A. Background
CALL is an abbreviation of Computer Assisted Language Learning. It is teaching and learning process that applying technology in learning language, including English as a foreign language. English has fours skills and some components, so learners need more application to fulfill their learning such as software base learning. Now then, I have found software which can help our own English mastery, that is Reading Program Software.
Reading Program Software is popularized by www.gcflearnfree.org/. www.gcflearnfree.org/ is a worldwide leader in online education which delivering more than 750 lessons to millions people around the world (over 200 countries) and absolutely free.
Reading Program Software is online software which can use by learners to improve their English mastery, especially for vocabulary, pronunciation, reading and listening skill. It means that despite this software is called as reading program, it does not only show us reading materials but also audio and visual of letter, word and text. Therefore, this software is suitable and very good to treat Computer Assisted Language Learning course.
B. Description of Software
Reading Program Software is online software which is designed to help learners become better reader and help non-native speaker to improve their English. This software presents about 1.000 common words which are grouped into some theme categories such as plants and animals, office, education, sports etc. and has nine learning activity, those are Letter Explorer, Word Explorer, Text Explorer, Word Videos, Word Fill-Ins, Sound Match, Word Sound, Blast Off (mini game) and Reading Comprehension. Each activity comes with audio and help tool.
a. Letter Explorer
Letter Explorer activity shows all alphabet of English. Choose and click on the letter to hear it pronunciation and see the example of correlate words with the letter. this activity is very good for beginners and learners who wants to correct their pronunciation
b. Words Explorer
This activity presents many words of many theme categories. Select
word theme category then push one word to listen its sound and see the sentences which
enclose the word.
c. Text Explorer
Text Explorer provides short stories, advertisements, articles etc..
Select categories of text and click the audio symbol to listen it said out
loud.
d. Word Videos
Word videos also called as video dictionary. It is an interest
activity here. This dictionary illustrates word through short movie. Just choose one of desired word then watch its movie.
e. Word Fill-Ins
Word Fill-Ins deliver incomplete sentences as it is often found in
hard copy generally. It aims to test learners’ vocabulary. How to play it is
choose a theme category and read the sentence carefully then select the correct
answer is shown on the screen.
f. Sound Match
Sound Match shows materials in audio, pictures and word.
There is one picture of tape and three of cassettes but has different sounds.
Thus, learners have to look for one picture that fits with the word. The trick
is easy. Enough to listen the word said out loud of each image then take
appropriate word and dragged into the cassette box.
g. Word Sound
This activity only provides items in audio and writing form. To run here is select a word is mentioned in the audio and put it into the points that have been provided.
h. Blast Off
Blast Off is a mini game. it presents Fill-Ins sentence and many words. The way to play it is find fits word with sentence by
flying around the screen. When the correct word is touched, so player will get
a medal and if they are wrong, the word will dissolve.
i. Reading Comprehension
Here, learners are given some texts along with its’ questions. They
just pick out and click the audio symbol to hear its voice. And to do exercise, they need to push the question then choose the correct answer.
*Do not forget to click start for each activity
So now, how to access this software? Please visit this web www.gcflearnfree.org/ then
fastidious reading. Look at the picture below:
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www.gcflearnfree.org/ |
How to start our lesson:
There are three ways to begin our lesson here, those are:
1. Click “Reading Practice” directly and will be shown you theme categories then choose subject that you need.
2. Click “Learn English”. By clicking it, you can learn English through your language or select Learn in Simple English if you do not find your own language and begin your fun class.
3. Click one of activities immediately in “The Activities” which you want. Push “Start” then choose theme category and have your nice course.
C. The Strengths and the Weakness
a. The Strengths
1. Serve material in text, audio and visual form so learners can accustom their vocabulary, pronunciation, listening and reading skill.
2. Provide mini game.
3. Send many theme categories of lesson
b. The Weakness
a) The learners may bore when they use this software for long time because its display is rigid in
each activity, except the Word Video or Video Dictionary.
b) This
software is can used if internet network available only.
D. The Process of Using Software in Learning and Teaching Activity
Lesson Plan
Name of Project :Fun In Learning Vocabulary
Objective : Students will be able to identify the words of plants and animals about 10 items in English
Students : 14 Years Old/Beginner Level
Time : 2x40 minutes
OPENING CLASS
a. In this step, teacher says greeting while smile to the students when he/she enter the class.
b. Teacher check students’ attendance list. After that, teacher asks students to pray before startin class.
c. Teacher gives the students stimulus about what they will discuss. For example teacher says to them “Who has a pet in home? And who likes rose flower?” Students replay “Me mom, me mom”, after that, teacher ask them what kinds of their pet may be about two or three students. And then, teacher says again, “Yes, good. So, today we will learn about..... Plants and Animals, right.”
Teacher writes down the topic on the white board like this “PLANTS and ANIMALS” and pronounce it, so students hear how to say it.
CORE ACTIVITY
a.Teacher make sure the internet connection at all computers in the class
b.Teacher explains what thing the learners are going to do, include how to access this online software while practice it directly such as type the website at Google search (www.gcflearnfree.org/). After successful search, the teacher told students to stay choose “Word Video” activity and run to “Plants and Animals” independently. Teacher will only help the learners if they find difficulty in operating this software or other problems related to the class.
c. Teacher then asks learners to understand vocabulary that contained in the video and write it in Microsoft Word. Each student is required to collect as much as ten vocabularies, including five of animals’ and other plants.
d. Furthermore, students are asked to explain or describe vocabularies that has been selected based on they watch and collect via E-mail at least one paragraph which consist 3-5 lines or more. If this task cannot be completed at the school, the learners will be given time for 2x24 hours.
CLOSING CLASS
Teacher reviews the lesson and motivate them to learn hardly then say greeting.
E. Conclusion and Recommendation
a) Conclusion
I conclude that Reading Program Software is a good selection to use in learning English. This software helps students to improve their English skills due to presentation material is designed as good as possible and here not only reading skill that can be improved, but also the vocabulary, pronunciation and listening skill.
However, the display of each activity in this software is rigid and see monotonous so cause boredom for learners. But it is not something to be feared. To overcome is teacher can conduct activities interlude when learning process going on such as ask learners to draw or present other videos that fits the subject and certainly interesting. In addition, the teacher should prepare a modem or utilize hots-pot connection which near from school area as anticipation of network interference. Thus, learning can be done in groups or even individuals.
And the most important solution to solve any problems in the classroom, including differences level of participant’s ability to operate computer is teacher must always be ready to assist students who need it and care for students’ activity as long as they connect the internet.
b) Recommendation
a. I do suggest to use this software in Computer Assisted Language Learning class.
b. More simply, teacher should advise learners to use this software by clicking the type of activity that is listed directly on the screen as described in the third section on how to start learn in that software.
c. For all teachers, you have to be able to master the medium of learning, in particular computer. Now day, there is no reason to do not know how to use computer or technology in teaching and learning process and create comfortable class atmosphere.