The Problems to be Tackled with in the Normalization of the Computer-Assisted English Learning in the Chinese Mainland Context

Abstract

Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) has always been paid great attention to ever since English was officially recognised as the first foreign language in China in 1964. The evident advantages of applying computer science and information technology in TEFL have been recognized by the government leaders, educational researchers, teachers and the students. Numerous researches and efforts have been made to integrate modern technology into TEFL and some progress has been achieved. However, the overall results fall short of expectations. To a certain degree, the computer aided language learning (CALL) in English in Chinese mainland is still at its infant stage and great potential of computer science and information technology in facilitating TEFL has not been fully realized. After exploring the current situation of the CALL in TEFL in Chinese mainland, this article categorizes the problems from personal, administrative, technical, economic and conceptual aspects. Based on the exploration of the current state and the problems existing, several suggestions are put forward for the normalization of CALL in TEFL in the Chinese mainland.