The Efficacy of Using Computer Assisted Language Learning Software as a Major Component of a University EFL Program

-

The development of adequate English language skills to ensure student academic success presents a significant challenge to universities with large population of EFL students. These universities spend large amounts of money to provide students with remedial English instruction in an attempt to develop the speaking, listening, reading and writing skills required to succeed in English language-based university programs. Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) has faced on-going resistance within the language teaching community, primarily due to a lack of understanding and lack of relevant student and instructor experience with such software. The goal of CALL is not to replace the teacher but to provide students with the required frequent repetition over an extended period of time to allow long-term learning to take place. This study examines the efficacy of using CALL software as a major component of a university language EFL program as a means of providing students with individualized practice in reading, writing, and speaking. The study is a mixed methodology experimental-control group design. The findings of this study have major implications for the re-design of university EFL programs to create a curriculum in which CALL and the teacher are in “partnership’’ to accelerate students’ English proficiency.