Task 2: Literature Review

Title: The Benefits of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) towards Speaking Skills

1.0 Introduction

Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) is the use of application to improve the students learning. Since the 1960's, computers have been used for language teaching (Lee, K., 2000). Nowadays, computer has become an important component of second or foreign language learning pedagogy. Computers are not only used to give new format for traditional exercises but they also help to make things easier and fast.

Every learner has different needs and abilities of learning a language. Computer is based on learner-oriented while traditional method is based on teacher-oriented. It is quite difficult for the teacher to teach the students on speaking skills where teacher tends to be influenced by the mother tongue. In this paper, I would like to focus on ‘The Benefits of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) towards Speaking Skills’. As we know, the demand for speakers using English effectively is necessary in every country.

According to Khamkhien (2010), of all four key language skills, speaking is considered to be the most important in learning a second or foreign language. Speaking can clearly show the correctness and language errors that a language learner makes. Recent developments on the web have allowed for voice chat sites which make it possible for learners and teachers to interact through the Internet in distance education courses. Thus, motivations and online interactions will also be involved since learners need lots of supports and medium of interactions to master the speaking skills especially in foreign language.

2.0 Review and summary of the articles

Five related articles will be discussed in this section and some commons information will be highlighted into several points.

.

2.1 Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) Enhances Learners’ Speaking Skills.

Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) is part of the CALL where computers are a means through which teachers communicate with learners, learners communicate with one another and learners communicate with native speakers. The communication takes place through variations in the elements such as timing (synchronous or asynchronous), number and patterning of participants (one to one, one to many, or many to many) and medium (text, voice, or video) where computer is used as a mediator of communication.

Dr. Nesrin Ozdener (2008) in his study agreed that computer helps to improve the students’ speaking skills either through synchronous or asynchronous communication. It is supported by Ranjit Kaur and Mohamed Amin Embi (2009) where the findings of case respondents’ ability in making decisions regarding their learning tasks through Asynchronous Online Interactions (AOI) ranged between average to high, thus, it developed self-directedness and helped them in managing their own learning.

2.2 CALL Helps to Improve English Language

All the researchers from the five articles agreed that CALL could improve English learning with the activities provided. Apart from being a mediator in communication, CMC technologies will also create significant opportunities in cases where sufficient time cannot be allocated for communicative activities within the classroom due to limited teaching time (Nesrin Ozdener, 2008). Meanwhile, Lu, Z., Hou, L., & Huang, X. (2010) said, “In CALL environments, the focus of college English teaching in China has shifted from focusing on students’ linguistic ability towards focusing on students’ communicative language ability and pragmatic competence which means the teaching model is changing from a traditional teacher-centered to a student-centered and aims to develop students’ communicative language ability.”

Kaur, R. & Mohamed Amin Embi. (2009) did a research on Asynchronous Online Interactions (AOI) to explore Malaysian adult learners’ self-directed abilities through one mode of Computer Mediated Communication in a local private university. The findings showed that AOI developed self-directedness and aided them in managing their own learning.

Chyung, S. Y. (2007) came out with a research on Invisible Motivation of Online Adult Learners during Contract Learning (a method that uses a contract which is an agreement between parties to facilitate learning) found that the students felt more self-directed and motivated during contract learning, but what they really liked was being able to select assignments that were relevant to their interests and needs.

Nadzrah Abu Bakar (2007) in her research noted that the activities carried out in the class involved three different classroom environments which computer used as tutorial aids, computer used as tools and computer used as exploratory devices. The result from observation showed that computers were mostly used as tools to accomplish the writing activities, such as using word processing and PowerPoint presentation.

3.0 Conclusion

In some way, I do like the topic of the research where CALL really took place in speaking skills and helped in English language learning. In normal classroom, teachers would play as people who give the lecture meanwhile students would passively receive the knowledge without developing their speaking skills. Here, we can see the speaking skills are not used among students and cannot be developed.

Computers and language learning are closely inter-related and the integration of both can enable students to organize and process their knowledge at the touch of keyboard button. In addition, the use of CALL allows fast developmental assessment and fast update.

With all the advantages of CALL in ESL classroom though, it still has its limitations. This is because computer as itself without any good activities “does not provide adequate instructional value in and of themselves” (Means, 1994, pg. 13). Computer is just a tool (Philip, 1987) and it is supported by Ahmad et al. (1985) who think the computer is totally dependent on the teacher in many ways, for example, it is unable to create educational materials without a human to direct it. I do agree with the research done by Nadzrah where letting the students to use computers in the classroom without any concrete activities that relate to language learning and without any understanding of the conditions of using computers in the classroom somehow will be very unbeneficial to them (Bromley, 1998; Gunderson and Anderson, 1999; Hartschuh, 1999; Muir-Herzig, 2004).

Still, we could see that computer assisted language learning (CALL) somehow helps students to enhance their speaking skills. It is practical anywhere at anytime with certain conditions. Hence, traditional methods should be changed into more authentic and advance tools if we want to see changes in the students’ achievement especially in second language. Teaching speaking in Malaysian context using CALL would be the best suggestion.

Bibliography:

Chyung, S. Y. (2007). Invisible Motivation of Online Adult Learners during Contract Learning. Retrieved on February 16, 2011 from http://www.thejeo.com/Volume4Number1/ChyungFinal.pdf (link)

Kaur, R. & Mohamed Amin Embi. (2009). Self-Directedness through Asynchronous Online Interactions: A Malaysian Experience. Retrieved on February 16, 2011 from http://www.eurojournals.com/ejss_9_1_05.pdf (link)

Lu, Z., Hou, L., & Huang, X. (2010). Research on a Student-Centered Teaching Model in ICT-Based English Audio-Video Speaking Class. Retrieved on February 16, 2011 from http://ijedict.dec.uwi.edu/viewarticle.php?id=1015 (link)

Nadzrah Abu Bakar. (2007). English Language Activities in Computer-Based Learning Environment: A Case Study in ESL Malaysian Classroom. Retrieved on February 16, 2011 from http://www.ukm.my/ppbl/Gema/Vol7Issue1_Page33_49.pdf (link)

Nesrin Ozdener. (2008). Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) Journal in Foreign Language Education. Retrieved on February 16, 2011 from http://tojde.anadolu.edu.tr/tojde30/pdf/article_9.pdf (link)