The positive effects of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) have been widely acknowledged in the body of literature. While the majority of studies concern the use of CALL in the West, there is a dearth of research on the use of CALL in the Middle East and in particular in the Arabian Gulf where the English language plays a prominent role and being able to speak English is the passport to attending higher education and gaining employment. This chapter documents two case studies in higher education institutions in the Gulf, one in Saudi Arabia and one in the United Arab Emirates. The studies show how the use of CALL positively affected Arab students’ language skills and their attitudes towards learning English with technology, paving the way for further research in the Arabian higher education context, where the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for teaching and learning is gaining ground at a fast pace.
TopIntroduction
Some of the most recent innovations in pedagogical practice are due to the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the traditional educational context. The ability to display and process text, hypertext, audio, video, pictures, animations, and voice recognition are only some examples of how ICT-based tools and resources can be implemented in language teaching. Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) in classrooms has never been more affordable and versatile than it is today.
CALL has made gradual and constant progress since it first began in the 1960s (Levy & Stockwell, 2006). However, conceptually speaking, best practice in CALL is not clear at present, mainly due to the variability that characterises the field and the largely techno-centric approach applied by CALL enthusiasts that seems to overlook aspects of pedagogy and task design principles (Gitsaki, 2012). There is a plethora of views as to what CALL is and how it can be successfully implemented. Furthermore, the process of designing CALL materials has become a complex one as the practice of language teaching is moving away from the didactic, teacher-centered model and more towards communicative and content-based learning with authentic language tasks (Levy & Stockwell, 2006).
In countries where CALL has not yet been widely implemented, there is a problem of how CALL will fit into the paradigm of existing traditional teaching and learning practices. This chapter examines the use of CALL in two Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia (SA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In both these countries there is a well-established tradition of English language learning in schools and at university and the integration of ICT in language courses is gaining ground with significant effects in students’ motivation and performance.