The significance of in-service teacher’s training for fully integrating CALL in the female public schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Developments in technology have influenced all areas of life, including education and in \nparticular, language learning and teaching. The computer has become very \nadvantageous in the teaching of foreign languages, especially with the augmentation of \nhardware, software and the World Wide Web. Computer-assisted language learning \n(CALL) is beneficial, since it helps teachers to enhance their teaching and gives \nstudents the opportunity to learn in an authentic and interesting environment. The \nimpact of CALL has led many researchers to carry out studies to explore the \nsignificance of CALL and the factors that could enhance or reduce the integration of \nCALL into language learning and teaching. \nAlthough CALL could be beneficial to the enhancement of English proficiency among Saudi Arabian students, the integration of CALL is still narrow in terms of quantity and \nquality among EFL teachers in public female secondary schools in Riyadh. So, this \nstudy aims to explore the current integration of CALL among these teachers. \nFurthermore, this study aims to explore some of the factors that contribute to the \nintegration of CALL, those being computer literacy and the computer training that is \navailable for both pre-service and in-service teachers. In addition, the study focuses on \nthe kind of training that is vital to enhance teachers' use of CALL. Also, this study \nrevolves around the teachers' roles when using CALL, their barriers to the integration of \nCALL, as well as their attitudes toward CALL. \nThe first step in this study is a background of the history of language teaching methods, \nstarting with the traditional methods and ending with the integration of CALL. The \nliterature review follows in order to substantiate this study with relevant studies that \nhave been conducted in this area and to provide the theoretical background of the \nstudy. After that, the methods that are used to carry out the study are indicated; \nincluding the questionnaire, follow-up interviews and two focus groups. Lastly, an \nanalysis of the results is done in order to come up with the findings. \nThe findings of the study suggest that the current levels of computer use and computer \nliteracy among EFL teachers are still insufficient. The available computer training is inadequate for both pre-service and in-service teachers and there are no computer \ncourses facilitated by the Ministry of Education. Moreover, in-service teachers still need \nongoing computer training courses to keep them up to date with recent developments in \neducational technology. Recommendations to increase teachers’ computer literacy and \nto enhance their use of CALL are considered as well as recommendations for further \nSaudi Arabian studies on CALL.
Author: Aljawharah Mahdi Alajmi
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W396385396