CALL-Computer, Language, Assisted, Learning

Multi-media CALL package (Self Explanation)

This package includes the platforms that I as a teacher would use to help students learn, progress and acquire a new language. This environment that students learn in is vital to their success in achieving progression in language learning. As technology plays a huge part in our society today, it’s important that students can use this platform to learn a language to help with enhancing language skills and motivation.

Reference to De Castell on CALL evaluation (Explanation)

“New ‘partnerships’ of designers and developers committed to technology for its own sake now create products for the ‘education marketplace’, with little or no experience of, or interest in, underlying educational goals, while explicitly educational theories are supplanted by a re-purposed economistic discourse” (Castell et al, 2000).

De Castell, S., M. Bryson and J. Jenson. 2000. Object lessons: towards an educational theory of technology. First Monday, Peer-Reviewed Journal on the Internet.

Multi-media CALL package wish list

These are the elements or platforms that I feel would really help a language learner achieve confidence in their learning…                                                           

• Virtual games- Apps such as Duolingo which involve virtual games would allow students to learn new phrases or vocabulary whilst enjoying the game at the same time. Games that involve students to pronounce words to include a micro phoning system would also help with pronunciation. This app would be viewed to students through a class projector and interactive white board.
• TV programmes- Playing at least thirty minutes of a television programme for students during class would be very beneficial to their learning. For younger students, television programmes which involve different animated characters or symbols would allow students to interact and aid memorisation of words. For more mature students playing programmes such as ‘Home and Away’ or ‘Friends’ which have voice audio of the specific language over the show would help students pick up words while enjoying different tv programmes.
• YouTube- There are many accessible tools on YouTube which help with language learning. The accessibility to songs in different languages is very achievable. I think that an important part of learning a language involves constant repetition. Therefore, why not incorporate language learning with learning songs from the YouTube app. This allows students to pick up colloquial phrases, recognise different verbs conjugations and new words all whilst learning through a catchy tone of a song.

•  Social Media- I know what you’re thinking: “isn’t this what we try to get students to avoid doing during class?”. I feel a teacher of a language should encourage students to make use of all their time spent on social media! Tell students to “like” a page about something of particular interest to them in their target language. Such as advertisement pages, bloggers and You tubers. Alternatively, start a Facebook group for the class! By making it a place where they can have casual conversations with each other and native speakers of the target languages. Skype is also an excellent tool to help with communication for students. Explaining cultural differences and verb conjugations is one thing, but transporting  students to an environment where they can witness them is another! Aside from its use as a transportation device, Skype is also a good way to get your students to interact with a speaker other than the teacher.