Practicum experiences

If you had the chance would you utilize ICT (CALL) in your teaching?

I'd absolutely utilize ICT in my teaching because it has so much to offer to me as the teacher and to my students. I'd save some of my time when the students do their work through computers and the students would enjoy the lessons with ICT with what the computer and internet could offer.

How do you think it would help (or would not help) your students to learn English?

My students would definitely be more independent with the usage of internet, first of all. When they check on pages and read the information online, most of the info are written in English. Whenever they have a problem with a definition of a term, they can immediately check the meaning online. A lot of listening and speaking exercises are available where students can just get the software and practise them themselves.

What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of implementing CALL in the Malaysian schools?

If the government were to implement CALL to all schools, it is going to be a huge problem when the schools cannot afford to get the computers for the students to use. As for the advantages, teachers and students are going to have a lot of fun using and experimenting what the computers and internet can offer to a student.

What are the barriers in implementing CALL in the Malaysian classroom?

Firstly, it is the facility. Not all schools can afford to get sufficient computers for its students to use. This mainly happens in rural areas where electricity might even be a problem to them. And even after the schools have gotten the computers, maintaining those computers is also another problem that might occur. We can see abandoned computers in schools corrupted with viruses and it is such a waste.

Please also include any other comments/thoughts/ideas on this topic

I would say that we are lagging behind compared to other countries where computers are students' good friends. Learning through computers have so much to offer and not only they teach, but computers are also infotaining. Ministry of Education has to realize and buck up what Malaysian students are missing.