ICT IN LANGUAGE LEARNING TASKCALL CDs PROGRAM ANALYSIS

Lecturer : Hartoyo, M.A., Ph.d

According to Hartoyo (2008:90-91) there are five principles for designing and testing

CALL programs. Interactivity (feedback and instruction) refers to how the program can

stimulate interaction, especially interaction between the computer and the user. It includes the

effectiveness of the instructions and feedback provided in the program. Usability

(Flexibility) refers to the flexibility, ease and inherent interest of the program used, and how

far the material meets the student’s need. Content Appropriateness is concerned with the

amount of material presented in the program, how easily the material is learned and

understood, and how far the material meets the student’s need. Effectiveness refers to how

effectively the program assists language learners to improve their mastery of grammar.

Performance (Attractiveness) refers to the presentation, lay out of the screen, the color, and

the illustrations (picture, diagram, charts, etc) used in the program.

In this occasion, the writer tries to analiyze the four kinds of CD programe. Those

kind of CD programe consist of English Word, Vocabulary, Learn English (Talk More!

Beginners), Speak English (Talk More! Intermediate).

English Word

The objectives of this CD are to increase the vocaburay and to practice the

pronuncuation. This program contains of four games, namely: Roadhog, Rescue, Night

Search and Frozen Food.

Interactivity

The English Word CD program is quite interactive because it provides a listing menu

that can help students to run the games. At the first time they run the game, they will

see the menu then they have to write down their name automatically before playing the

game. Also, the instruction is really provided.

Usability

This program helps students to improve their ability, especially in listening and reading

skills. It allows them to listen and read some words in every levels when they play

game. The students have to look at some words in the color box. They need some

strategies to find out that word and guess the right one. So, it keeps them concentrate to

follow the instruction.

Content and appropriateness

The content of this program is appropriate for basic up to intermediate students. They

can choose the level based on their needs. However, it will make them stuck in the

same level because the level is unlocked. That will be good if the next level is locked.

So, it makes this program more challenging for students.

Effectiveness

The material of this program is appropriate for Kindergaten and Elementary students to

improve their listening and reading skills.

Performance

This program provides some interesting themes in each levels. The layout is very

colourful and eye catching. It makes the students interested in the games and curios

about the next level.

Vocabulary

The objectives of this CD are to increase the vocaburay and to practice the

pronuncuation This program contains of four games, namely: Baloonz, Haunted House,

Bats and Stuntman.

Interactivity

The instruction of this program is very clear. The students have to answer the question

before choosing the object with various color. It is an interesting games because it

motivates them to click on the right answer.

Usability

Based on the title of this program, of course it helps students in increasing their

vocabulary. This program is good for intermediate students such as at Junior high

school. It provides some vocabulary which is not suitable for beginner students or

elementary students especially in Indonesia.

Content and appropriateness

This program is easy to understand by the students. They can guess the answer by

choosing the right colors which have been provided by the program.

Effectiveness

By using this program, students can increase their vocabulary and knowledge.

Performance

The layout of this program is very colourful. It makes students interested in its

illustration of each level.

Learn English (Talk More! Beginners)

The objective of this CD is to practice the conversation and also to practice the

pronunciation. There are some themes in this program: The Alphabet, Greetings, At the

restaurant, Shopping, Getting around, At the hotel, On the phone, Emergencies, Leisure,

Business and also Phrase.

Interactivity

It is an interactive program for beginner and intemediate students. It consists of some

catagories and steps in delivering the materials.

Usability

This program cointains of some interesting topics with excellent sounds. The students

can choose the topics and how long it takes that they want to learn. Moreover, the

students can practice conversations and pronouncition. They can practice a simple

conversation and also practice how to pronounce the words correctly through the

recorder program.

Content and appropriateness

The students are able to improve their speaking and reading skills by following the

instructions of this program. It provides some pictures and desciptions. Moreover, it is

completed with the native speaker’s sound so it is possible that the learners are able to

pronounce words as a native speaker.

Effectiveness

By using this program, students can improve their listening skill. It also helps students

in pronouncing the words with pronunciation checking. Moreover, they are also able to

improve their skills in simple writing because this program provides some examples of

short sentences.

Performance

This program is completed with interesting pictures and the native speaker’s sounds

that make the students feel comfortable to keep playing. Also, the layout is very

colorful and provides a lot of categories which make the students interested to practice.

The Writer can not analize the last CD programe, because the programe does not run

at the computer.

REFERENCES

Hartoyo. 2008. Individual Differences in Computer Assisted Language Learning. Semarang: Pelita

Insani Semarang.