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About Me

My name is Kristen Voss, and I am a graduate student in the MA TESOL program at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Upon graduating from this program in May 2011, I look forward to teaching Engilish as a Second Language (ESL) to adult learners in a community college setting in the Chicagoland area. My experience in teaching ESL comes through volunteer work with a community organization, tutoring students in one-on-one sessions. I look forward to an internship in the fall of 2010 which will allow me to gain experience teaching ESL in a classroom setting. My specific interest in ESL is developing listening and speaking skills in students using authentic materials and tasks.

My Thoughts on Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL)

I believe that using computers to assist in language learning is a vital part of language acquisition. Computers provide endless opportunities for student exposure to authentic input. They also allow students to produce their own authentic output using the language skills they are developing. Online networks allow students to explore how language is used in a variety of social contexts. Within a classroom, computers provide more opportunities for all students to practice using language. They cater to all types of learners- visual, auditory, hands-on, reluctant participators, etc. Outside of the classroom, students can use computers to learn language independently.

While it may seem that CALL may diminish the role of a teacher, I believe a teacher has great responsibility in a classroom that adopts computer technology to assist in language learning. Technology should not be used merely for the sake of using technology. It should also not interfere with the main purpose of a classroom- to learn language. Thus, a teacher must structure purposeful activities using computers and guide students on how to use the technology. The teacher must model how technology helps students learn not only language skills but also how language is used within context. Used in this manner, computer technology can be a great motivator for students to become independent learners and competent, confident communicators.

My CALL Tools

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kvoss1978

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Blogger: http://kvoss1978.blogspot.com/

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Wikispace: http://kristen01.wikispaces.com/