FL/L2 Teachers' Role In CALL

Teachers' role always remains a controversial issue bringing on lots of arguments in education, to which new aspect has been added with the introduction of technology as a innovative language instruction method, that is: what role on earth the FL/L2 teachers play and/or ought to play in CALL (Computer Assisted/aided Language Learning). With the deep-going of CALL practice, it seems crucial for language teachers to have a clear picture of their position & function in the new technology background, especially of the difference & relations between their new roles and the old ones. This thesis, first of all, analyzes the computer's role in FL/L2 language teaching in relation to Taylor's (1980) tutor-tutee-tool framework. Then detailed discussion is conducted on the inter-relationship between the computer and teachers in CALL. And teachers' role in information age holds the foreground of the whole writing, which is mainly based on Constructivism, with thorough clarification being given to what's teachers' role in tech-environment. To serve the purpose of offering reference or guidance to language teaching practice, the author specifies FL/L2 teachers' roles as informant, organizer, controller, assessor, facilitator, etc.(in relation to Widdowson (1990); Harmer (1983); & Palmberg (2001)), among which some old concepts such as organizer and controller have been endowed with new meanings. As for each kind of role listed above, particular explanation is provided and relevant methods are suggested as well, such as courseware development & evaluation, CALL activity design, CELT (computer-based language test) design & delivery and so on. Besides, predictions are made about the prospect of CALL while further explorations in the field are called for with the suggestions revealed.