The Integration Of Computer And Networks Into Foreign Language Teaching

Since the 1990s, information technology has been developing by leaps and bounds. As its core part, computer and networks have got rapid access to many of the social fields. As is known to all, once a technology is introduced into a field, this field would change a lot. Therefore, when computer enters the field of foreign language teaching, changes would undoubtedly take place in its many aspects, such as teaching information delivery, integration of contents into learning activities, teaching process, teaching structure, etc. Furthermore, computer application would also cause great changes in many of the teaching components, such as teaching theories, values, evaluation standards, etc. To be adapted to these changes, we need to do research in how to integrate computer well into the teaching, including its models, patterns and approaches. Particularly in the present College English Teaching Reform (Reform hereafter), this research turns to be very urgent.This dissertation is written to argue and explore the integration of computer into English teaching in the Reform, focusing on some major problems in the integration process and trying to elaborate some issues concerning Computer- and Classroom-Based College English Teaching Model (Model hereafter). The whole research is therefore done around the following five questions:1) What is the relationship between computer and teaching in the Model? How are the other E-learning models carried out properly in our teaching??2) How do universities implement the Model in their teaching? Effective or not?3) What are the teachers'opinions of the Reform and the Model, including their beliefs in teaching, cognition of the Model and their adaptation to the Model?4) Are present college English textbooks matched well with the Model? How can the textbooks be improved to some extent??5) How can we further improve our college English teaching system in light of the great changes in teaching??The above five questions for research are correlated in contents and logical sequence, bringing about and finalizing the relevant variables as the bases for data-collection and research. Through a lot of field work and data analysis, this dissertation has made deep exploration into the above questions and produced some arguments of innovative and academic values:1) With the computer integration into the teaching, curriculum has changed in its designing pattern. Traditionally, curriculum was designed, majorly mirroring teaching theory and methodology, but now the curriculum design turns to be mirroring teaching theory, methodology and technology. Therefore, the present computer-and-web-based teaching is characterized by the changes in curriculum designing pattern.2) With the computer integration into the teaching, computer is now moving from its assistance position to the front platform of the teaching. In other words, computer has greatly improved its role in teaching and turned to be an integral part of the teaching system.3) With the computer integration into the teaching, changes have taken place in teaching model. The traditional teacher-centered model has been challenged, or rather, emphasis is gradually placed not only on the learner-centered model, but on the learner autonomy by the application of information technology.4) With the computer integration into the teaching, changes have also taken place in textbooks, which are designed with multi-media materials and contents, hence called all-encompassing textbooks. However, these textbooks, though popularly used, have only changed physically from paper edition to disc-or-web edition. The teaching contents are totally similar between paper textbooks and disc-or-web ones, rather than the contents extended in disc-or-web edition. Therefore, the dissertation has made some tentative suggestions for developing new textbooks with multi-media contents.5) With the computer integration into the teaching, great changes have taken place in teaching components. Many traditional components (i.e. materials, contents, methods, etc.) may gradually be substituted by new ones (i.e. multi-media materials, web contents, technology, etc.). Changes in teaching components will undoubtedly trigger some mismatches in teaching practice, thereby causing some malfunction of the teaching system. To facilitate the harmonious and efficient function of the teaching system, computer should be integrated naturally into the teaching, that means, the whole teaching system need to be valued from new ecological perspectives, thus ensuring the dynamic harmony of the system. This dissertation holds that good operation of the teaching system should follow these two principles: stabilize teaching structure by making all components compatible; restrain over-operation of the teaching system to promote individual development.The ecological perspective tells us that the essence of the harmonious eco-system of teaching lies in its compatible components, dynamic operation and sound circulation. The sub-system growth should be beneficial to the growth of the whole system, thus realizing the sound operation for mutual function and promotion in the eco-system.This dissertation is composed of seven chapters: Chapter One is written to have a general review of the relevant literature, such as theories about foreign language teaching and models. Based on that, this chapter tries to explore some developing trend of theories in support of the present study. Chapter Two is devoted to the design of the research, including the research methodology, approaches, subjects, instruments, etc. The research is done around 5 questions, on which both quantitative and qualitative data-collection and analysis are based. Chapter Three is written for data-analysis and discussion. The discussion is done around the major issue of computer and teaching in the Model, trying to clarify the relationship between the two. Chapter Four offers a study on the issue of teaching model. The study is based on investigations in several universities, focusing on the implementation of the Model. Then, this chapter suggests that major attention be paid to the proper and flexible application of different teaching models in terms of their teaching objectives, process, conditions and learner specifications. Chapter Five is devoted to the study of teachers'development. Some investigations are made first on the present situation of the teachers, and then based on the data analysis, some suggestions are made in teachers'training, including teachers'quality, IT technology, IT skills, teaching competence, etc. Chapter Six is composed for the research in teaching materials and textbooks. Starting from the Reform objectives, the research first reviews the compilation process of the previous and present textbooks and then offers tentative analysis and evaluation of the existing textbooks. Based on the analysis and evaluation, the chapter suggests the necessity for developing the fifth-generation of textbooks for college English teaching. Chapter Seven, as a conclusive part of the dissertation, suggests a new, ecological perspective for further examining our English teaching system. As the Model is implemented, many changes have taken place in teaching and therefore caused some mismatches in teaching operation. To solve these mismatches, it is necessary to explore our teaching system from ecological perspectives, thus enabling our teaching system to return to its compatible, dynamic and sound operation circle.This dissertation is composed of an introduction and seven chapters. Each chapter can be independently established, but also correlated to other chapters in logical sequence, offering a deep, tentative and exhaustive exploration into the integration of computer into teaching. This exploration is, undoubtedly, of great significance to our present foreign language teaching, especially to the promotion of the Reform. The major arguments made in the dissertation are of some innovative and academic value for references.