Abstract:

The purpose of the following experiment was to test two newly released pieces of software (MASTER MAX and YOUR TURN) in a real learning environment and to suggest one possible way of integrating the computer into the language classroom.

The results of the study, i.e. a book of self-descriptions by the students and a detailed questionnaire eliciting the students' attitudes towards various aspects of the teaching unit, indicate that there are ways of integrating the computer into an up-to-date language learning situation despite the given constraints (hardware and software deficits, group size).

On a wider theoretical basis it is argued that for secondary education it is mainly the "tool function" of the computer that matters. Furthermore, the computer could play a major role in the process of leading the learner to more autonomy in the "everyday classroom" and give formal L2 learning a more practical emphasis.

Author: Markus Ritter