it skills in supporting elt
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IT Skills in Supporting ELT. Introduction to Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL). Dr Wang Lixun Department of English, HKIEd. What is CALL?. Any process in which a learner uses a computer and, as a result, improves his or her language. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
IT Skills in Supporting ELT
Introduction to Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL)
Dr Wang Lixun
Department of English, HKIEd
What is CALL?
Any process in which a learner uses a computer and, as a result, improves his or her language.
(Beatty, K. (2003) Teaching and Researching Computer-assisted Language Learning. London: Longman. p.7)
Computers are tools
to support teaching and enhance learning (e.g. powerpoint presentation, software for learning)
For inquiry and problem solving (e.g. database, Web)
To communicate ideas & information (e.g. email, online chat, discussion board)
Computer as a tool in ESL Learning
Computer in different areas of language studies
Machine Translation
Started in the 1950s Cold War political motivations A couple of online Machine Translation
systems:
http://www.foreignword.com/Tools/transnow.htm
http://babelfish.altavista.com/
Human-Machine Conversation
Eliza: a software seeking clarification and simulates a sympathetic listener through a series of general comments, requests for explanations and paraphrases of the learners’ comments with additional question tags.
http://www-ai.ijs.si/eliza/eliza.html
Computer-based Language Exercises
Multiple-choice True or False Text reconstruction Gap-filling Speed-reading Listening comprehension Vocabulary games
Interesting things for ESL studentshttp://www.manythings.org/fq/
Activities for ESL Studentshttp://a4esl.org/
Language Games
Hangman
http://www.billsgames.com/hangman/
Crossword puzzleshttp://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/xword/XWordApp/default.htm
Chicktionary
http://www.primarygames.com/reading.htm
Speech Synthesizer Text-to-speech synthesizer: ReadPlease 2003
http://www.readplease.com/english/downloads/#rp2003
Text-to-speech synthesizer: RealSpeakhttp://www.scansoft.com/speechworks/realspeak/demo/default.asp
Step 1 :select file quality [realspeak solo(better quality)]Step 2 :select language [English, U.S.]Step 3 :select speaker (if any) [English, U.S.-Jennifer]Step 4 :type in the text in the box provided.Step 5 :press [next], wave file will be generated.Step 6: save and open the .wav file.
Multimedia learning environment
SimulationWho is Oscar Lake?
http://www.languagepub.com/oscar/oscar.html
Electronic storybooksClifford’s Interactive Storybooks http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/
Film makingD.Film MovieMaker http://www.dfilm.com/new_site/movie_2.0.html
Learning through the Internet
Tandem learning (through emails)http://www.languages.dk/tandem/
Online Bulletin board (discussion board, forum) Online chat (r u ready 2 go?) video conferencing MUD (Multi-User Dungeons)
http://www.livinginternet.com/d/d.htm WebQuests
http://webquest.org/ Web Blogging (online journal)
http://www.blogger.com/start
Artificial intelligence
Virtual Learning based on artificial intelligence
http://www.isi.edu/%7Ejmoore/Mankin/MankinTLWeb.mov
TEEM
Teachers Evaluating Educational Materials
http://www.teem.org.uk This is a very useful site that includes teachers’
evaluations of a large number of software and websites. It also includes detailed case studies of how teachers used the resources as well as publishers’ information. Highly recommended.
Technology driving CALL
Past (from 1950s): basic textual gap-filling tasks and other simple exercises
Present: hyperlinked, interactive multimedia presentations with sound, animation, full-motion video, and artificial intelligence.
Theoretical perspectives of CALL
1970s-1980s 1980s-1990s 21st Century
Structural Communicative Integrative
Behaviorist learning
Cognitive constructivist learning
Sociocultural theories of learning
Dependant Independent Collaborative
Drill and practice
Communicative exercises
Authentic discourse
The role of the teacher when using computers in ESL Learning
The traditional role of the teacher has been to present ready-made information and to organise learning experiences for students
How can IT be used in the classroom to facilitate or even take over those roles to some extent?
The computer provides access to additional sources of information. It has the potential to reduce student’s dependency on the teacher, so that they become more autonomous and active learners.
If students are more autonomous in their learning, the teacher’s role can be less didactic, and gain the freedom to function as ‘enablers of quality learning experiences” (Somekh & Davies, 1991)
Seven competencies in IT for teachers of English
Positive attitudes towards IT Understanding the educational potential of IT Ability to use IT effectively in subject teaching Ability to manage IT use in the classroom Ability to evaluate IT use Ability to ensure differentiation and progression Technical capability to use an appropriate range of
IT resources and to update these skills
The National Council of Educational Technology, UK