A Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Research Paper

A Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) - Research Paper Example Different kinds of people study a language other than their own for different purposes. Some study to satisfy their need for knowledge. Others just want to be able to converse when traveling, studying or living in another country. Still there are others, like in South Korea, where learning another language, specifically English, is a means to have a job or get into a top university. â€Å"All one has to do is just take a walk in any bookstore and see just how big learning English is†¦. with the profusion of English language books, tapes, and test study guides  (Miller, J., 2006).† The acquisition of a new language, especially English, has led into a thriving business. Individuals and companies have come up and are continuously developing new educational materials to help people have better communication skills. As a result of the increasing demand, the techniques and modes have evolved from simple books and listening tapes to CDs/DVDs, computer software and websites on the Internet. Computer Assisted Language Learning or CALL has become a common method of acquiring another language. â€Å"The history of CALL suggests that the computer can serve a variety of uses for language teaching (Warschauer, M., 1996).† Not only do they enhance the users’ listening, speaking, writing and reading skills, but CALL programs also provide a variety of interesting materials and ways of learning. Since its advent, CALL programs have been used by schools, businesses, governments and individuals for different purposes. For those studying the English language, one use of CALL, for example, is as a medium in preparing students for English proficiency exams like IELTS. The Tell Me More English program is one of the many tools in the market that uses computer-based technology as a means of teaching the English language. The software was created by awarded CALL software developer Auralog and has been released in three versions since its introduction in the ma rket. Among its various functions, educational facilities utilize the Tell Me More English program to aid students entering college get a high score on English proficiency examinations such as that of the International English Language Testing System, better known as IELTS. Literature Review â€Å"The Tell Me More English program is the only English software that truly covers all of the skills used in learning English: not only reading, writing, listening, and speaking, but also grammar, vocabulary and culture (TellMeMore, nd.).† For learners of the English language, excelling in these skills is the key to becoming good speakers. It has been argued that although computers can be a tool in language learning, there are still questionable aspects of language acquisition through CALL programs that need to be addressed. Furthermore, it is yet to be realized how CALL materials can effectively impart learning of each basic communication skill. â€Å"Computer assisted language learn ing has developed over the last 30 years (Warschauer, M., 1996)†. CALL has three stages: behavioristic, communicative and integrative. The first stage, implemented in the 1960s-70s, was practicing by drills. The next stage, communicative, focused more on how the students interacted with each other while working on the computer rather than developing a more in-depth role for computers in the field of language learning. (Warschauer, M., 1996) Criticisms that surfaced from this aspect of communicative CALL gave rise to the third stage, integrative CALL. With integrative CALL, â€Å"students are challenged to construct their own knowledge with guidance from a teacher (Nerbonne, J., et.al., n.d.).† Although CALL has grown to be a popular medium for education, there are still