Week 2 - Part 1: Contribution and challenges that technology brings into SLA research (Chapelle, 2004)

Chapelle’s article briefly introduced the beneficial aspects of introducing technology into SLA research area in terms of learners’ language, learning style, interaction and individual differences in language learning. Using computer-mediated communication known as CMC allows SLA researchers to conduct more in-depth and elaborated analysis and to adopt qualitative and longitudinal approach and practice into their researches.

Among many advantages and empirical challenges introduced in Chapelle’s article, the most interesting and thought-provoking aspect was ‘interaction.’ Because of the use of computer in language learning process, learner’s interaction with computer can be explained differently from the interaction that takes place in face-to-face communication and this affects the way that researchers interpret the data and what they values as important factors in learning process. Interaction within CMC or technology-based language learning context can be expanded to what programs learners’ use and the way learners use computer or program. Interaction between L2 learners and other L2 learners who share same cyber space and interaction between learners and the language learning programs need to be defined differently and the language use depends on the form of interaction also need to be explicitly distinguished each other.