CALL Computer Assisted Language Learning

The Role of Computer-Assisted

Language Learning (CALL) in EFL

Classroom

In general, there are many roles of

Computer-Assisted Language Learning
(CALL) for language teaching and learning such
as tool or media in language teaching, source of material
for learning, tutor, simulator etc (Smaldino 2005:111)[1].
Levy (1997[2]) states that computers are often said to play at
least three roles in the classroom: tutor, teacher, and tool.
This article, however, there are only two roles of the computer, first, it can be regarded
as tool or media in EFL classroom. The second, it is viewed as tutor in EFL classroom
(Smaldino 2005). In the following sections, the roles of computers will be discussed
clearly.
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Computer as tool or Media
The role of the computer-as-tool or
media for language teaching and
learning has been widely discussed.
Ahmad et al. (1985) tesolgreece.com
stress that the computer is just a tool
without any inborn wisdom or a mind of
its own, that the computer itself is
incapable learning or teaching and that
it can only perform the exact
instructions given by a human user,
without which it is powerless. Philips likewise notes that the computer was only a tool
used to augment human capabilities (1987, www.tesolgreece.com[3]). The view of
computer as a tool or media for language teaching and learning has also become more
prevalent with the advent of the multimedia computer and the Internet (Warschauer,
2001[4]).
Networked computers and multimedia made both synchronous and asynchronous
global communication possible and provided learners with unprecedented access to a
wide range of authentic materials, which were regarded as essential to learning a
second language (Darhower, 2002; Warschauer, 2001; Yang, 1998[5]). Computer also

will give many simulation and exposures to the students through its software (Smaldino
2005).
Some students in learning found that the
students had ample exposures and
simulation from the computers. As we
know that the term exposure refers to
the access, in which the students can
see the use of the target language in
their real life such as advertisement,
entertainment, announcement (Pinter
2006: 39[6]). This
concept is strongly associated with the American psychologist B.F. skinner (1904-1990,
as cited in Hughes, 2002: 17[7]). According to Skinner, the philosophy behind
behaviorist models is that learning takes place through interaction with the world
through exposure to examples, through positive and negative stimuli, and trial and error
rather than from any inner faculty (cited in Hughes, 2002: 17).
Computer as Tutor
The assumptions underlying the computer-as-tutor role are that the computer is a
temporary substitute for the teachers and working with the computer as tutor can occur
outside the classroom without a teacher present (Levy, 1997[8]). The computer-as-tutor
has its theoretical roots in behaviorism and programmed instruction, which assume that
extensive drill and practice are the keys to second language acquisition (Levy,
1997).Click CALL Computer Assisted Language Learning to read complete article.