Reflection Week 2 - CALL

1.   Reflect on your experience  in the BENL courses that you’ve  taken.

Behavioristic CALL  : consisted of drill-and-practice materials in which the computer presented a stimulus and the learner provided a response. At first, both could be done only through text. The computer would analyse students' input and give feedback, and more sophisticated programs would react to students' mistakes by branching to help screens and remedial activities.

In ENGL 3520 Semantics lectured by Miss Afifah, the lecturer practices operant conditioning positive reinforcement. For example, the lecturer asks the students questions and if the students can answer, he or she will be given rewards like candy as an incentive for the students to do well next time. While in ENGL 2999 Research Methodology lectured by Mrs Faridah, the lecturer also practices operant conditioning positive reinforcement. For example, the lecturer randomly asks the questions to the students and if the answer if correct, the selected student will be given RM5 cash as the reward. In contrast, in ENGL 3040 English Literature: Twentieth Century and Con Linguistics for Students of Literature lectured by Dr Mahmudul, the lecturer practices operant conditioning negative reinforcement. During the presentation week, all students must attend the presentation without giving any excuses. If there is a student who fail to come, marks will be deducted.

Communicative CALL  : using the language rather than analysis of the language, and grammar is taught implicitly rather than explicitly. It also allows for originality and flexibility in student output of language

When we studied ENGL 2090 English Literature: Beowulf to Johnson lectured by Dr Aimillia, in the class, the lecturer uses computer as the medium for the students in teaching the course. In the class, the lecturer will read and discuss the slides from the computer as a way of teaching the course.

Integrative CALL  : by integrating the teaching of language skills into tasks or projects to provide direction and coherence.

In the subject of ENGL 4820 World Literature In English by Miss Ida, the lecturer assigns the students to do the assignments in pair and present it. However, the marks will be calculated individually.

2. Think of  the assignments which required you to apply the computer  to assist in their completion.

Students nowadays tend to use computers in completing their assignment. In fact, most of the lecturers require their students to type the assignments instead of the traditional way which is writing. In ENGL 4820 World Literature lectured by Miss Ida, we use more Communicative CALL than Behavioral CALL and Integrative CALL. We tend to look out for any information through IIUM Library. It is the easiest way and time-consuming especially for students. We can just exchange emails and divide the task among group members through chat. 

3. Relate the  applications to the 3 stages of CALL (Behaviourist, Communicative or Integrative) & name the key concepts associated to the assignments.

We agree the three stages; Behavioral CALL, Communicative CALL and Integrative CALL are correlated. Eventually, we rely on these three stages. We do not realized the importance of these three stages only if one of the stages is missing, we are in troubles.