Technology: The Loyal Assistant for Language Learning

            Have you ever heard about term “CALL”? CALL here isn’t one of verbs which based on Oxford learner pocket dictionary has meaning as use particular name when talking to someone on the conversation.  CALL here is an acronym. All those words stand for Computer Assisted Language Learning. Do you feel unfamiliar with that term? Do you feel confuse to heard that term?  Or feel curious about how can computer assist language learning process? Well actually many people especially people who live in less develop country are not quite familiar with this term. So do I who just got to know about term CALL after attending the second session of Technology and Language Learning course. 

                Through that course I get information that actually computer has used for so long time to assist language learning process. It started since 1960 until now. Actually CALL era has been divided into three eras, there are:

1.       1.Behavioristic Era (1960-1970)

When people believe that learn language is part of behavior. The most commonly use methods in language learning process are Grammar Translation and Audio Lingual. The most used technologies in this era are LCD, projector, tape recorder, language laboratory and some early software for drill and practice. In this era the language learning process is focus on accuracy. 

2.  2.Communicative Era (1980-1990)

The second era is communicative era, this time people believe that the most effective way to learn language is through communication with other. So the focus in language learning target change to the fluency of learner. The most commonly use technologies in this era are technologies which has “communicative sense” like telephone, text-reconstruction software and concordancing software. In this era there was even a language course via telephone.

3.       3.Integrative Era (1990- Present)

In this era language learning process is based on content. It means different people who have different purpose in learning language will learn different content of language. For instance an Indonesian student learns EAP (English for Academic Purpose) because he will continue his study in US.  At this time the most used technologies are Multimedia CALL and Web-Based CALL.

From all history above we can conclude that computer (technology) has become “a loyal assistant” for language learning process. Because with technology learning language become cheaper (The curve of cost for conduct a virtual language learning process decrease as the time goes), more interesting (With so many attractive software), more real (because today through internet various communication with various people is easily happened) and more easily (just need one button “search” to find so many authentic reading materials).

                But it doesn’t mean that there are no disadvantages with using technology to assist language learning process. Because at least there are five disadvantages of it, there are high cost to provide all needed facilities, need a expert, less interactive compare to direct communication, there is chance for unexpected situation occur like technical error and usually there are only writing, reading and listening software for learning language meanwhile there is no software for assist speaking skills.

                That all material I know for now. Last, personally I think that  Indonesia education haven’t ready yet for use Web-based CALL for language learning regarding to some reason. First is because the different topography from one region to another. Second is because the high cost needed to provide all facilities in school. Next is because limited expert to teach language assist by technology in school and last is because the quite poor internet connection in Indonesia which could make occurrence of unexpected situation increase. Because of all reason above I think for now the usage of Web based CALL in Indonesia is not the right answer or effective method for language learning process especially in remote area.