The Application Of CALL In Vocational College English Reading

The research on computer-assisted language learning in college English has been fruitful in China. But aiming at all regular institutions of higher learning, the research in this field has been neither detailed nor in-depth enough. Although researches on CALL reading have been springing up these years, as far as vocational colleges are concerned, very few related researches are seen in China.Reading is essential to acquiring overall proficiency in English for learners. However, quite a few vocational college students are basically weak in English and lack the motivation to further study. The current monotonous teaching media and boring teaching methods of English reading make things worse. Therefore, it becomes especially urgent to improve and enrich the teaching media and teaching methods of English reading in vocational colleges so as to further improve the teaching efficiency and effectiveness, and better stimulate students'interest and initiative in learning English.This thesis firstly provides the theoretical bases of CALL and English reading teaching, namely Cone of Experience,input hypothesis theory and schema theory. Based on a survey on the teaching of English reading in vocational colleges as well as the author's own teaching experience, this study tries to discuss and explore the necessity, possibility and feasibility of applying CALL in vocational college English reading. The author then performed an experiment in two parallel classes (29 students each) randomly assigned from a non-English department, Grade 2006 in Shandong Yingcai College. The 58 subjects were divided into two groups: the experimental group (EG in short) and the control group (CG in short). The pre-test showed that there was no significant difference in their English reading levels. In the following ten weeks, CG received teacher-centered instruction, and EG received schema-based CALL. Ten weeks later, the subjects took Practical English Test for Colleges (PRETCO) in that very year, which served as the post-test. The test data were analyzed with SPSS10.0. The results proved that schema-based CALL model did have positive effect on text teaching and learning.The possible reasons are analyzed as follows: 1) CALL can vivify, visualize and simplify the teaching materials. 2) CALL can provide real language environment, varied presentation, and interactive learning process, which greatly interest and motivate the vocational college students. 3) The modern teaching medium such as text, graphics, sound, video and animation elements synthesized by means of computers, and the multisensory teaching method make teaching and learning more effective and efficient.Correspondingly, the study has put forward some rational suggestions: English teachers should constantly update their teaching concepts and enhance further interaction, communication and exchanges with students so as to make full use of CALL and bring up more qualified and practical hi-tech talents in vocational colleges.Nevertheless, it is true that the research on CALL in vocational college English reading is a relatively new field and much remains to be further studied and improved.