#Manager of the C&IT (Communications & Information Technology) Centre at the
University of Hull
Since its inception in 1989, the C&IT Centre has been based in the Language
Institute at the University of Hull, United Kingdom, and aims to promote and
encourage the use of computers in language learning and teaching. The Centre
provides information on how computer assisted language learning (CALL) can be
effectively integrated into existing courses and offers support for language
lecturers who are using computers in their teaching (e.g. Internet Resources for
Language Teachers and Learners).
Hosted by the C&IT Centre, EUROCALL is the European Association for Computer
Assisted Language Learning. This association of language teaching professionals
from Europe and worldwide aims to: promote the use of foreign languages within
Europe; provide a European focus for all aspects of the use of technology for
language learning; and enhance the quality, dissemination and efficiency of CALL
(computer assisted language learning) materials. EUROCALL supported the creation
of WELL (Web Enhanced Language Learning), which offer high-quality Web resources
in 12 languages, selected and described by subject experts, plus information and
examples on how to use them for teaching and learning.
*Interview of December 14, 1998
= How did using the Internet change your professional life?
The use of the Internet has brought an enormous new dimension to our work of
supporting language teachers in their use of technology in teaching.
= How do you see the growth of a multilingual Web?
The Internet has the potential to increase the use of foreign languages, and our
organisation certainly opposes any trend towards the dominance of English as the
language of the Internet. An interesting paper on this topic was delivered by
Madanmohan Rao at the WorldCALL Conference in Melbourne, July 1998.
I suspect that for some time to come, the use of Internet-related activities for
languages will continue to develop alongside other technology-related activities
(e.g. use of CDROMs - not all institutions have enough networked hardware). In
the future I can envisage use of Internet playing a much larger part, but only
if such activities are pedagogy-driven. Our organisation is closely associated
with the WELL project which devotes itself to these issues.