# ASSIGNMENT 1 [ Q A ]

Question A : Summarize  ONE  research article.  The focus of the study in the article is on the use of computer technology   in teaching or learning language

 

Is Computer-Based Grammar Instruction as Effective as Teacher directed Grammar Instruction for Teaching L2 Structures?

By: Joyce Nutta, University of South Florida

       This study is about the method of instruction in teaching L2 structures whether it used teacher-based direction or computer-based instruction. Basically, this study examined whether computer-based grammar instruction is as affective as teacher-directed grammar instruction for postsecondary student at multiple levels of proficiency in an intensive ESL programmes and try to find any differences in the acquisition of specific grammar point for students taught in both methods. The main question focused in the study is on whether technology should attempt to emulate the characteristics of a communicative classroom, engaging students in real and meaningful communication, or provide the types of tutorials and drills that tend to be de-emphasized in current teaching practice.

       The researcher is randomly divided the 59 participants into two groups to be tested using teacher-based method or computer-based method and is examined based on two different level of proficiency to increase the ability to generalize the results. For teacher-based instruction, the students were taught using Focus on Grammar(1994) textbook while computer-based instruction were using ELLIS Middle Mastery (1996) and ELLIS Senior Mastery (1996). After five times of learning sessions, all participants were tested by using, multiple choice questions, fill in the blank questions and open-ended test. Besides that, the interviews had been conducted for computer-based instruction’s participants. 

       The result showed that computer-based grammar instruction is at least as effective as an in some cases more effective than teacher directed grammar instruction. The interviews finally resulted with most of the Asean students preferred to practice computer-based instruction where by students of the Latin native speaker more interested in human interaction which preferred applied teacher-based instruction method.

       J. Nutta in the study particularly reviewed some other researches which agreed that the development of computers programmes leads to the more meaningful communication (Garrett, 1991; Underwood, 1993; Quinn, 1990; Lavine, 1992). Besides, many other studies look at the roles of CALL in a positive ways which computers programmes provided instruction that not taught in the classroom(Soo & Ngeow, 1996) and prepared some tutorial and additional skills about the subjects (Gilby, 1996; Hoffman, 1996). While, numerous studies examined that non-computer based instruction are more effective (Adair-Hauck & Donato, 1994; Fotos, 1994:Scott & Randall, 1992)

       This study in a view gives an implication to the language learning that applying the used of computer assisted language learning (CALL) in the teaching method is actually effective and more interesting. It is not suggested that teacher-based instruction in learning process should be abandoned but these both methods supposedly complement each other because computers programmes can served many types of exercises, tutorials and useful examples and models while teachers can explained about a subject taught more efficiently.

Reference: 

Nutta, J. (2000). Is Computer-Based Grammar Instruction as Effective as Teacher-Directed Grammar Instruction for Teaching L2 Structures?.Calico Journal (16) p. 49-62