Computer-Assisted Language Learning (Call): Pedagogical Pros and Cons

Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) has begun a revolution in the domain of language pedagogy. Before the presence of technology, learning a language with the old-fashioned methods could not meet the learners’ needs and what they expected from language for an effective communication. In addition, in the absence of software programming and so many other facilities by which learners could enhance their language abilities quickly, learning came to be tediously time-consuming. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to introduce some features of Computer-assisted Language Learning approaches and the related studies that have been carried out in this area. The pros and cons of this pervasive approach have been reviewed to show that this method can practically permeate through all language skills. On the basis of the analysis done by many researchers, it was found out that CALL can be so much applicable to both language learning and teaching in and out of the classroom. Most scholars unanimously emphasize that the use of computer and Internet can facilitate learning, particularly learning the second language. Beside some of its drawbacks, this approach reinforces the notion that the advantages of applying CALL in educational environment outweigh its disadvantages. It is also believed that it can be more beneficial and strategic than the traditional methodologies in the modern world. There are some software tools that have been analysed in the paper and the results are reported. The paper concludes how applying CALL system in and out of any educational centers can perfectly alleviate the difficulties of learning for students and significantly help the pedagogical methods become more productive.