcements, or


report on news stories. Again, like blogging, since the material

will be seen by a wider audience, students will be more apt to do

their very best in creating a video, and they will enjoy being

able to express their creativity as they connect more deeply with

course material.

5- Showcase Student Work on Instagram:-

If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine what a carefully

crafted class Instagram feed can say. Instagram can showcase

student work by offering a place to feature student artwork or

even interesting details about a student (i.e., a “meet a

student” photo journal). Start a scavenger hunt in which students

post pictures of items focused on a certain letter or theme. Have

students post photos of items related to their favorite book or

historical figure.

6- Create a Social Classroom on Edmodo:-

Edmodo helps you create a social, digital classroom. On Edmodo,

you can vote, post assignments, create a class assignments

calendar, and upload photos and messages to students. With


more 17 million users, Edmodo has been a highly successful

endeavor. It allows students to get real-time feedback by taking

quizzes online. Teachers can also engage socially with one

another by sharing lesson plans online and asking questions to

their online communities. Edmodo's Global Read Aloud program

encourages students to practice their reading and public speaking

skills with other students from around the world

7- E-mail as learning Tool in classrooms:-

The use of CALL and in particular e-mail in the classroom has

essentially increased the teacher's central role in

"orchestrating learning experiences". Certainly, if one looks at

the number of ways e-mail may be incorporated into the classroom,

one realizes the challenge that exists for teachers to guide

students learning via this form of electronic media so that

students can develop their communication and thinking skills in

what is perceived by students as a "very realistic form of

communication".

A Reduction In Student Anxiety:-


Asynchronous e-mail has been described as magnifying the power

and immediacy of the written word and as such represents

authentic communication with a delay which allows students time

to think and compose a message (Jung, 1999). This delay reduces

student anxiety that they may otherwise feel using other forms of

communication such as face-to-face or by telephone. This seems

especially relevant for students communicating with native

speakers through electronic pen pal or key pal exchange or with

their native speaking teacher. In other words, asynchronous e-

mail might be less threatening for students to use to communicate

with their teachers. The strategic use of e-mail can be a clever

way to overcome the problem of face-saving which can inhibit

learning. In fact, because e-mail is created by word processing

on computer, students are more likely to revise their work more

thoroughly due to the ease of correction. While using the word

processor for general purposes apparently facilitates detachment

and therefore makes students more willing to accept criticism, it

is unlikely that students would have the same feelings of

detachment to the more personal writing generated through e-mail

correspondence.


Another way in which e-mail may reduce anxiety is for students to

communicate via student lists. This concept in which students

send their messages to an e-mail list rather than to an

individual allows students to receive mail in the target language

without having to worry about responding to what they receive.

An Improvement in Language Skills:-

In terms of improving target language skills, a study done on

students using internet resources as a primary instructional tool

found that e-mail was the most useful tool employed in the class

and that students believed they improved their writing skills

over and above their listening, speaking and reading skills.

Empirical studies on the use of e-mail in foreign language

writing have shown it improves students' attitudes towards

learning and practicing the target language.


In sum,students tend to benefit from using e-mail both in its

synchronous and its asynchronous forms by having opportunities to

communicate in real life situations. E-mail provides a kind of

non-threatening atmosphere in which students feel less inhibited

about expressing themselves, are more likely to revise their

work, and are stimulated to learn by connecting to a real

audience. While some studies confirm the amount of discourse

increases through e-mail, it does not appear to affect length of

academic writing. Additionally, although students appear to

revise their work more carefully, they do not necessarily improve

their grammar or increase their vocabulary. Thus, lastly, and

crucially, the success of e-mail seems to depend on how teachers

adopt it in the classroom; like any good teaching resource, its

use needs to be planned carefully and integrated properly into

the curriculum. Further, it appears that students should have

their work monitored so that errors may be addressed; that is, a

student's mistake must be either self-corrected or teacher

corrected for them to learn.


8- Skype in classrooms:-

Through CALL learning becomes easier and effective with the use

of Skype in classrooms. The most popular technology once used to

entertain has been converted for classroom use. I-Pads have

successfully transitioned into the classroom. Educational video

games are being developed and used in schools, and now Skype is

coming aboard. The emphasis on Skype’s educational use started a

year ago when Tony Bates became CEO. Skype launched its formal

educational initiative, and the beta version of the teacher’s

network dropped in March with about 4,000 teachers signed up. As

of August the numbers had grown to 15,000. Skype in the Classroom

can also be a great resource when students are absent. It is

inevitable students will miss days due to illness and even

suspensions. When students miss school, they miss valuable

learning opportunities. Using Skype in the Classroom along with

other tools like Drop box can create an online school experience

for students and allow them to stay on top of their assignments.


But the implications aren’t only for teachers and students.

Parents can benefit from Skype as well. They can communicate with

teachers through Skype CALLs and chats to stay abreast of their

child’s performance when face to face meetings aren’t feasible.

Communicating with parents and guardians is easier and teachers

are also able to expand the boundaries of the classroom. Skype in

the Classroom just makes sense for the classroom. The benefits go

far beyond just the student. With the application teachers and

improve the classroom experience as well as parent/teacher

relationships.

Content Sharing

During registration educators submit what they are looking for

and are encouraged to use keywords which will help match teachers

with relevant connections. Once teachers are linked with others

they can find effective methods of teaching and content sharing

opportunities. Teachers can share ideas for projects or set up

opportunities for students across the country to collaborate on

an assignment.


Communication

Communication has never been easier than with Skype in the

Classroom. With a quick search, teachers are connected with

individuals who teach the same subject and grade. Once they are

added as contacts, it is simple to chat one on one or form

groups. Students read books and write reports all the time, but

imagine an opportunity to chat and discuss the book with the

author or to have a book club with students from other states all

through Skype in the Classroom. Opportunities like this bring

education to life and are valuable learning experiences for

students and teachers.

Large Scale Projects

Skype in the Classroom is an excellent source for project ideas.

There is a project tab on the top of the page that takes users to

a list of various projects posted by teachers around the world.

Users can narrow the results to find a wide range of projects.

Some of the projects posted are collaborative efforts where

students from various schools can work together. Other projects


are posted as ideas to build on. Along with the list of projects

is a tab for questions and comments.

Use of Multimedia in Classroom

One of the techniques to improving the students’ meets the

academic needs and helps

them developing English language skills is providing multimedia

during the computer assisted language learning classroom.

Multimedia classroom provide the students chances for interacting

with diverse texts that give them a solid background in the tasks

and content of mainstream college courses.

One use of CALL (computer assisted language learning) in

classroom is through multimedia. Multimedia is a kind of CALL.

Multimedia classroom provide the students chances for interacting

with diverse texts that give them a solid background in the tasks

. That will make possible for teachers giving more opportunity to


students being happier and more enjoy during the course. The use

of multimedia described here makes use of print texts, film and

Internet to develop and enhance linguistics and knowledge.

Through their interactions with multimedia texts on topic of

interest, students become increasingly familiar with academic

vocabulary and language structures. Using print, film and

Internet as resources for studying provides students with

opportunities to gather information through stimuli that will

stimulate their imaginations, engage their interest and introduce

them to the raw materials for analysis and interpretation of both

language and context. Students develop solid foundation in

several subject areas and become “content experts” in one. One of the

main purposes of software in writing is to facilitate the

development of academic writing skills for students through the

use of the objects matter for writing assignments.

The time it takes to earn the degree in education today is based

on an increasingly

Out dated model: so many hours in a classroom entitle a student

to a receipt in the form of a grade, and so many receipts can be

redeemed for a credential in the form of a degree.Education today


is just beginning to think of shifting the basis of certification

from time served to skills and knowledge obtained.

Traditionally,classroom situation is teachers stand in front of

the students, giving explanations, informing, and instructing.

They usually use chalk to write something on the blackboard.

These technique needs slightly to be modified regarding with the

development of the

technology. The using of multimedia in classroom cannot be denied

anymore. That will make possible for teachers giving more

opportunity to students being happier and more enjoy during the

course. Traditional classrooms have different settings from

the multimedia classrooms. Students seat in rows and a chalkboard

in the front. The teacher is

standing in front of the class giving a lecture. Compared with

traditional classrooms, multimedia

classrooms setting differ greatly from traditional classrooms.

Traditional classrooms have the seats in rows and a chalkboard in

the front. In the multimedia classrooms, students’ seat can be

modified according to the situation needed. Inside the

classrooms, all the equipment is available and makes the students


feel comfortable to study. They sit at wide tables in comfortable

chairs and have plenty of room to spread work. Furthermore, they

also have the opportunity to move the furniture around for group

discussions. A large teaching station is located at the front and

to one side of the room. Inside the station cabinet there are

controls for the rooms built – in equipment. The use of

multimedia described here makes use of print texts, film and

Internet to develop and enhance linguistics and knowledge.

Through their interactions with multimedia texts on topic of

interest, students become increasingly familiar with academic

vocabulary and language structures. As they pursue sustained

study of one content area through focus discipline research, the

students become actively engaged in the process of meaning

construction within and across different media. Working though

the complex intermingling of meanings, embedded

within different texts encourages students to make connections as

they build a wider range of schemata, which are then available to

help them grasp future texts. Using print, film and Internet as

resources for studying provides students with opportunities to

gather information through stimuli that will stimulate their


imaginations, engage their interest and introduce them to the raw

materials for analysis and interpretation of both language and

context.

There are three things comes in multimedia and teachers can use

these in computer assisted language learning classroom.

Internet

Print texts

Film

Internet

Computer has given us Internet, which is an electronic medium in

which both print and visual resources are invariably bound. At

the click of a mouse, text resources present students with a

diverse collection of authentic English language texts dealing

with a wide variety of interdisciplinary topics, and at each web

page link, students have the advantage of reading print texts

with the benefit of immediate visual reinforcement provided by

pictures and slide shows, facilitating the collaborative effects

of print and visual information processing.

The Print Text


The Print text used in presenting students with sophisticated

reading that contains cognitively demanding language and

introduces a wide range of vocabulary. . In writing class of

using multimedia, students watch the selected video novel. After

watching students are asked questions about the video and

assigned essay topics, then divided into brainstorming groups. .

It is obviously that in the multimedia classroom students are

engaged to learn how to brainstorm, how to use groups for draft

and how to critique other presentations.

The Film

In the CALL (computer assisted language learning) classroom, Film

can also be used to provide a visual material. The students can

read a print text and watch the film later. the film can clarify

comprehension, consolidate concepts and reinforce learning. It is

expected to the students to fully understand both visual and

verbal comprehension. By watching the complete film the students

expected to understand various areas of academic discourse such

as psychology, environmental science and others to broaden the

verbal and written perspective.


So, Multimedia is playing a vital role in CALL’s utility in

Classroom.


Educational Softwares

Online education software has become an essential teaching tool

for teachers to use as part of their lessons. Their

implementation in classrooms has improved performance of both the

students and teachers alike.There are many types of educational

software available for a variety of different subjects, but

educational software companies have now began to create

educational applications for students and teachers to use as

learning and teaching tool. Following are types of educational

software that a school should implement:

1. Authoring Systems

An authoring system helps teachers develop their own

instructional software. Teachers can create electronic flash

cards or index cards to teach children about certain concepts.

Also, they can create multimedia content like reviews, lessons,

and tutorials. You may even consider web based alternatives

because web authoring systems assist teachers in creating

multimedia content that can be used on a website.


2. Desktop Publishing

Desktop publishing software is used to create and design

handouts, newsletters, and flyers. Teachers can use this software

to inform parents and students about events or activities taking

place in school. Usage of desktop publishing software is a must-

have skill for new graduates, and so high schools are already

teaching students how to use desktop publishing suites such

as Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite.

3.Graphic Software

Students can use graphic software to capture, create, and change

images available on the internet, on the program itself, or

images available online. It is especially useful for creating

online presentations.

4. Reference Software


Teachers can include reference software in research projects.

Reference software let’s students access the encyclopedia,

thesauruses, atlases, and dictionaries.

5. Drill & Practice Software

Teachers can include drill and practice software to strengthen

the existing skill set of the students. This software is

beneficial when teachers are trying to prepare students for exams

and tests.

6. Tutorial Software

Through tutorial software, teachers can teach students new

lessons and provide them a platform through which they may learn

the lesson at their own pace. Tutorial software consists of

giving students new information to learn, give them time to

practice it, and then evaluate their performance.


7. Educational Games

There are numerous educational gaming software available in the

market. Educational software companies have combined gaming and

education into one. This type of software is very effective

younger children because it motivates them to learn.

8. Simulations

Simulations software enables teachers to teach students through

virtual experience. For instance, students can use this software

to gain the experience of flying a plane.

9. Special Needs Software

Online education software also includes special software

developed to address the requirements of a student with special

needs. This software is combined with assistive software

providing students with special needs with an effective platform

to learn. Examples include computers reading text aloud, speech

synthesizers, and multimedia software targeting certain learning

disabilities.


10. Math Problem Solving Software

This educational software makes it possible for math teachers to

strengthen the problem solving skills of students and science

teachers may use this software to conduct science experiments.

11. Utility Software

Utility software assists teachers in preparing tests, quizzes,

and even functions as a grading book. Teachers that are not used

to technology will find this software easy to learn and use.

There are lots of great reasons why you should consider using

educational software in your classroom. For instance, this

software will enable your students to become more effective

independent learners. Even severely disabled students can succeed

herein because this software places everyone on the same level.


This software can also enable students to gather information that

otherwise would have been impossible, time-consuming or costly.

For instance, data from outer space can now be utilized. Students

can also experiment with the changing aspects of a model like

increasing or lowering interest rates in order to see how this

affects the economy. All of this can be very motivational for

students and these are just some of the numerous advantages of

educational software.

One way to incorporate educational software into your curriculum

is to set aside at least 30 minutes within your classroom each

day. During this time you will only want to focus on one or two

different skills along with proper computer usage. This should

not be difficult to do since the only time that you will want to

help the child is when he is stuck. Otherwise allow him to have

time to explore and learn on his own.


Conclusion

The whole discussion is about the use of CALL in a classroom. How

it can be used in different ways in order to get more benefits

and how does it affect the learning process of a language.

CALL is essentially a tool that helps teachers to facilitate the

language learning process. It can be used to reinforce what has

already been learned in the classroom or as a remedial tool to

help learners who require additional support. The utility of CALL

makes the atmosphere of a classroom more interested. Use of

computer technology in classrooms is generally reported to

improve self-concept and mastery of basic skills, more student-

centered learning and engagement in the learning process, more

active processing resulting in higher-order thinking skills and

better recall, gain confidence in directing their own learning.

It is attempted to describe the importance of CALL by showing two

different situations and it is detected that how boring a

classroom is without CALL and how interesting it can be with

CALL. In one situation the use of multimedia and its importance

for better understanding is shown and in other situation, the


most popular internet usage and its significance is shown.

Multimedia is a blessing for everyone. In a classroom, there are

thousands ways of using multimedia like students can use

microsoft word, excel for animation, for different styles of

text, for images and can also use audio visual aids in their

presentations and assignments.

Social media has also a great impact on our lives. It has

revolutionized everything. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, skype,

whatsapp and many other are very common among students of the

modern age. If it is used carefully then one can bring the real

world in a classroom. Students can have group discussions, can

share lessons with each other and can create a blog etc through

social media.

Educational softwares are also very helpful for students. These

softwares also shows the usage of CALL and its importance. The

primary purpose of these softwares is teaching or self-learning.

A very common example of educational software is courseware.

There is no doubt that CALL is a blessing but there are also some

problems for its usage. Like for enjoying the benefits of CALL

one should have computer, he/she must be able to use it, must


know about all four skills, bandwidth problems, access to

internet etc and for some students cost of different softwares

can also be a problem. But despite of all these obstacles CALL

has made a great impact on our lives.


References

Al-Seghayer. (2001). The effect of multimedia annotation modes on vocabulary.Newyork: Penguine.

Blake. (2000). Computer mediated communication. Language Learning and Technology.

Chapelle. (2001). Computer Applications in Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge University Press.

Hauck, H. a. (2001). Towards an effective use of audio conferencing in. Language Learning and Technology .

Winke. (2008). Opening Doors Through Distance Language. Research on Teaching Reading.


Bibliography

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www.academia.edu

www.wikipedia.com

www.Goodreads.com

www.Bookzz.org

www.ask.com

www.englishabc.com

http://www.englishabc.com/

http://www.ask.com/

http://www.Bookzz.org/

http://www.Goodreads.com/

http://www.wikipedia.com/

http://www.academia.edu/


Appendix

Utilities of CALL in Classroom

Documents

Transcript of Utilities of CALL in Classroom