The Use of CALL To Acquire The Vocabulary
Introduction
Nowadays, the computer has played important role in all of life, including in learning language. Computer has become a part of modern life and a tool to help the works. According to Hartoyo (2008, 11) that Computer is used for the learning process which called Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) and the sake of facilitating people who want to learn subjects, such as learning languange. Computer as a machine still depends on the user. It can be useless, if the user cann’t operate it. In learning process, people as user of computer isn’t required to master the material of learning, but also can operate it well to acquisite the language.
Above are the important role of CAL to support learning of computer. Based on the view of Ruhlmann (1995), CAL can make the students actively, respond to questions, complete intractive tasks, and enter a personal dialogue with their electronic tutor.
Implementing of the use of computer in language learning which is needed by the learners, means developing in teaching and learning language. It indicates how the computer has a big role to enhance acquisition of language. The use of computer to learn language is called Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL). According to Son (2001, 28) that the use of the computer for vocabulary learning in term of linking CALL is effective ways to acquire the vocabulary in language. For instance, Goodfellow (1994) proposes that CALL needs to promote a deep learning, to support learning language processes and Graney and Mokhtari (1993) suggest that practice with computer-assisted learning language has benefits or advantages to acquire vocabulary.
CALL In Language Learning
Many experts believe that CALL can improve the languange competece of the learners as long as they can use it more frequent to practice the tasks of its program. According to Hartoyo (2008, 27), there are a number of advantanges of CALL for the language learners, for examples that it can encourage the learners to develop their reading habit; it offers any topic which can be practiced by the learners; it has also flexibility of time for the language learners to use that program. Because of the advantages of CALL, many language learners recently use that program which aimed at acquisition of language, especially the vocabulary. Several studies using computer-mediated texts demonstrated the positive effects on vocabulary learning. Based on investigating of Reinking and Rickman (1990), the reader’s vocabulary learning and comprehension would be affected by displaying texts on a computer screen. It is more interesting to learn language using CALL than books.
The Importance of Vocabulary in Language Learning
In language learning process, vocabulary is an important part of language to to understand and communicate with others. Peng (2007) argues that the most difficult for the language learners in language learning is to remember the words. Wilkins (1972) has a view of vocabulary that vocabulary is the foundation of a language in language learning and teaching. The language learners could have met difficulties to speak and read fluency. As a basic of linguistic vocabulary can be an important standard to recognize the level of language learners. According to Ellis (1995), the learners sometimes don’t use context clues properly because of their poor vocabulary knowledge and low vocabulary capacity. Moreover, Parry’s (1993) proposes that a single context hardly gives enough information for the language learner to guess the full meaning of a word.
Vocabularies Acquisition In CALL
Many experts of language argues that computer technologies can support learning in a number of ways. Many features of the computer are considered to enhance vocabularies development. According to Chun and Plass (1996), they have three studies with students in their second year of German who used Cyberbuch. The program includes various type of annotations, such as picture, text, video. The objective of this study is to explore the vocabulary learning, and the effectiveness of that program on vocabulary acquisition. Based on this study, it has result that visual language can help the language learners in language learning. It can recall new words.
According to view of Tozcu and Coady (2004), they argue that using interactive computer-based or CALL in vocabulary acquisition is more effective than traditional materials. That program could have positive implications of using CALL, especially in language classromm for enhancing of vocabulary acquisition. To enhance that, the language learners should be active by doing tasks on CALL. The increasing of vocabulary of them depend on their frequent practices. The more they do their tasks, the more better to develop their vocabulary. The language learners should also know the instructions of the program in order to reach their goal. CALL has also a various vocabulary building program in order to stimulate the language learners to do the tasks on it.
The most important of using CALL for the languange learners is to motivate them to learn language. The program of CALL is advisable for them to assist other people. CALL is defined as a divice for helping the language learners to develop their learning skills in vocabulary and make best use of the strength they prefer when learning a new word. CALL has a positive aspect for the language lerners and gives them more autonomy in language learning. They can learn it without instructors as long as they have time and know how to operate it well. The materials could motivate them to interact far more often.
Conclusion
Use CALL cannot make the language learners to have motivation to acquire the vocabulary by doing the tasks, but also can improve their language ability. CALL is only a device needed operator to run well. The operation of it depends on the learners. The language learners should try it more frequent in order to acqiure more vocabularies. When the language learners can improve their vocabulary capability, they can use it in communicating with other learners and read text to understand it. The program of CALL is needed to build language learning process which focus on acquisition in target words of language. Recently CALL has significant implications to developing of language which used in all over the world by the language learners.
References
Chun, D. M., & Plass, J. L. (1996a). Effects of multimedia annotations on vocabulary acquisition. Modern Language Journal, 80, 183-198.
Ellis, R. 1995. Modified oral input and the acquisition of word meaning. Applied Linguistics.
Hartoyo, M.A.,Ph.D., 2008, Individual Differences : In Computer – Assisted Language Learning (CALL), Pelita Insani Semarang.
http://iteslj.org/Articles/Constantinescu-Vocabulary.html
Tozcu, A. and J. Coady. (2004). Successful Learning of Frequent Vocabulary through CALL also Benefits Reading Comprehension and Speed. Computer Assisted Language Learning,
Parry, K. 1993. Too many words: Learning the vocabulary of an academic subject. In: T. Huckin, M. Haynes & J. Coady. (Eds.), Second language reading and vocabulary learning. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Corporation, 109-129.
Son, J.-B. (2001). CALL and vocabulary learning: A review. English Linguistic Science, 7, 27-35.
Wilkins, D. A. 1972. Linguistics in language teaching. London: Edward Arnold.
