Morrison’s Interactive Language Learning on the Web

“Do teachers need to create web-based language activities for EFL students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? Why and why not?

Teachers are in a need to create web-based language activities for EFL students in the Saudi classroom. Web-based activities are of a great importance in the current classroom environment. Web-based activities make learners, classroom-oriented and motivated to learn, participate, and interact. In one of my classes, a computer-based reading lesson was given, the whole class participated without even one student who did not take part in the discussion. Also, technology kills the boredom that accompanies traditional language classes where all students are passive and the teacher is the only speaker.

Furthermore, students can use Web-based activities at their own pace at home at any time of the day. This gives them more independence from classrooms and they practice as much as they need. Moreover, I think that students benefit greatly through the authentic materials provided by technological aids and interaction is enhanced. I believe that technology greatly fosters achievement.
However, despite all of these supporting points for the use of web-based activities in language teaching and learning, students may get obsessed by technology such as computer, internet, and blogs and this may deviate them from their original objective. That is why technology must be under control and not to be left to control students.

Also, what can be counted against the usage of web-based activities in language classes are the costs associated with modern technology. When computers become a basic requirement for student to purchase, low budget schools and low-income students usually cannot afford a computer.
It is also necessary that both teachers and learners should have basic technology knowledge before they apply computer technology to assist second language teaching and learning. No student can utilize computer if he or she lacks training in the uses of computer technology. Unfortunately, most teachers today do not have sufficient technological training to guide their students exploring computers and its assisted language learning programs.

Finally, current computer technology mainly deals with reading, listening, and writing skills. Even though some speaking programs have been developed recently, their functions are still limited.

Reflect on the live session we had with Peggy

Reflect on the live session we had with Peggy

The topic of the presentation is about the influence of Arabic on the pronunciation of English sounds. The presentation argues that English and Arabic have different consonant systems and vowels systems. Also, there are differences between the two languages in the stress and the realization of sounds.
According to the presentation, one of the problems that prevent the correction production of L2 sounds is that Arabic speakers overlap their phonological knowledge with that of the English language. Arabic speakers may overlap /p/ and /b/ as the differentiation between these two sounds are not existent in Arabic. This interference is the main source of the pronunciation problems of Arab students who learn English as a second language.
This presentation was given on 24 Febayray 2014 by Peggy Tharpe, M.A. TESOL, Monterey Institute of International Studies in the attendence of Professor Hala Fawzi's CALL class at Yanbu University College, Saudi Arabia.






Advantages of Virtual Classes
1. Students save time and efforts that may students may lose when going to real classes.
2. Students interact and cooperate as if they are in a real class.
3. Virtual classes can be accessed by students at their on pace at any time
4. Teacher can design virtual classes as they like
5. Students interact with their teachers and their peers.
6. Students can get immediate feedback.

Disadvantages of Virtual Classrooms
1. The institution must have the required resources to virtual classes
2. Students may not be motivated to learn
3. Virtual classes need much time to prepare and design
4. Teachers must have the technological skills to design the virtual classes.
5. Virtual classes are not effective for evaluating students’ understanding.


Certainly, I will use the virtual classes in my context. The students in the modern age have become good users of technology and they have become more acceptable of internet-based learning. Also, some Saudi schools have computerized classes and labs and this helps in creating virtual classes.
However, virtual classes should be used together with the traditional classrooms. Virtual classes are needed when conducting conversations and seminars. Also, students in my context still need traditional classes so that they work hard and do not see the class as a matter of entertainment.
Virtual classes are a source of motivation and interest, they maintain learners’ activeness, they are a source of fun, they make students feel comfortable an unstressed, and they are easier and faster than the traditional methods. Eventually, virtual classes enable social interaction, participation, and competition while teaching to young learners.

Virtual classes cannot be successful if the teacher does not explain the tasks and roles of students clearly in the class. Using virtual classes in sometimes fails due to the lack of cooperation among members of the class. Virtual classes need all students' involvement and they promote friendly competition, therefore, it is very important that students have a cooperative attitude.

Wordle in EDU 401