English for Specific Purposes
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Attitudes of EFL students towards using computers in learning English

Ahmad Khalil Abdelqader Awad

Umm Al-Qura University

akawad@uqu.edu.sa

ah_my_awad@yahoo.com

00966558578168

P.O Box 56454

Zip code 21955

Sulaiman Mohammad Shlash Alkaraki

Umm Al-Qura University

smkaraki@uqu.edu.sa

salkaraki@yahoo.com

00966567006653

P.O Box 56454

Zip code 21955

Keywords: Attitudes, EFL, Computer, Learning English, Technology.

Ahmad K. Awad is a lecturer in the English language centre at Umm Al-Qura, Saudi Arabia. He received his B.A degree in English Language Literature and M.A degree in linguistics from the Department of English at the University of Jordan. He is interested in Applied Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Language Acquisition, and ESP.

Sulaiman M. Alkaraki is a lecturer in the English language centre at Umm Al-Qura, Saudi Arabia. He received his B.A degree in ESP (English and Linguistic) and M.A degree in applied linguistics from the Department of English for Applied Studies at Jordan University of Science & Technology. He is interested in ESP, Sociolinguistics, Phonology, Pragmatics, and Applied Linguistics.

Abstract

The use of computers in classrooms is becoming more popular nowadays, especially when the world witnesses an enormous revolution in the field of technology. This research seeks answers for the following questions: 1- Does using computers influence the students' attitudes toward learning English as a foreign language positively or negatively? 2- Does the positive or negative attitude toward using computer in learning English as a foreign language vary according to sex and age of the students?

      To achieve the goals of the study, a questionnaire was distributed to the subjects of this study. This questionnaire consists of two parts. The first part included six items which dealt with personal information questions. The second part consisted of seven items concerned with students' attitudes toward using computer in learning English as a foreign language. These 13 items aimed to elicit whether the students think that using computers in learning enriched their learning process and made it easier or it had no effect on them. The population of this study was a number of EFL students at Madaba public schools-Jordan.

      The sample of the study was 100 students. They were divided into 50 males ( 25 from 1^st secondary. grade and 25 from 7^th grade) and 50  females ( 25 from 1^st secondary. grade and 25 from 7^th grade). All of these informants were native speakers of Jordanian Arabic.

      The findings of this study reveal that computer-assisted English language lessons have positive effect on the 7^th grade students’ attitudes to some extent. Meanwhile, it was found that older students are more likely to have a positive orientation and consciousness of the benefits of using computers in learning.

We can conclude that  a wide range of students learning English language have a positive attitude toward using computers in learning English as a foreign  language in the classroom. Concerning age, it was quite clear that the older the age is the more positive tendency students have toward using computer in language learning.

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