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

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Theophilus Adedayo Adedokun
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Computer Experience ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

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 factors identified to affect the attitudes of language academics are their computer experience, their subjective norms, and their perceived usefulness of CALLTAIL. The findings of this study indicate that subjective norms and perceived usefulness of CALLTAIL are the two factors that affect other variables in this study. The findings also indicate that all the variables in this study are interlinked and interrelated. The study recommends the optimization of language academics’ computer experience, subjective norms, and perceived usefulness of CALLTAIL. The chief contribution of this study is to have investigated the use and adoption of Computer Assisted Language Learning Tools in the context of African indigenous languages and this can be considered as a new research in comparison to the reviewed studies of this research.

scholarly journals CALL and SLA Theory: Developing A Framework to Analyze Web-based Materials for Teaching Listening Skills

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khoiriyah Khoiriyah
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Second Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
Learning Skills ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The Many

Listening skills, considered by many to be the most critical language learning skills, have yet to emerge a variety of problems for learners. In order to have an effective listening class, teachers can use one of the many technology-enhanced language learning tools, web-based materials. In this article attempts have been made to make a comprehensive review on the grounded theory of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Second Language Learning (SLA) related to the use of web-based resources in teaching and learning English, especially for listening skills. This article also proposes a framework for conducting CALL evaluation that is worthy for website materials. The result yields a good guideline for teachers to make judgment or decision in choosing the most congruent web-based sources for teaching listening skills. As a result, teachers are able to adapt a proper teaching materials and methodology for listening skills.

scholarly journals Integrated Model towards Computer Assisted Language Learning Acceptance: Empirical Case Study of Saudi Universities

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Abdul Fattah Soomro
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Social Influence ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Perceived Ease Of Use ◽  
Facilitating Conditions

Maximum utilization of technology in all fields of life including language education by a country has become inevitable to survive in the competitive world. Saudi government has already invested a lot of efforts and public finance to adopt modern teaching practices using Information Communication Technology (ICT) to supplement English Language Teaching (ELT) in Saudi Arabia. The present study applies Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical model to explore the effects of different factors on the attitudes of teachers towards using Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) in the language learning contexts of Saudi Arabia. The current study investigates the effect of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on the attitude and intended usage behavior of Saudi English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers towards using CALL. In addition to these two factors borrowed from TAM, three other variables: social influence, facilitating conditions and management support are added into the model. To test the hypothesized model, this study applied a quantitative questionnaire survey approach with participants chosen randomly from 10 different universities in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 421 valid responses received through online questionnaire from the teachers were used for the analysis to achieve research objectives and hypotheses testing. Structural Equation Modeling Analysis was employed to analyze the data. The findings of this study are found very encouraging and provide sufficient support to the proposed model of the study, which was consisting of TAM as the foundation theory. According to TAM, postulation perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use both are two significant elements that determine attitude and intended usage behavior. These hypotheses were found significant, thus provided external validity to the TAM postulations. In addition, the findings suggested that social influence, management support, and facilitating conditions are important factors that influence individuals’ intended behavior towards CALL usage.

Using Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) materials in English as Second Language (ESL) classrooms: perspectives of teachers and students in United Arab Emirates

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramia DIRAR SHEHADEH MUSMAR
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Technologies ◽  
Student Diversity ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Learning And Teaching

Integrating scaffolding-learning technologies has been recognized for its potential to create intellectual and engaging classroom interactions. In the United Arab Emirates, having language teachers employ computers as a medium of new pedagogical instrument for teaching second languages generated the idea of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) as a medium of an innovative pedagogical instrument for facilitating and scaffolding language learning, with an aspiration that it will lead to improved English language attainment and better assessment results. This study aims at investigating the perspectives of students and teachers on the advantageous and disadvantageous impacts of CALL on learning and teaching English as a second language in one public school in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The results show that CALL has a facilitating role in L2 classroom and that using CALL activities is advantageous in reducing English learning tension, boosting motivation, catering for student diversity, promoting self-directed language learning and scaffolding while learning English. The results additionally report that numerous aspects like time constraints, teachers’ unsatisfactory computer skills, insufficient computer facilities, and inflexible school courses undesirably affect the implementation of CALL in English classrooms. It is recommended that further studies should be undertaken to investigate the actual effect of CALL on students’ language proficiency. 

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