TSL 520-01 (MLA 520-01)

TSL 520 (MLA 520)--Computer Assisted Language Learning, Course number 520 sec 01
Fall 2001 Place: FH 401
Department: English and PhilsophyTime: W 5-8pm
Instructor: Dr. Mary Sue Sroda
Office: FH 7B11
Ph: 762-4715
E-mail:
Office Hours: M,W: 10am-12pm, T: 12pm-2:30pm, Th: 9:30am-12:30pm

I. Course Title: Computer Assisted Language Learning

II. Catalog Description: An introduction to computer-assisted language learning (CALL), an overview of its specialized vocabulary and a review of research regarding its effectiveness.

III. Purpose: To provide students with hands-on experience in pedagogical applications of computers, including using and evaluating software and internet resources. Students will be introduced to the variety of computer resources available and will be required to design a unit which includes a CALL component.

IV. Course Objectives: By the end of the course, students in this class are expected to

  • Understand the general operating principles of electronic technolgies, hardware and software.
  • Learn vocabulary related to computer-assisted second and foreign language learning.
  • Experiment with and evaluate current computer applications in second and foreign language learning.
  • Learn how to design and integrate computer work into second and foreign language courses.
  • Review and evaluate current research in CALL.

V. Content Outline:
1. Structure and terminology of computers and CALL
2. Computer resources for classroom management
3. World Wide web (WWW) resources
4. Designing web pages
5. Evaluation of instructional software, materials development
6. Designing instructional units: theory and practice
7. Professional development resources: electronic journals, listservs, conferences, etc.

VI. Instructional Activities: The primary format of this course will be discussion and workshop. Students will participate in a variety of assignments and, as a final project, design a teaching unit integrating CALL into second and foreign language methodology.

Note: Because of course requirements, each student must have a working e-mail account by the second class meeting! If you do not have one, go to Academic Computing, 3rd Floor, Applied Sciences Building.

VII. Field, Clinical and/or Lab experience: None except as it pertains to the projects/research that students conduct for class.

VIII. Resources: The Murray State University Library, the internet, the world wide web, listservs, and other computer-based resources will be the principal resources for this course.

IX. Grading procedure: Semester grades will be determined as follows:

Preparation and Class Participation / 20%
Mid-term / 10%
Article presentations (2 electronic) 2@5% / 10%
Web site review / 10%
Homework Assignments / 10%
Original Web site / 15%
Listserv (professional) discussion report / 10%
Final Project / 15%
Total / 100%

X. Attendance: Prompt and regular attendance is required for this course. Your final grade will be lowered if you have excessive absences. Since this class meets once a week (only 14 times this semester) more than one absence is considered excessive. Missing three classes will result in an E for the course.

XI. Academic Honesty Policy: The Department of English has a policy available for you to read. There is a copy posted outside of my office and I will make other copies available on request.

XII. Textbook and other course expenses:

Required texts:

  • Egbert, joy, and Elizabeth Hanson Smith. ed. 1999. CALL Environments: Resarch, Practice, and Critical Issues. Alexandria, VA: TESOL Inc.
  • Boswood, Tim. ed. 1977. New ways of Using Computers in language Teaching. Alexandria, VA: TESOL Inc.

Optional text:
If you are a person who likes printed references (versus electronic), you may find a HTML reference book helpful when we get to the webpage design part of the course. You may choose ANY book you like, but I use HTML 4 for Dummies and and Using HTML 3.2 (2nd ed). The University bookstore sells a good book by Elizabeth Castro called HTML for the World Wide Web.
The numbers after HTML , eg. (HTML 3.2. or HTML 4) indicate the version number of the code. For this class. HTML 2, 3, or 4 will be helpful. DO NOT buy a reference for XHTML, DHTML, VRML or XML. They won't help you at all for the type of assignment you will be trying to do.

Because this course involves extensive use of computers, you will need 3.5" floppy disks to save files. You need at least two brand new disks, as you will be turning in some assignments on disk. There is also space on the university server where you will save files as well.

XIII. Additional Polices and information:
Homework and class notes:

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact a classmate to get class notes and assignments.

When assignments are due, they are due at the beginning of class. Some assignments you will turn in via email or post on the class listserv. All posted deadlines will be strictly enforced. Late assignments will lose one letter grade for every 24 hours they are late. If you are absent the day when a homework assignment is due, you are still required to hand it in on time. Special exceptions for emergencies may be made in accordance with University Policy.

Student teacher conferences: You will be required to meet with me twice this semster, once in my office and once online in a virtual chat.

Course Schedule: (subject to change)

August 29 / First day of class; preview of the course, introducing hardware and software
Sep 5 / management and classroom implementation issues
Sep 12 / Web resources, website evaluation
Sep 19 / Web site review due ,
Sep 26 / issues in authenticity, intro to HTML
Oct 3 / issues in design, HTML cont.
Oct 10 / te-presentation #1, eaching using the interent
Oct 17 / Midterm
Oct 24 / evaluating software
Oct 31 / Project workday
Nov 7 / e-presentation #2, going from lesson to unit
Nov 14 / Professional Listserv discussion report, Resources for professional development
Nov 21 / Thanksgiving Break--No Class
Nov 28 / Original web site due, implementing tech on a limited budget
Dec 5 / Last day of class New Technologies, future developments
Dec12 / Final Project presentations (Exam Week)

**Specific homework assignments will be posted on the e-study course site.

Last updated on September 04, 2001. Created and maintained by Sue Sroda, TESOL Program, Murray State University.