Sustainable Lessons Learnt from the Attitudes of Language Instructors toward Computer-Assisted Language Teaching (original) (raw)

Surveying KwaZulu-Natal universities’ language academics for the modelling of factors affecting their attitudes towards computer assisted language learning tools for African indigenous languages

Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) has been proven by literature to be of immense benefit to the teaching and learning of language at all levels of education. However, it is interesting that university language academics seem to have a negative attitude towards CALL. The aim of this study, therefore, is to design a conceptually sound model of the factors that affect the attitudes of language academics towards Computer Assisted Language Learning Tool for African Indigenous Languages (CALLTAIL) and to examine the relationship between CALL and language attrition, especially for marginalised African languages. Supporting this study are these four theories, namely, the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Theory of Planned Behaviour, Hume’s Theory of Beliefs, and the Digital Divide Theory. The study uses content analysis review of suitable literature and a survey of fifty (50) language academics from three (3) public universities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The fa...

The Investigation of Instructors' Views on Using Technology in English Language Teaching

Technology enhanced education, provided many opportunities in language learning. The main purpose of this study is to investigate instructors' views and perspectives on using technology in English Language Teaching. This study was designed within a phenomenological framework. The experiences of four English Language instructors at different universities in Turkey during the using of technology into language classroom practice were studied through a qualitative in-depth interview. These instructors were selected based on maximum variation sampling method. A semi-structured interview schedule was designed by the researcher to determine how instructors perceive using technology and implement it in the classroom. A qualitative content analysis approach was used to analyse the data obtained. The descriptive qualitative analysis resulted in five themes. The main themes were the institution's view of technology, students' and instructors' background knowledge of technology, technological equipment used, information and communication technologies and professional experience. The results showed that widespread use of technology in language teaching is one of the necessities which our constantly developing world presents us.

Iranian vs. Indian English Language Teachers' Attitudes and Preferences about Computer Assisted Language Learning

The aim of this study was to investigate Iranian vs. Indian English language teachers' attitudes and preferences toward CALL. To this goal, the researcher conducted a mixed method study based on a questionnaire and an open-ended interview. Fifteen Iranian and 15 Indian English language teachers participated in the quantitative section, and 5 from each nationality participated in the qualitative section. The findings showed that Iranian EFL teachers had positive attitudes and preferences toward using CALL. Additionally, Indian English language teachers had positive attitudes and preferences toward using CALL, and they reported some issues they faced while applied CALL into their classrooms. All participants in both countries believed that the implication of CALL can be a great help to improve students' language learning process. In the quantitative section, the result showed correlation (r) of .046 which means there is a positive relationship between Iranian and Indian teachers toward CALL. INTRODUCTION The term "Computer Assisted Language Learning" (CALL) was founded in language teaching in the early 1960s. CALL reflected a field heavily based on the programmed instruction. It has grown to include online blogs, use of apps, virtual learning environments, computer-mediate-communication, among others (Warschauer, 1996). For over two decades, the use of the computer as a helping method of language learning has been discussed. Nowadays With the great development of computers and the Internet, more and more second and foreign language teachers and learners are using these technologies for foreign language teaching and learning .Recent studies have shown a burgeoning interest in using computer technology for language teaching and learning in the classroom (Richards & Renandya, 2008). Several studies demonstrated the importance of technology in education (Chapelle, 2001), that computers can help teachers and students to meet the challenges of the future. Technology can also help teachers to keep up to date with the developments in their field and education in general (Levy & Stockwell, 2006). As far as the researcher's best knowledge, the studies on teachers' and students' perceptions toward CALL found that students have positive attitudes towards CALL, whereas teachers' perceptions and subsequent behavior in using CALL vary. The accomplishment of students interacting with computer innovation will depend to a great extent on the attitudes of teacher and their eagerness to grasp the innovation (Milbrath & Kinzie, 2000). Understanding the factors that affect these attitudes, might help develop ways for students and teachers to cope with the issues that they might face in learning and teaching. However, the integration of English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers as active participants in the teaching and learning process has received little attention (Ismail, Almekhlafi, & Almekhlafy, 2010), because research has focused instead on issues such as the needs of teachers in the technology courses (Hargrave & Hsu, 2000) and pre-service to enhance teachers' knowledge and attitudes toward computer use as a teaching tool (Milbrath & Kinzie, 2000, Seyyedrezaei & Barani, 2011). Therefore, this study is going to clarify the perception of Iranian and Indian EFL and ESL teachers toward computer-assisted language learning simultaneously which the first study is in this case. That is to say, the lack of enough evidence for a comparison of EFL and ESL context of CALL can be a great significance toward the understanding the difference and similarities in Iranian EFL context.

Algerian EFL University Teachers’ Attitudes towards Computer Assisted Language Learning: The Case of Djilali Liabes University

Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) is still groping its way into Algerian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom, where Information Communications Technologies (ICTs) are defined in terms of occasional use of computers and data projectors for material presentation in the classroom. Though major issues in the image of the lack of training and absence of facilities are clearly apparent, stakeholders' attitudes are a decisive aspect that needs to be mapped out if we are to alter the current situation. Thus, the present work aims at investigating EFL university teachers' attitudes towards CALL at Djilali Liabes University (western Algeria). The current work is a cross-sectional descriptive study that explores teachers' attitudes across the three domains (affective, cognitive, and behavioural) and investigates other related aspects that may help indicate teachers' likelihood to adopt CALL in the future. The results are promising as the investigated population not only demonstrated a clearly positive attitude towards CALL but also manifested a number of signs that indicate their likelihood to adopt CALL in the future if circumstances are favourable.

Attitudes of the english language university instructors towards the use of technology in teaching and learning

Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 2020

The outburst of information technology in the later parts of the twentieth century has taken the whole world into its scope. There is an ever growing use of computers in the workplaces and universities. The purpose of this study was to measure the attitudes of the English language university instructors towards the use of computers. It was a descriptive study and data was collected by a survey. This study's population consisted of two hundred university instructors equally divided into male and female. These instructors were randomly selected from different universities. The findings revealed that there was a significant difference between the views of the males and females instructors. Moreover, those who had no professional qualification had the highest mean score. The English language university instructors should be trained in the use of computers so that they might be able to use them more effectively in classroom settings.

Students’ Perceptions on the use of Technology in Language Teaching

Journal of Education and Vocational Research, 2014

Research on the use of technology in educational settings has tended to focus on the impact of technology on the educational outcomes. The other area that that has long been ignored in this research field, when it should form an integral part of research in educational technology, is historical background and views of the students on the technology’s role in achieving educational goals. The research theory that is relevant in this regard is cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) to additional language learning in education that is drawn from the cultural-historical psychology theory. One-hundred and five participants completed a survey questionnaire. The findings reveal that 66% of the respondents come from families where there are no computers at home and 57% have no good knowledge of computer use even though 53% claim to have been introduced to the use of computers at their last schools. Despite this, the respondents show overwhelming support for the use of technology in hig...

Factors Affecting Language Academics' Attitudes towards Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL)

Interdisciplinary Journal of Economics and Business Law, 2019

Despite the known benefits of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), evidence from existing literature still indicates that many language instructors have a negative attitude towards it. There are many possible factors behind this negative attitude, and the aim of this study was to devise a theoretically sound conceptual model of these factors. The methodology used by this study for the achievement of its aim was to review existing literature published during the past twelve years on CALL attitude factors. The conceptual model proposed by this study posits that instructors' attitude towards CALL is dependent on the following factors: demographics; computer usage; language teaching ability; prior CALL usage; and Technology Adoption Model (TAM) related factors. One of the biggest gaps identified from this literature review was that English seems to be the only language that is being probed by existing research on CALL attitude factors.

Students’ Attitudes and Perceptions towards Computer-Assisted Language Learning

Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research, 2017

Research in the field of CALL has provided evidence for the benefits of using computer-based learning activities in the language classroom (Selfe & Hilligoss, 1994; Pennington, 1996; Beauvois, 1997). Furthermore other researchers assert that computers create a better learning environment (Frisch, 1995), can help students improve their skills (Joiner, 1997 and Martinez-Lage, 1997) and learn foreign languages easier (Bush, 1997) and can make students like their lessons more and take less time to learn something (Bush, 2000). Therefore studying students’ attitudes and perceptions towards computers in the classroom can help us see if there are positive perspectives on implementing and using this promising medium in the classroom. A total of 90 high school students ( N=90 ), 48 boys and 42 girls, 13-15 years old ( M=14.00, SD=0. 821 ) participated in the study. All students were asked to complete a questionnaire. By analyzing the data it is evident that students enjoy using such a medium...

Technology and English Language Teaching (ELT)

Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 2014

This paper is a try to investigate the attitudes of English language university teachers in Kerman (Iran) toward computer technology and find the hidden factors that make university teachers avoid using technology in English language teaching. 30 university teachers participated in this study. A questionnaire and semi-structured interview were used in order to collect the data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics as well as content analysis were conducted to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed that a great majority of university teachers attribute positive remarks for integrating technology in language teaching. However, they get difficulty in integrating technology into their instruction effectively.

English Language Teaching Students' Perceptions of Computer-Assisted Language Learning.

The way undergraduate students studying at the English Language Teaching program perceive Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) could shed light both to the course content they are enrolled in at the fourth grade just before they step into teaching and thereby to the integration of technology into their teaching during their professional life.