Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) is an approach that utilizes computer technology to aid language teaching, emphasizing interactivity and learner engagement since the 1960s. While it offers advantages like immediate feedback, motivation, and individualization, challenges include costs, the necessity for trained educators, and imperfect programs. A balanced consideration of both advantages and disadvantages is essential for effective implementation in language learning.

1. CALL
Computer Assisted Language Learning

2. What is CALL?
 Computer Assisted Language Learning
 an approach to language teaching and learning in which computer
technology is used as an aid to the presentation, reinforcement and
assessment of material to be learned, usually including a substantial
interactive element.
 Around since the 1960s
 One arm of Applied Linguistics
 Has been gaining in popularity in the past 10
 years.

3. What is CALL?
 The Four Skills:
listening
speaking
reading
writing
 Focuses on the Communicative Approach
language use over analysis
cf. grammar translation approach
 Students engage with the language at their own
pace

4. How does it works?
 Typical CALL programs present a stimulus to which the
learner must respond. The stimulus may be presented in
any combination of text, still images, sound, and motion
video. The learner responds by typing at the keyboard,
pointing and clicking with the mouse, or speaking into a
microphone.

5. Consider in mind…
How effective are these programs?
How worthwhile is it to spend time and
money on them?
How do we choose among so many
offerings?

6. Strengths and Weaknesses of Computer

7. Strengths

8. Interactivity
A crucial strength of the new technology ; by virtue of the fact that the user
can gain control over learning and therefore becomes an active participant
in the learning process.
o allows the instant feedback from the computer
o makes it especially suited for implementing learner-centered teaching
methods.

9. Revolutionary for language pedagogy
 The sound and graphic capabilities of the computer not
only have improved presentation; they have also made
possible what conventional textbooks cannot do.
 Digitized audio has made possible the modeling of
pronunciation.

10. strengths
 Random and rapid access allows the instant retrieval of
vocabulary and grammar explanations.
 It also contributes to easy learner control and recycling of
materials.
 The consistency and patience of the computer is not only crucial
for learning by association and repeated exposure.
Paradoxically, without the possible ill-effects of an over-bearing
human teacher, the patient and interactive computer can
provide a very user-friendly and learner-centered learning
environment.

11. strengths
 In addition to the above-mentioned general
characteristics, digital speech technology in particular
has enabled the graphic display of the relevant acoustic
properties of speech such as amplitude, pitch level and
frequency composition.
 The computer’s ability to store and manipulate data also
makes it possible to keep scores, log errors and track
learner performance.

12. Weaknesses

13.  Users may quickly tire of the spinning characters, lights
and whistles. The content and methodology of the
program has to be the principal rationale in choosing a
CALL program.

14. Advantages
&
Disadvantages

15. Advantages
 Immediate feedback - Software programs can correct
student responses instantly or they can provide hints so
that students pinpoint their own mistakes
 Interest and motivation
 Individualization
 A compatible learning style
 Optimal use of learning time
 Error analysis
 Guided and repetitive practice
 Pre-determined to process syllabus

16. Disadvantages

17.  Less-handy equipment
 Increased educational costs
 Lack of trained teachers
 Imperfect current CALL programs
 Inability to handle unexpected situations

18. Problems with
CALL

19.  Financial cost
 Poorly chosen/designed CALL tasks
 Lack of professional development for teachers
 Skepticism regarding CALL effectiveness/resistance to
change
 The “Omnipotence Fallacy” & the “Sole Agent Fallacy”
(Bax, 2003)

20. Conclusion

21.  The advantages of CALL can be outlined as providing
motivation and autonomy for learner, compatible and
time flexible learning, immediate and detailed feedback,
error analysis, and a process syllabus. Some
considerations must be given to the disadvantages of
CALL, such as less handy equipment, high cost of
education, lack of trained teachers and of CALL
programs of perfect quality, and limited capacity of
computers to handle unexpected situations.

22.  It is agreeable that technological advancement and
development has enabled the application of CALL
programs in language learning and instruction, and it
has become a new trend recently. Even so, computer
technology still has its limitation and weaknesses.
Therefore, we must first realize the advantages and
disadvantages of current CALL programs before applying
them to improve our teaching or to help student
learning. In the end, we can avoid the mistake in
employing CALL program and get the maximum benefit
for our ESL teaching and learning.

23. Refrences
 htpp://www.iatefl.org.pl/call/j_soft27.htm
 EUROCALL – http://www.eurocall-languages.org/
 COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING (CALL) IN
THE PERSPECTIVE OF INTERACTIVE APPROACH:
ADVANTAGES AND APPREHENSIONS T. Ravichandran