CALL LESSON REVIEW

Title: CALL Lesson Plan --- Listening

Author: Ben

URL: http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!j4m7C2OeFRjXQu5f26C_Q3U-/article?mid=3

Overview:

This lesson is designed to teach listening for advance learners by using computer. The teacher uses two activities. The first activity is Jigsaw listening, and the second is Replicate the painting. These activities are used to enhance listening skills and to work collaboratively. Also, the lesson helps to search for information on the internet.

Strengths/Weaknesses:

Varying activities in this lesson is the main strength point. The first activity is jigsaw which has different benefits such as to work in groups and to think critically. The other activity is watching a short video clip about a painting and trying to draw it. The teacher provides other activities as worksheets. They are about watching short video clips and answering giving questions based on what they have watched and understood. This lesson teaches students how to access to special websites to look for information. The weakness that I noticed is that the lesson is designed for small classes with up to 10 students. Moreover, there may encounter a problem in time management.

Using the Activity in my Classroom:

After modifying the lesson plan, I would definitely use it in my listening class. My modification would be on the activities that are suitable for the large class up to 20 -25 students. I may change the website and video clips depending on my lesson.

CALL Research Review

Title: The Effect of Computer-Assisted Language Learning in Teaching English Grammar on the Achievement of Secondary Students in Jordan.

Authors: Abdullah Abu Nabah, Jebreen Hussain, Aieman Al-Omari and Sadeq Shdeifat

Link for Document: http://www.ccis2k.org/iajit/PDF/vol.6,no.4/452.pdf


Overview of the study:

The purpose of the research was to develop instructional software for teaching some aspects of grammar and its effect positively or negatively on the learners' achievement outcomes. The aspect of grammar that the research and software is designed to investigate was a passive voice. The research asked three questions. The sample of the study was four public schools purposefully selected. 212 students with technical abilities in using computer were divided into two groups. The experimental group was taught the passive voice by using computer. The controlled group was taught by the traditional method. To collect data and implement the study, the researchers used two instruments that are an achievement test and a software program.

Strengths/Weaknesses of the Results:

Beside the great efforts that were made and the allotted time to conduct the study, the instruments that were used are highly tested to insure the high level of validity and reliability. In addition, the result is emphasized on using computer in teaching grammar. The results will help the curricula designers and methodologists to develop a curriculum by using CALL, and propose a method to teach it. Furthermore, it will lead to further investigations and researches on the same field.
The weakness is that the study did not present the method of how the experimental group is taught by using computer, and illustrate what is the traditional method that used to teach controlled group. Moreover, it is limited to one aspect of grammar that is passive vice.


Implications for CALL:

Using software programs becomes widely nowadays. I would use the software that designed in this study to teach grammar if it is developed to cover different aspects of grammar. Also, I might use the methods that are used to teach grammar by using computer. I am ready to apply any new methods that related to computer-assisted language learning in my class.