Faculty of Humanities and Social Science > English

CALL, LEARNER AUTONOMY & TEACHERS' ROLE IN LEARNING ENGLISH

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Mustafizur rRhman:
This topic aims at identifying the relationship between Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and EFL (English as a foreign language) learners’ autonomy, focusing on the role of the teachers in making the technology an effective learning tool.

Computer-Assisted Language Learning is a technique for using technology in the field of language learning.  So CALL is defined as an approach to language teaching and learning in which computer technology is used as an aid to the presentation, reinforcement, and assessment of material to be learned including a substantial interactive element.

On the other hand, Learner autonomy is the concept of taking responsibility for one’s own learning.


In recent years CALL has created new opportunities for both English teachers and learners in Bangladesh.  They get access to the enormous variety of authentic materials relating to all spheres of life at almost no cost. So in non-English speaking countries, such as in Bangladesh the computer is the invaluable source of information for teachers to guide the learners to become autonomous and explore the whole world just by clicking the mouse.

So the role of the teachers as supporting scaffolding and creating room for the development of autonomy is very demanding and very important. So undoubtedly CALL can open up immense possibility for learners, properly guided by teachers, to become autonomous as well as skilled in English as a foreign language at tertiary level in Bangladesh.

shamsi:
Thanks for introducing this topic here in forum.This is one of the popular topics in the era of ELT.I hope we will come across constructive discussions through this endeavor.


Regards

Shamsi Ara Huda
Senior Lecturer,Department of English

Mustafizur rRhman:
Why our learners should be Autonomous?
Autonomous Learning enables the learner to make the language learning process meaningful and relevant to his or her needs and to continue to develop in the target language.  Learners’ Autonomy means empowering the students learning; therefore one of the main points of language-skill development is to encourage the autonomy in learning process (Toyoda, 2001). An autonomous learner develops the capacity to take at least some control over their learning; and the learning environment provides opportunities for the learner to take control of their learning. Developing capacity requires a set of personal qualities: confidence, motivation, taking and accepting responsibility, and ability to take initiative. It also involves a set of skills: academic, intellectual, personal and interpersonal.

Mustafizur rRhman:
Who is an Autonomous Learner?

The autonomous learner is a self-activated maker of meaning, an active agent in his own learning process. He is not one to whom things merely happen; he is the one who, by his own decision, causes things to happen (Alvares-Torres, 2001). A number of the abilities associated with learner autonomy are likely to be promoted when the learners are expected to become more self-reliant such as making decisions about learning, taking responsibility for learning, planning and goal setting, and self-assessment.

Mustafizur rRhman:
CALL in Bangladesh

CALL has created new opportunities for both English teachers and learners in Bangladesh.  They get access to the enormous variety of authentic materials relating to all spheres of life at almost no cost. So in non-English speaking countries, such as in Bangladesh the computer is the invaluable source of information for teachers to guide the learners to become autonomous and explore the whole world just by clicking the mouse. So the role of the teachers as supporting scaffolding and creating room for the development of autonomy is very demanding and very important. So undoubtedly CALL can open up immense possibility for learners, properly guided by teachers, to become autonomous as well as skilled in English as a foreign language at tertiary level in Bangladesh.

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