Standards in English Language Teaching and Assessment

Plenary Speaker:
Claire Bradin Siskin

Is it only a tool? Assessing the Options for CALL

Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) has come to mean many things since it is embraced by educators with diverse philosophies. Computers may be seen as language tutors, as tools in the writing process, as organizers and providers of information, or as facilitators of human communication. Supporters of CALL are fond of saying, "The computer is just a tool." What do we really mean when we say this? Are we trying to reassure teachers about their role in the classroom? Since the classic dichotomy of "tutor vs. tool" may be overly simplistic, alternative models will be discussed. English language teachers face the considerable challenge of deciding which role(s) technology can best play in supporting their objectives. I will argue for a more candid examination of the relationship between CALL and the language teacher and offer suggestions as to how we may all find a comfortable place in this new paradigm.

Bio

Claire Bradin Siskin has 21 years of experience as an ESL/EFL teacher. She directs the Robert Henderson Language Media Center at the University of Pittsburgh, where she is a lecturer in the Linguistics Department. She is an associate editor for CALICO Journal and serves on the editorial board of CALL Journal. She led the design team for Language Learning & Technology Journal (http://llt.msu.edu) in 1997. A past chair of the CALL Interest Section, she currently chairs the Distance Education Portfolio of the Professional Development Committee of TESOL. Her principal interests are faculty development and computer-assisted research in language acquisition.

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Photo by Tony Quirke