How Computers are Improving English Education in Japan

本稿は,日本における大学生の英語学習者にとって,コンピュータを利用することが英語学習に役立つ方法を紹介する,実践的なものである。リスニング,リーディング,語彙,ライティング,文法,そしてスピーキングという技能の英語学習について,CALLの現状が記述される。また,良質の英語学習用ウェブサイトやソフトウェアが紹介される。そして,広島大学におけるマルチメディア環境について,簡潔に説明される。

The main goal of English students in Japan is to learn the language as quickly and enjoyably as possible, and, in this endeavor, the world of computers, software, Internet, and other multimedia offer a great deal of promise. These multimedia provide instantaneous links to various data. Vocabulary and grammar can be studied and reviewed at a learner's own pace. There can be unlimited, immediate feedback pinpointed to the specific errors made by a student. The student has privacy and is not singled out to speak in class. Materials can be designed to accommodate different learning-style preferences. By utilizing computers for tutorials and drills, class time can be dedicated to using language in real communicative situations. Last but not least, computers are often fun. The purpose of this practical paper is to introduce some of the many ways in which Japanese students studying English can benefit from the world of computers. The current situation of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) will be depicted with respect to the various skills often associated with language acquisition: listening, reading, vocabulary, writing, grammar, and speaking. Some high-quality Internet sites and software will be introduced. Finally, the current multimedia situation at Hiroshima University will be briefly described.