27.Computer Assisted Learning

 

 Introduction

Efficiency in teaching of English language will be reflected in the performance of the learner both inside and outside the  classroom. Education systems   that are dynamic  adopt  certain techniques   for  efficient transaction of ideas. There are certain techniques in  teaching and its prime goal is to serve as a touch stone of successful English teaching. The teachers adopt certain approaches, methods, and creative techniques to teach functions, vocabulary items etc.  Computer Assisted Learning (CAL)  is one such method.  Let us explore  how  CAL  can be used for  teaching  the  SCERT  Course book.

Computer Assisted Learning a can be defined as a computer program or file developed specifically for educational purposes.

Computer Assisted learning can make lessons such more interactive  and engaging, and can pique the interest of even the most reluctant of pupils. It encompasses a lot of different technologies and ideas, but can be understood  easily enough . it can be summarize as  “the use of electronic devices / computers to provide educational instruction ad to learn".

The great thing about this teaching method is that it can be implemented in  every type of classroom, from Kindergarten art class which to  medical school class which students use computer models to learn to operateon the human body.

  Using CAL, language teachers can help their students retain more vocabulary and  grammar by having them watch videos, play computer games or even navigate  the internet using only their target language. It also enables students to use that target language in a more active way, which helps them learn more naturally than just rote memorization.

Advantages

*It caters to the Individual.

*It promotes active interaction and use of target language.

*It lets students see their progress.

*It breaks down complex topics into smaller pieces.

*It’s interesting and engaging.

 

The  first  Unit of the Standard IX   Course Book includes the  following:

1. The Race (story)

 2. Learning the Game (Autobiography)

3.Twoice a week winter thorough(poem)

The Race (Nisha Punjabi)

The Race is a short story by Nisha Punjabi which shows how a good sportsmanship is moulded by perseverance, motivation and self confidence. The story helps to bring  motivation and confidence among the learners

Teaching using CAL

*By showing the animation video of the Race – can transact the content.

*Vocabulary teaching by showing pictures through ICT and

also showing  certain examples

*The vocabulary or the new wordsare introduced through ICT

*In order to familiarise commentary shows an extract from the 20-20 Cricket match and it is projected on the screen  using a project along speakers.

*All of the students has to create their own blog and upload  the story The race by  changing the ending part according to their creativity.

*By Showing the main events (the cartoons) of  the story, the students to describe what it is

*Suggesting another name for Race

*Uploading the commentary on their blog

*Write a review of  the story on the Blog

* Each student has to create their own  quiz with the help of quiz maker (application)

*The students   have to create a Cartoon character of Tarun and to illustrate the main events, main characters, features etc

*After all these activities the teacher can upload her notes

Learning The Game (Autobiography)

 Learning the Game is an extract from Sachin Tendulkar's Autobiography `Playing it My Way!

Teaching using CAL

* Introduce the lesson by showing  one of Sachin's Interview, cricket etc- The students has to identify the theme

*Also show the animation video

*Ask the students to prepare their profile and about any other eminent personality and upload it in blog

*Ask the students to pick up their favourite  quotes by Sachin or  from Sachin’s Autobiography and write a review and upload it on the blog

*Construct a flipbook regarding Sachin

*Construct a blog and write a review about how ‘Learning the Game’ influenced the students

*Teach Vocabulary through word puzzles

*Construct a newspaper report by including their own creativepicture  by considering Sachin's victoryas the theme

*Enact a  puppetry show by considering Sachin’s victory as the theme and upload it in the class blog

*Attempt a review of the lesson and upload it on the class blog

*Provide at least one link regarding ‘learning the Game in the class blog

 Twice a Week The Winter Thorough

Teaching using CAL

*Can show different seasons and asks the students to  equate with life  and then introduce the poem

*Play  the animation video of the  Poem with the help of ICT

*Teach the Poetic devices by showing the pictures, Comparisons and certain other examples with the help of ICT

*Provide vocabulary through pictures asks the children to describe it according to their poetic sense

*Create a similar poem and upload it on the Blog

*Attempt an appreciation of the poem

*Flipped classroom can be applied here

*Teachers should upload all the notes after all the activities

Summing up

CAL has its  own advantages as well as disadvantages but if we use it discreetly we can   enrich the quality of education. It can also be used to  enhance the techno-pedagogic skills of the learner as well as the teacher.

References

*https://www.ijbcp.com

*https://www.sciencedirect.com 

*https://www.cambridge.org 

*https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk

 

-Submitted by Ms. Praveena S.Prasad

26. Lesson Plan based on Concept Attainment Model

 

25.Review of Websites-6

 Q.Attempt a review of websites or online journal sites and identify at least five popular strategies that are used for teaching English in Asian countries. 

Introduction 

The importance of the English language in the contemporary world is fundamental in all spheres of life. Over the past few decades, the number of people who have a functional command over the language of English around the world is rising above the par. The global language of English is very much important to survive and to keep healthy relations across the world. Even in the Asian countries, the language of English has gained much popularity and has secured a safe place in the national language list used in the countries. The Asian countries give utmost importance to English education nowadays. They employ multiple strategies to teach English to the growing generations of the times. In this review, my topic of discussion includes the identification of five popular strategies that are used for teaching English in Asian countries. 

Language Immersion 

The Language Immersion method is a modern method used in the teaching-learning process which requires the usage of the target language in all aspects of the class. Just like how a child is taught to swim by entering into the water, the students are expected to learn a language by getting full exposure to the language. This means that the students in the Asian countries are taught English by exposing them into a language-rich environment. 

Language Immersion method can be considered as one of the most natural teaching method of English where students can train their skills and capabilities of their own through proper understanding of the target language. The language immersion method is featured by its incidental learning. In addition to all the demonstrations and textbook learning, here the learner spontaneously and naturally learns concepts and usages in its due course without any pressure. This kind of unrehearsed learning by the learner themselves help in better retention of the things they learn. It more or less leans to the side of acquirement of learning instead of learning a new language. Flexible cognition and transferrable learning skills are other features of the language immersion method. For an effective actualisation of this method, flexible and skilled teachers who can easily navigate the learning environment of the students are needed. 

Critical Thinking 

One of the most popular strategies adopted in Asian countries for teaching English language is the promotion of critical thinking. For any individuals, critical thinking enhances their knowledge and thereby contributes to their understanding abilities. In the context of English learning, the students are encouraged to do critical thinking and to formulate as much as doubts and questions as possible and the clearance of these questions will result in thorough learning. In this method, questions play a major role. The input of these referential questions will enhance the higher order capability of the students and thereby providing better understanding. The child input is also higher, thus making them an active learner. Language is taught through this method by providing questions which the students are expected to answer critically after thinking. The expression of each student to one single question will vary according to their communicative competency. Repeating this process will be beneficial to the students to develop their critical thinking along with language proficiency. 

Guided  Individual  Learning 

Every student is not alike when it is concerned with the process of learning. Therefore it is not possible to say that classroom teaching will benefit everyone equally for language acquisition. This conclusion made by experts suggested many ways to provide equal opportunities for all kinds of students in the Asian countries to acquire to English language proficiency. For that, they identified the importance of language learning outside the classroom at the pace of the students. Thus came in the strategy of implementing Guided Individual Learning Centres  (GIL).  These  Guided  Individual  Learning  Centres     provide opportunities for the students to choose their learning styles and to develop their language at their own pace outside the classrooms. Here, the students will be free from the pressures of the classroom learning, instead will be provided with numerous resources to develop their language proficiency. Experts and trained teachers will assist the students in choosing the most appropriate learning style for them. The learners themselves can test their progress of learning through various evaluation strategies available in these centres. 

Grammar Translation Method 

Grammar Translation method is one of the oldest teaching strategy used in Asian countries to teach English to the students. Grammar translation is a method of learning a foreign language by translating its content into the native language of the learner. As far as skills are concerned, reading and writing skills are more focused than the listening and speaking skills. In the Grammar Translation method, the teacher teaches the grammar and then gives examples to the students. The teachers translate the content and teach it in the mother tongue with little active use of the target language. The students are only focused on the content of the subject matter being discussed and they are not at all exposed to the target language, which adversely affects the ultimate aim of their language learning classes. 

Communicative  Language Teaching

Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) is an approach that aims to achieve communicative rather than linguistic competence through learner interaction. Born in the 1980s, this strategy to language teaching is based on the philosophy that, in order to learn a language, one must practice using that language to communicate meaning to others. The main purpose of the CLT is to prepare the students to be confident for real-life situations which require their communicative skills. For that, the students will be provided with different contexts where they have to flaunt their communication skills. Thus, in CLT, communication is the end and means of the teaching method. 

Conclusion 

All the five strategies I presented here are some of the most popular ones that are used widely in the Asian countries. There are numerous other strategies used across the nations for effective teaching of English. Many expert studies across the world prove that there will never be a single strategy or approach that can effectively teach a language. The effect of comprehensive strategies in teaching English among the non-native speakers is miraculous. Therefore, an eclectic approach of learning should be promoted for teaching-learning process and especially teaching of English.  

References 

Sonita ,Chea , Sou. Guided Individual Learning Centre: A Non-Classroom Learning Environment. 

Brandon, K. (2004). Best Practice in Guided Individual Learning. North Sydney, AU: NEAS. 

Ishikawa, Sasaki, Yamamoto. Integrating Critical Thinking Skills into the EFL Classroom. 

Devine, T. G. (1962). Critical Thinking in the English Class. Peabody Journal of Education, 39(6), 359-365. 

Kirkpatrick, A. (2009). English as an Asian lingua franca and the multilingual model of ELT. Paper presented at the Hong Kong Association of Applied Linguistics Research Forum, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, December, 1-18.  

-Submitted by,  Ms.Thara. S. Das

 

24.Review of Websites- 5

 

Websites  on  research related to  ELT

Introduction

A website  is a collection of web pages and related content that is identified by a common domain name and published on at least one web server. The website’s web pages are linked with hyperlinks and hypertext and share a common interface and design. The website might also contain some additional documents and files such as images, videos, or other digital assets. 

With the Internet invading every sphere, we see websites for all kinds of causes and purposes. So, we can also say that a website can also be thought of as a digital environment capable of delivering information and solutions and promoting interaction between people, places, and things to support the goals of the organization it was created for.There are different types of websites on the whole internet, we had chosen some most common categories to give you a brief idea – Blogs,E-commerce ,Portfolio etc. 

 

Ø  ELT Journal (https://academic.oup.com/eltj/issue)

Ø  TESL-EJ (http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/)

Ø  L2 Journal (https://escholarship.org/uc/uccllt_l2/aimsAndScope)

Ø  ASIANEFLJOURNAL(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345410102_The_Asian_EFL_Journal_Professional_Teaching_Articles_-_Special_CEBU_Issue)

Ø  Foreign Language Annals (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19449720/2013/46/2) 

 

Name of the topic	Name of the researcher	Name of the journal	Year of publication
The hobby course: towards a language curriculum	https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccab052	ELT Journal, Volume 76, Issue 3,	03 September 2021
Teachers’ Scaffolding Strategies in Internet-based ELT Classes	https://doi.org/10.55593/ej.26101a1	TESL-EJ  journal	May 2022
IT WORKS IN THEORY AND IN PRACTICE: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR IMPLEMENTING A TBLT BEGINNER COURSE	https://doi.org/10.5070/L214354581	L2 Journal, Volume 14Issue 3	2022
The Role of Methods Textbooks in Providing Early Training for Teaching with Technology in the Language Classroom	https://doi.org/10.1111/flan.12020	Foreign Language Annals	First published: 10 April 2013
The Handbook of Language Teaching	DOI:10.1002/9781444315783	Asian EFL journal	·          November 2009

 Second language acquisition

Second language acquisition, or SLA, has two meanings. In a general sense it is a term to describe learning a second language. This is mainly a subconscious process which happens while we focus on communication. It can be compared with second language learning, which describes how formal language education helps us learn language through more conscious processes.

Research on Second Language Acquisition 

Studies in Second Language Acquisition is a refereed journal of international scope devoted to the scientific discussion of acquisition or use of non-native and heritage languages. 

The American linguist S.D. Krashen created the theory of “language acquisition”. And the theories on second language acquisition were proposed based on the study on the second language acquisition process and its rules. Here, the second language acquisition process refers that which a learner with the mastery of his mother language learns another language without its social environment. 

According to Krashen, he put some theories based on second language acquisition is Language Input Hypothesis, Language Output Hypothesis, Language Internal Syllabus. There are certain factors which influence second language acquisition are, Differences in Personality ,Learning Motivation and Attitudes and Intellectual Factors. 

English course book

 Course books supply attractive, “interesting and lively materials” which may not be produced by teachers. Teachers naturally tend to use the book  which are more interesting to the students. Evaluation of instructional materials has become one of the major issues of language teaching/learning instruction. The usefulness of course books saying that most of them are suitable for learners’ needs because they provide materials, which are well presented, and they allow teachers to adapt and improvise while they are teaching. Also, “course books can relieve the overburdened, as well as under-prepared, teacher of a great deal of stress, time and additional work”. Coursebooks make it possible for teachers to “focus on other tasks such as monitoring the progress of their students, developing revision materials and activities”. The National Ministry of Education states that there are approximately 1.180.000 students who learn English with this Let’s Speak English 7 course books. In the course outline for this level, no other course books or materials are suggested. It is clear that Let’s Speak English 7 reaches a wide audience and its potential influence on 1.180.000 students’ English language learning each year makes it crucial to evaluate this course book. In this study, this course books is studied in terms of its quality as an educational material. As all teaching materials need to be evaluated in order to fit a particular teaching situation, the findings of this study would be useful and beneficial for further studies and research in this field.  

Teaching Strategies 

Teaching strategy is a generalized plan for a lesson which includes structure,

instructional objectives and an outline of planned tactics, necessary to implement the

Strategies. It  explains that teaching tactics are that behavior of the teacher which he manifests in the class  that is responses, increasing the responses by extra activities and so on here we use the term strategy to imply thoughtful planning to do something. There are different types of teaching strategies like, Brainstorming, Case-based Small-group Discussion ,Demonstration ,Games ,Independent Study ,The principles of Effective Teaching Strategy.  

Use of ICT 

Language learning and teaching is considered to be a complex process. To make such a complexity easier, well-advanced teaching aids should be available as it is the need of the hour. The recent and great development of the Internet led to a technological revolution in all fields of our life and teaching and learning in which gradually become more reliable are not exception. Nowadays, ICT is gaining a vast attractiveness in foreign language teaching and learning. ICT has its noticeable impact on the quality and quantity of teaching-learning process. In concrete terms, ICT can enhance teaching and learning through its dynamic, interactive, and b engaging content; and it can provide real opportunities for individualized instruction. Nowadays the use of ICT in teaching and learning process becomes very important. The teacher is expected to be both traditional and

modern in his/her teaching-learning process. The teacher has to be prepared to have the capacity of including ICT in the teaching process. 

Assessment in English 

Assessment has an important role in education and it has a critical role in the teaching process. Through appropriate assessment, teachers can classify and grade their students, give feedback and structure their teaching accordingly. Recently, educators and scientists have been becoming more interested in the requirements of assessment procedures in the scope of foreign language teaching and the learning process, as forms of assessment have been changing. The assessment procedures relate to authenticity, practicality, reliability, validity and wash back, and are considered the basic principles of assessment in foreign language teaching and learning. The main value of these aforementioned principles is to distinguish the effects of assessment and review any classroom based issues between the teacher and the student. As the assessment process affects both teachers and students, significance and consideration should be given to assessment procedures in foreign language teaching.  

Conclusion

ELT Research Journal is a peer-reviewed international journal devoted to the publication of articles and general issues relating to research in English Language Teaching as a foreign/second language around the world. The ELT Research Journal is a forum for constructive dialogue among researchers who seek to illuminate current and emerging areas of interest to the workers of the field.  

-Submitted by Ms.  Parvathi.S.