my CALL responses

If you had the chance would you utilize ICT (CALL) in your teaching?

I would definitely utilize ICT (CALL) in my teaching because it will save a lot of time and energy in preparing my lesson. Plus, from my knowledge, my students are all very good at using the computer (I did my practicum in SMK Seafield, Subang Jaya) since they are actively involve with social-online network like Friendster, Myspace, Facebook, Online games and etc. Therefore, I do not have to waste time teaching them how to operate the computer thus; I can directly deliver my lesson effectively.

Besides that, I believe that my students would definitely enjoy my lesson instead of dull teacher-talk approach. After all, lesson with WWW will ease a teacher’s burden to force students to bring materials or textbooks to class. This is because everything and almost anything in the Internet and all I have to do is simply link my lessons to any suitable websites based on the lesson objectives, my students’ proficiency and their interests.

How do you think it would help (or would not help) your students to learn English?

The school I went for my practicum is well-equipped with computers and the computer lab has at least 30 computers (if I’m not mistaken). Therefore, I can assign one computer per student with an Internet connection & a Web Browser. Since each of them is able to use the computer, it would definitely help them to learn English because they are able to learn at their own pace.

Besides, learning English through ICT (CALL) is very interesting and this will motivate them to learn English. The more they are expose to the English language, the more they can improve their level of proficiency by completing exercises, reading and etc (e.g: courseware).
I believe, students these days have their own computer or laptop at home. Therefore, if I am not able to complete my lesson in class, my students can continue learning or completing the assigned tasks at home. Thus, learning does not just stops in class but it is an on-going process of learning.

What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of implementing CALL in the Malaysian schools?

Advantages:
1. Allows hands-on activities

2. Allows students to explore the language themselves

3. Encourages Student-centred learning

4. Saves teacher’s time and energy

5. Paper-less, no exercise books or text books

6. Any information is in the Internet regardless of any topics/interests at all (There’s a saying ‘The world is at your fingertips’)

Disadvantages:

1. Wasting electricity

2. Financial constraint

3. Sometimes students tend to get distracted other websites which is non-educational like YouTube,

4. YM, MSN, etc.

5. Some school does not have proper connection to the Internet (Internet too slow which is a definite waste of time!)

6. Computers not functioning due to VIRUS, etc

7. Some teachers & students are not computer literate.


What are the barriers in implementing CALL in the Malaysian classroom?

The first thing that comes to my mind is – FUNDING. Without sufficient funding, the government could not provide enough computers to the school. Due to that, some school does not have enough computers to cater to a class of 30 students.

Secondly, most teachers are not IT savvy and they even refuse to learn how to operate the computer. During my practicum phase, the computer lab is only used during computer classes and not many teachers are keen to use the Media room.

Besides that, computer maintenance takes up a lot of time and it is also costly.

Please also include any other comments/thoughts/ideas on this topic

Personally, I think that the Ministry of Education should conduct trainings, seminars or workshops for teachers in order to cope with the rapid growth of technology. They need to be exposed to ICT in order to use it in conducting lessons.

Besides that, the teachers themselves must take the initiative to learn how to operate the computer in order to conduct lesson using ICT. They have to bear in mind that they should not longer do teacher-talk lesson in order to promote interactive lesson.

Finally, the schools in Malaysia should hire a technician specifically to monitor the computers in the lab.