A Survey Over Current Applications Of Call At Middle Schools In Fujian Province

It is known that CALL plays an important role in the foreign or second language teaching and leaming.As the availability of computer hardware and software have grown,more and more language teachers have been engaged in the practice and research of CALL. This study attempts to make a deep research into the current applications of CALL at some middle schools in Fujian Province to find out the real problems cropped up in the use of CALL,and to suggest some ways to solve these problems.With this survey,we can find some ways to implement CALL effectively.The survey participants consisted of 160 English teachers who taught at middle schools in Fujian Province from December 1,2002 to March 1,2003.The questionnaire survey and follow-up field studies and interviews(acted as implementary surveys)explored the availability of computer hardware and software in schools,teachers' expertise and attitudes toward CALL,the current applications of CALL in schools and the factors that influence the use of CALL.The findings suggest that the present conditions of computer hardware and software can not meet the needs of CALL;that most of the participants lack the needed expertise,though most of them take positive attitudes toward CALL;that the current applications of CALL are not satisfying;and that lack of available coursewares,time,computer skills and computer setting and so on prohibits the use of CALL activities in some classrooms.So the author suggests that schools should increase investments in the installation of technology(includmg facilitating the Internet in schools),strengthen teacher training and establish a set of CALL administrative system to encourage the use of CALL;and that teachers should be aware of available technology used for teaching languages and integrate information technology into English teaching and learning.