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THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LANGUAGE LEARNING

Student Name: Shatha Al-Refae.

University Name: The University of Jordan.

Student ID: 0137455.

E-mail: shatha9ward1@gmail.com
Date: Dec 19th, 2016

Subject: Final project (The Importance of Language Learning)

Instructor: Emily Clymer

Semester: Fall 2016

THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LANGUAGE LEARNING

Recent years have shown an explosion of interest in using computers for language
teaching and learning Warschauer, M., & Healey, D. (1998). Now a day Technology has play a
major role in teaching a foreign language. Technology add a special flavor to the language
learning process. It makes the classroom more interesting and useful. The computer can facilitate
education, making the student learn in interesting way and the teacher to teach in easy and
modern way.
In 1960s Computers have been used for language teaching. In this paper you will be able
to know terms related to technology that can be used in the education field to make it more
effective and helpful. When we talk about technology on language learning you have to know the
term CALL. Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) is to use the computer in the
process of language learning, also is defined as the search for and study of applications of the
computer in language teaching and learning according to (Levy,1997:1). That mean CALL is
aim to find ways to use computer or any tech tool in classroom to motivate and enhance the
educational process.
There are several terms associated with CALL like MALL, CMC, and MOOC. The
acronym of MALL stands for Mobile Assisted Language Learning is defined as the use of
cellphone or any small devices ( like tablets or iPads) to enhance the language learning and there
are many application can we used them in classroom like educational application (oxford
dictionary, busuu) social media(Instagram, Facebook messenger) and so on.
The second one is (CMC) Computer Mediated Communication means the way that you
choose to communicate with someone from a distance by computer, for example if you want to
send a message there are many ways to send it like an email or a post in their wall or video

THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LANGUAGE LEARNING


message. Also there are two types of CMC the first one is synchronous communication which
means when two parties communicate actively at the same time (the two parties must be online)
like chat room. The second type is asynchronous communication refers to the communication
that the answer can be delayed (not immediate response) like an email and Edmodo.
The last term is MOOC the abbreviation stands for Massive Open Online Courses.
European Commission defines a MOOC as an online course open to anyone without restrictions
(free of charge and without a limit to attendance), usually structured around a set of learning
goals in an area of study, which often runs over a specific period of time (with a beginning and
end date) on an online platform which allows interactive possibilities (between peers or between
students and instructors) that facilitate the creation of a learning community. As it is the case for
any online course, it provides some course materials and (self) assessment tools for independent
studying ([3], p. 2). In other word it is an open online courses that involve a large number of
participants from any place to get education in easy and independent way and MOOC is the way
to connect and collaborate also to engaging in the learning process
.Now lets move to the advantages and disadvantages of Computer Assisted Language
Learning. There are many advantages of CALL first you can start with how this allows learners
to choose and select their own learning process, encourages learners to work and learn
cooperatively (they can work together in groups), provide them with additional sources of
information, make the process more active, interesting and motivating and give them
opportunities to communicate and share knowledge.
Teachers who want to use CALL can provide immediate feedback, save time, create
material and lessons that are more useful, practical and benefits, the teacher play the role of

THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LANGUAGE LEARNING


facilitator not a person how control the learning environment in addition, make the relationship
between the teacher and student stronger.
Now! As the CALL has positive sides also it has negative sides or we can call them
disadvantages. CALL might isolate students from social activities, problem with internet
connection (maybe not all students can access) and not all schools have a possibilities to deal
with CALL because the equipment is expensive and the schools maybe have limit fund.
Now a day there is no one who did not have mobile phone (MALL). To use mobile phone
in language learning is an effective way because they normally keep their mobile phones with
them that make students be able to access learning material and communicate with their teachers
and students (interact with each other) anytime and anywhere. In addition, mobile phones are not
expensive and students have the opportunities to choose the application that they want to develop
their language skills.
On the other hand, Mobile Assisted Language Learning does not deal with higher level it
just focus on memorizing but not thinking, and other problem can face the student is maybe the
application cannot be download in your mobile phone (that actually what happened with me
when I came to download English central app). Finally if the teacher present a new application
she must be full aware to deal with it and to train the students how to deal with it also. These can
be the disadvantages of MALL.
Computer Mediated Communication the advantages of this aspects are you can send
messages or any types of written document in an easy way and from a distance, also you can feel
like you are in one place because CMC break down the barriers when you communicate with
each other and share idea with large group and increase the knowledge also feel relax and

THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LANGUAGE LEARNING


confidant, but in CMC you cannot know how the person feel or there is no eye-contact ( the
absences of nonverbal behavior and emotional feeling) we prefer face to face communication,
also you might have problem with the internet connection.
MOOC, Massive Open Online Course has a lot of benefits. First, they can find the
course available anytime and anywhere, also it offers different languages. Second they can
interact with each other because MOOC consists of unlimited number of participants and this
give them opportunities to share ideas and experience. Third, MOOC provides them with
lifelong network learning and make the class more meaningful.
Although MOOC offers a lot of advantages, there are drawbacks of it the teachers and
instructors deal with large number of participants and because of that they cannot be able to give
them an active feedback for assignments or tests, also there is no possibilities for teachers to
interact directly with their students about any important issues. Finally, MOOC puts students
under pressure and the students who do not know how to deal with this situation and manage
their time they often drop the courses.
In conclusion, in this paper I discussed how technology can change the process of
language learning and make it more interesting and meaningful. Also CALL is a very important
term now we know how Computer Assisted Language Learning effects in learning process and
creates motivation between students and make the classroom more active. And we mention the
related aspects of CALL like MALL, CMC, and MOOC and their advantages and disadvantages
of them.
In my experience with CALL course I really find it as an excellent course that I took
during my university journey. It was so interesting, useful, active and a lots of benefits

THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LANGUAGE LEARNING


information especially the tech tools that I leaned (I practiced my language in English central
application and I created my Weebly web site and so on). Finally, I was wounding why schools
in Jordan do not give this course for teachers and students? Now in each moment we have a new
innovation that can help us in language learning or in education, why until now they use
traditional methods in learning process?

THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LANGUAGE LEARNING


References
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http://www.minglebox.com/article/moocs/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-moocs
Anonymous. MOBILE ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING (MALL). 2015, March 10.
Retrieved from https://educationalresearchtechniques.wordpress.com/2015/03/10/mobileassisted-language-learning-mall/
Anonymous. MOOC: Advantages and Disadvantages. Retrieved from
http://www.igniteengineers.com/mooc-advantages-and-disadvantages/
Bamrung Torut. Computer assisted language learning: an overview [PDF file]. Retrieved
from https://web.warwick.ac.uk/CELTE/tr/ovCALL/taseapCALL.pdf
European commission. May, 2014. REPORT ON WEB SKILLS SURVEY Support
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Levy, M.1997.computer-assisted language learning context and conceptualization.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LANGUAGE LEARNING


Newton, K. Computer-Mediated Communication: Definition, Types & Advantages.
Retrieved from http://study.com/academy/lesson/computer-mediated-communicationdefinition-types-advantages.html
Warschauer, M.Healey,D. 1990. Computers and language learning: an overview [PDF
file]. State of the art article, Vol. 31, 57-71. Retrieved from
http://hstrik.ruhosting.nl/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Warschauer-Healey1998.pdf

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