Using CALL in Learning English as a Second Language.
Aya Ayman Ibrahim Al-Ali
Ayh0124022@gmail.com CALL Course Ms. Emily Clymer December 2016
Using CALL in Learning English.
Using CALL in Learning English as a Second Language.
Technology has been an essential part of peoples lives for many
years; it made a great impact to our lives by making them easier, more dynamic and more comfortable. Technology has enlightened our minds, enriched and developed our lives in many fields like science, medicine, business and education. Focusing on education, technology has revolutionized the educational system; an example of this is CALL which is an acronym for computer-assisted language learning. CALL is the learning of a language with the help of computers and mobile devices to assist and improve certain language learning skills like speaking and listening which develop positive attitudes towards learning a new language, and according to Beatty (2010) CALL is defined as any process in which a learner uses a computer and, as a result, improves his or her language (p.7). In the Internet TESL Journal Kuang-wu (2000) wrote that other than improving certain language skills, CALL also prepare learners for workplaces and professional lives, increase their motivation, helps them communicate on a global level, and enhances their achievements. Another example of how technology revolutionized the educational system is the internet. It is one of the most important sources of information that most people rely on and use for learning and gaining knowledge. It became an
Using CALL in Learning English.
inseparable part of peoples daily lives especially after the emergence of social media ten years ago. According to the Redric an Punie (2010) studies made by the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) suggest that the high take up of social media applications outside of formal educational settings provides new opportunities for innovating and modernizing Education and Training institutions and for preparing learners for the 21st century. Videos are a powerful educational tool and as Youtube being the second largest video search engine with over a billion users which is almost the third of all internet users and a main part of social media, many people rely on it for studying purposes as a form of selfdirected learning. In a research made on Youtube, Alimemaj (2010) suggests that one can listen to all kinds of spoken language (formal, informal, colloquial, slang) and all genres (songs, debates, talks, poems) and learn a lot of vocabulary in context, which, without doubt, will help learners to memorize more easily. Youtube provides videos from all over the world and covers almost every possible topic in many languages but mostly in English, and it could be very successful in the help of acquiring a second-language. It is easily accessible, and it provides many educational videos in an entertaining way. Youtube can be used on computers, laptops, tablets and mobile device. People usually use it to watch, upload or comment on different videos. Based on an article the British council website, Donghy (2010) points out the 3
Using CALL in Learning English.
ways videos can help in learning English. He wrote that Film provides a source of authentic and varied language. Film provides students with examples of English used in real situations, and the visuality of film makes it an invaluable language teaching tool, enabling learners to understand more by interpreting the language in a full visual context. Therefore, by listening to Youtubers while speaking using their first language, people learn a language unconsciously while not focusing on the process of learning which decreases the pressure and as a result they learn easily in a long term memory. All they have to is subscribe to their favorite channel and wait for the daily to weekly upload of videos. There are varieties of channels a language learner can subscribe, to either they are about, video blogging (Rachel and Jun Channel), makeup (Huda Beauty Channel), cooking (everydayfood Channel), science (AsapScience Channel), documentaries (Collection of documentary films Channel) or channels that are owned by educators who are specialized in giving online courses. Examples of channels owned by educators are, Learn English with Lets talk- Free English Lessons, James ESL English Lessons, and English Lessons with Adam. These Audio and Video lessons help in grammar skills, vocabulary, expressions and using idioms skills, pronunciation and communication skills. Many people spend hours on Youtube watching videos which helps in developing independent language skills because videos on Youtube have various materials that can improve the 4
Using CALL in Learning English.
listening and the understanding skills. Also watching videos on Youtube increases the knowledge of a language by repetition; learners can pause and repeat the video as many times as they want, and when using Youtube, learners are exposed to a variety of genres of English like music, commercials, comedies, social experiments, and documentaries. Learners also have the opportunity to interact with other learners by commenting and expressing their opinions on the videos they watch. Another type of social media that can be used in learning a language is Snapchat. Snapchat is a mobile application that has according to Chief Executive Officer Evan Spiegel (2016) more than 100 million daily users who spend an average of 25 to 30 minutes on the app each day. It allows its users to share videos, pictures, texts and voice notes to each other, and then terminated after 24 hours unless they were saved. Snapchat can be used in learning English and many other languages; when users follow bloggers and celebrities who speak English, they unintentionally learn and acquire the language, or they can follow specialized teachers who post Language educational Snaps. Users who also want to learn a language can document their daily routines by either recording a 10 seconds video or taking a picture and include a caption to it. Also, According to Kerstin (2016) Snapchat users can also make a vocabulary resource by taking pictures of their surrounding and adding their names in English. Doing these 5
Using CALL in Learning English.
activities with other language learners and friends helps in forming a complete meaningful sentence. In addition to this, Snapchat has channels that combine magazines, news, articles that are either texts or videos. Such channels help in building a strong vocabulary base, gaining grammar, communication, and speaking skills. In conclusion, the internet and technology is the present and the future. Therefore, they should be used efficiently in a way that will benefit people in learning either a foreign language or learning anything else. Aside from using CALL mostly in classrooms, it has developed with the help of technology the language learning skills for self learners. For example, watching videos develops listening skills, and develops vocabulary; chatting with friends on social media and sending email to colleagues develops writing skills; surfing the internet and reading online magazines and newspapers develops reading skills; Talking to people using video calls develops speaking skills. For example, watching videos develops listening skills, and develops vocabulary; chatting with friends on social media and sending email to colleagues develops writing skills; surfing the internet and reading online magazines and newspapers develops reading skills; Talking to people using video calls develops speakin..
Refrences
Using CALL in Learning English.
Alimemaj, Z. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.anglohigher.com/magazines/magazine_detail/61/32 Anonymous. (2016). 5 Ways to Use Snapchat as A Teaching and Learning Tool in Higher Education. Retrieved from https://www.isocialfanz.com/5-ways-use-snapchat-teaching-learningtool-higher-education/ Brnner, I. (2013). Using Language Learning Resources on Youtube . Beatty, K. (2010). Teaching and researching: Computer-assisted language learning (2nd ed.). Harlow, England: Longman Donaghy, K. (2014). How can film help you teach or learn English? Retrieved from British Council: https://www.britishcouncil.org/voicesmagazine/how-can-film-help-you-teach-or-learn-english Dow, L. (2016). How I Use Snapchat for Language Learning. Retrieved from http://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/how-i-use-snapchat-forlanguage-learning/ Duffy, P. (2009). Engaging the YouTube Google-Eyed Generation: Strategies for. Hong Kong . Frier, S. (2016, April 28). Snapchat user Stories fuel 10 Billion daily video views. . Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-28/snapchat-usercontent-fuels-jump-to-10-billion-daily-video-views. Hanson, E. Introduction: Using Technology inTeaching Languages. In Learning Through Technology. Ohio: Kent State University. Kerstin. (2016). How to Learn a Language Using Snapchat . Retrieved from http://fluentlanguage.tumblr.com/post/147588773039/how-tolearn-a-language-using-snapchat-podcast Lee, K.-w. (2000). English Teachers' Barriers to the Use of Computerassisted Language Learning. Retrieved from http://iteslj.org/Articles/Lee-CALLbarriers.html Redecker, C., Ala-Mutka, K., & Punie, Y. (2010). Learning 2.0 - The Impact of Social Media on Learning in Europe. Spain.
Using CALL in Learning English.
Statistics YouTube Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/yt/press/en-GB/statistics.html