Examining the attitudes of students’ towards using computer assisted language learning in foreign language classrooms

Abstract

Problem statement . The use of technology determines the level of development of a country. The issue of technology adaptation in the field of education is important to secure technological integration. Due to the success in providing equality of opportunity to the entire population, the use of communication technology in the field of education is becoming more and more widespread in this context. In recent years, the significance of technological integration in the sphere of education has become apparent. A great number of research conducted on the views of students towards integrating computer assisted language learning (CALL) into the language learning classrooms, however, few studies addressing the attitudes of students towards using CALL in the Kazakhstani contexts exist in the field of language teaching. The aim of this study was to examine university level students’ attitudes towards the use of computer assisted language learning in Kazakhstan. Methodology . The quantitative method of research by analyzing the data collected through survey with the help of SPSS Statistics 23.0, as well as questionnaire developed by M. Vandewaetere and P. Desmet to measure attitudes of students towards the use of computer assisted language learning were applied. The participants of the study were 126 EFL pre-service teachers enrolled at Foreign Languages Teaching Department of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University. Results . The participants have overall positive attitudes towards using CALL in the language classroom. The difference between participants’ attitudes towards using CALL according to their age of study at the university was revealed. It was found statistically significant differences between first year and second year students and first year and third year students’ views towards using CALL in language learning. Conclusion . Further research studies might be conducted in the form of mixed design in order to get more detailed information to support or understand the general results found with the help of questionnaire.

Keywords

• communicative competence
• intercultural competence
• assessment tools
• language learners
• document analysis
• qualitative research