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An investigation of the use of CALL by College English teachers: Perspectives in a Chinese Normal University

Xiong Xing    

This research project conducted a case study of the use of CALL (computer assisted language learning) by College English teachers in one university in China. The study identified some problems in the College English teachers' use of CALL, such as insufficient technical support, heavy workloads and the difficulties adapting to the new teaching mode. The researcher recommended these identified problems be addressed immediately. At last, she contended that to realize any improvement in CALL, College English teachers, computers, and the administration are three indispensable agents which must work together.

Transcript

Interviewer:    I’d like to welcome Xiong Xing, welcome Xiong

Xiong Xing: Thank you

Interviewer:    Firstly could you please tell me what your Research topic is about?

Xiong Xing: My Research is the Investigation of the Use of CALL in Chinese College English Teaching.  CALL is the acronym for Computer Assist Language learning.  Since the computer was invented many teachers in schools have been employing computers to assist language learning process.  In the recent years in many countries there were technology innovations which were happening in many schools using more and more modern technologies in their teaching and in China in 2004 there was also a technology innovation like this they are employing more and more modern technologies in college English teaching.  There was later literature found about this topic especially focus on the perspectives of those teachers so my research focuses on teacher’s perspectives in the use of CALL and also the adoption of modern technologies.

Interviewer: How did you go about conducting this Research and what results did you find?

Xiong Xing: I did a case study in just one Chinese University, I had a questionnaire and I did five interviews with those teachers to find out how do they perceive the use of CALL and what problems do they have in their use of CALL and I found CALL has been widely used in the College of English Teaching and there are also many problems for the teachers, they’re having the new challenges for example the Chinese College of English Teachers are having very heavy work load and the adoption of modern technologies didn’t release them from the heavy work load, they have got heavier work load from the technologies because they spend more time preparing for the teaching materials and they have to spend more time on that to check the student’s process of learning and I also worked out a model which can help them to improve the use of CALL to a higher level.  Teachers themselves, computer and the management are three factors that have to work together to contribute any development in the use of CALL.

Interviewer: Sorry what were the three factors again?

Xiong Xing: Teachers themselves, computer facilities and the management of teaching……administration I mean.

Interviewer: What implications will this Research have for future study in this area?

Xiong Xing: Another very important finding in my Research is teachers are normally they are out of the decision making process of any technology innovation, they are at the receiving end so that’s not good so the teachers have to have their voice in the decision making process of this so when they’re facing the new challenges, they need attention and so my study call for giving the teachers a voice in this process and hopefully the model I worked out will help them to improve their use of CALL to a higher level.