So far.... So good. Don't you agree???

The blog “CALL A FRIEND” by Konstantinos Karampelas, PhD


The blog “CALL A FRIEND” found at the URL: http://callkostas.blogspot.com/ focuses on some basic aspects of Computer Assisted Language Learning, known also abbreviated as CALL, which is a major field concerning present educators particularly they ones specialized in Language and Computer Education.

A variety of information on CALL is given in this website. After a brief introduction, the main historical information on the development of CALL over the last decades is contained. This is then accompanied by a list of recommended sites for more information on CALL generally.

Then some sites about English language, generally, are presented. The focus then moves to sites specifically about learning English and maybe other languages online. Supplement to these, is a list of webpages of on-line dictionaries and translations.

As an opportunity to escape from the theoretical parts and create a rather more cheerful atmosphere a poetry activity is suggested. A poem is shown, and then left to the readers’ imagination to change the last words of each line and create lyrics of his or her own.

Finally, a selection of sites providing material for English classes is uploaded. These sites are of various fields and address to learners of different ages, level and interests. They have one thing in common though. They present the English language as it is used online by multiple natives or not speakers. Each of these sites is shown along with a description and guidelines of use.










Proposed activities:


Through these sites some common activities can be introduced, as application and assessment of the knowledge or information provided.


1. Find the words or lyrics of a song you like and:
a) Try to translate it in English (not necessarily all, say about 5-10 lines) on a translation-website.
b) Take notes of the whole process to mention if the instructions were clear.
c) Take notes of cases where the translation given was not good and ‘human-manual work’ was needed.
2. Write a brief comment online in one of the following cases and site of your choice.
a) On a video you like, on youtube.
b) On a hotel, place or site you have visited, on tripadvisor.
c) On a topic, which interests you, in the Have your Say section of BBC