Skeptical about Tech. for Language Learning

Throughout my studies in learning technologies I have been plagued by a fundamental question: do I really believe in all this technology? Am I an enthusiastic early adopter or a skeptical laggard? Hopefully I have a healthy balance of both.

I've been asking myself these questions again as I read research on the use of speech technologies for teaching and learning second language pronunciation. Many of these articles point in the direction of computerized language tutors and independent language study (most also admit that the technology has a long way to go). Imagining a pronunciation tutoring program that could provide the user with feedback on the "nativeness" of his or her pronunciation left me wondering...If this is the direction that computer assisted language learning (CALL) is headed, do I even want to get on board?

So I was somewhat relieved to be introduced to a new acronym in the context of language learning. CMC (computer-mediated communication) seems to represent the new interactive, multi-media component of CALL. In other words, CMC is to CALL what Web 2.0 is to Web 1.0 (I guess all that studying of SAT analogies finally paid off!) I had seen CMC used in other contexts but when it was juxtaposed with CALL something clicked.

In the age of CMC, learners and teachers can take advantage of computer networks, online collaborations tools, and interact with information in a variety of modes (audio, photos, video, interactive text). To me, the affordances of these technologies are in line with what it means to learn a language. Language, after all, is about communication. Computer-based language tutors, on the other hand, fail to recognize the inherently social nature of language learning. Effective language learning results from the negotiation of meaning with others and includes subtle elements of culture, tone, and body language.

Speech technologies, such as voice-recognition software, may play a role in providing a particular type of feedback to learners who want to improve their pronunciation. Tools such as audio/video conferencing online, text chat, and other online collaboration tools, however, offer greater affordances for language learning that will result in authentic communication. Furthermore, using these technologies in an educational context will help students develop literacy skills that may prove useful in other social and workplace contexts.