TASK 2( ARTICLE REVIEW 10%)

TSL 641: COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING

TASK 2

Article Review

By:

 Noor Aiman Bin Azmin Noor

Ed 220 6B

2012802412

PART A

“The Effectiveness of Computer Assisted Learning”

Volume:Anale. Seria Informatic.. Vol. VII fasc. 1 – 2009

Author: Ioana Iacob

University:“Tibiscus” University of Timi.oara, România

Link: http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0905/0905.4611.pdf

PART A

SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE

            This article expects to assess the effectiveness of the computer assisted English learning  and teaching as well as to prioritize the need of developing sound methodological methods adjusted to the modern days technology. It additionally display the advantages of utilizing the PC or computer as a part of the pre-school and elementary school classes, mentioned by a report on the comparative observation of four gatherings groups studying on English in a computer assisted environment.

            This article focuses on 4 main section; the first section that the author want to convey to the readers is the many aspects of computer assisted English Language Learning. In this part of the article the author focuses on the multimedia programs for example the combination of learning path that lead to the success of acquisition of language, meaning that students are involve visually with the various multimedia materials (listening and seeing combine), this is considered teaching the receptive skill as for the expressive skill, speaking for example, the program of speech recognition and repeated pronunciation is considered famous. The other aspect relate to the psychological dimension of the students, where the images and sound that is produced in the computer create anticipation for the students, therefore they get excited and become less pressure because the teacher is not monitoring them, keep in mind that this aspect of computer assisted learning is also the same aspect in real learning environment where teacher use knowledge and humility to lessen the pressure in the students.

The second part of the article is the most crucial one where the author writes about the advantages of using computer technology in ESL children class. One of the advantages includes in the article is computer assisted learning is considered a natural learning process of the students, according to the author A child that has to sit down and listen is restrained to a passive position and he will lose quickly interest and motivation. So with computer, the attention span of the students is to be increased and students rarely enjoy learning in a monotonous environment. The next advantage is children will get to be quicker on enhancing their pronunciation as their models are not spoken by a grown-up or adults.  A child will be more motivated to learn if they heard the pronunciation by their character for example Mickey Mouse, Superman and etc. Even adults like to mimic characters in movies, so with computer that can be achieved.  The author conclude in this section by saying that the main advantage of the computer learning in ESL is that it maintain the students attention and stimulate their motivation.

The third section of the article talks about the research on 4 groups of students in a 6 months observation. Two group from preschool students and two group of elementary students. One group each from elementary school and one from pre-school enrolled in an ESL class assisted by computer, being also provided same material to practice at home. Another two group also enrolled in the ESL computer assisted without practice at home but the teacher has been very active. The result was  that both of the group have got good receptive skills, the only difference was that the group with the computer assisted learning is more quicker in terms of responds and accuracy.

The final section discussed about the argument against the significance of limitation of the computer technology in the ESL children class. Some of the limitations include that computer could not evaluate the learners’ speech. It mainly focuses on the receptive skills. Next, the role of teacher is crucial, having a computer does not mean that it is a replace for the teachers, it mainly just and object that the teacher can work with, so that the students understand better, teachers are crucial , because the human aspect plays an important role to motivate students. According to Ioana flexibility in creating new contexts for using the vocabulary and in helping the child to make correct use of the new words is an irreplaceable human quality.

Part B

PERSONAL REACTION

            In my opinion, the research does interest me, because it is very detail, it seems to focuses on the importance of the the computer assisted learning. In the first section, I  like how the author compare the real life situation of learning with the computer assisted learning, how both systems can motivated the students but in a different way. Plus, the author introduces a lot of things that open my eyes such as the attention of students which play a crucial way in learning and also the psychological dimension of the students mind.

            As for the second section, it talks a lot about the advantages of computer assisted learning but for me as I was reading the article some advantages may have overlap with the aspect of computer assisted learning in the first section. In my opinion as well, the author need to relate her research with some of the theories. Especially the theories in motivation as the mention it a lot in the article. Maybe mention a little bit about self-determination theory and also  relate to the intrinsic as well as extrincis motivation as well. Other theories that the  author can considered are  Expectancy vs Value theory, self-efficacy and Instructional strategies(beliefs, goals and attributions).

            As for the third section, maybe instead of conducting the research on elementary school, the author should conduct the research on secondary schools, this is because the age gap between the preschool and secondary is much further so the results may be a little be strong considering the age factor. Besides that the method was not clearly mention. As for the final section of the article, I have no problem with it. It is crystal clear.