How can computers assist the teaching of languages?

Question

I live in Iran and want to know how can the internet and computers assist the teaching of languages to children and adult students.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Language-learning software.

Chat with penpals fluent in the language of study.

Wide availability of internet translation resources and software.

Answer 2

Having taught ESL for many years and having taught teachers how to teach ESL/EFL I've come to see the value of computer assisted learning. I think that as an adjunct, Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) is a good way to teach English. However, I would suggest that it should never become the main focus and vehicle. There are several major types of programs: Drill & Practice, Contextualized Activities, Tutorials, Simulations and Games.

1. Drill & Practice are mechanical manipulations of words or sentences, using the same/similar types as used in classrooms or textbooks. The value of these programs depends on the accuracy and relevance with which vocabulary structures are used and on the quality of the error analysis in the program.

2. Contextualized Activities - require greater involvement by the students than occurs in Drill & Practice. Usually they consist of units of text longer than word or sentence pattern items and these programs stress understanding and more creative use of the language. These types are especially important in EFL because they emphasize the content along with structure.

3. Tutorials - presents new material to the Ss and questions them about the information. They are dynamic and graphic which makes learning fairly straight forward and pleasant.

4. Simulations - present situations with which the students must interact, playing a role using graphics. The student makes decisions and answers and this determines the content and sequence.

5. Games - probably the most successful computer assisted learning tool both for children and adults. I used to tell my students that we will be doing a "language activity" because sometimes the word "games" is seen as frivolous and not "serious" enough, but call it a language activity and like magic, it is acceptable.

I would suggest that you look for programs both containing individual types of activities as above, or ones which incorporate all of the above, which will make the learning process a little less monotone or boring. I think that it would make a great add-on to regular structured classroom language learning. Good luck (Choda Hafez) Here's a website you might like to try Links to language learning shareware and freeware.
www.sussex.ac.uk/langc/CALL.html

Answer 3

Obvious features such as computer running a dictionary would be a life saver for language learners. Now you can also buy pocket PDAs to run a dictionary as well. Electronic dictionaries are also a form of computer technology.

The Internet and computer technology together really helps language learners. You get free online dictionaries on the Internet. In a way you get more support fro English language from the Internet but other languages are available too.

The secret of learning sucess is to get the knowledge in small bite size rather than getting overloaded with things you cannot remember. This is why I find that the Internet allows you to look for areas of interest and keep going at it. I email interesting bits of information to my own child. This is like feeding just a little at a time allowing the child time to remember.

Learning needs the fun element in it. I find that funny jokes are very important to the learning of languages. You can judge the language skill of a foreigner by listening to his jokes. The ability to tell jokes in a foreign language requires the person to master the language and culture, then rewrite the jokes quickly in the mind into a completely different language and culture (all in real time!)

On a practical level, you can see that the multi-media ability of the computer technology is a god-send for all language learners. Especially for English learners, select a word you don't know then right-click the mouse, you then have al l sorts of possibility to look it up on the Internet or a local dictionary! I install WordWeb on my Windows machine. Whne I read, something I don't know, just a right-click and I can get WordWeb to answer it in a second.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Here is a free website that teaches for free. Take a look and find out. There are other language sites connected to this one too. www.zapchinese.com

Answer 6

Get ROSETTA STONE it is a great language learning software and you can learn many different languages through it.

Answer 7

theres some websites and teach u other lang.for free