Computer Use in Foreign Language Teaching: A Case Study from North Cyprus

Abstract

Problem statement: In North Cyprus there is a need for understanding and evaluating the use of technology in general and specifically computers in teaching foreign language with a broader perspective. This study can be used by educators to determine how technology can be incorporated better into the professional and academic lives of foreign language teachers in North Cyprus. Purpose of study: The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of foreign language teachers on the use of computers for administrative and teaching purposes in teaching foreign languages in Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) and compare their perceptions based on gender, age, experience, and education level. Methods: This study adopted a survey method to examine the perceptions of preparatory school language teachers. The sample of the study was selected by random sampling. It included 50 teachers from EMU's preparatory school in the 2007-2008 academic years. A questionnaire titled Administrative and Pedagogical Uses of Computers in Foreign Language Teaching was adopted. For data analysis, frequency and percentage techniques were used to indicate the level of each item. ANOVA was administered to assess whether there was a significant difference in the perceptions of teachers according to their gender, age, experience, and educational level. Findings and Results: The study found that teachers use computers more for administrative purposes. Although the importance of computers was emphasized, teachers did not use them very much. Except for the age variable, no significant difference was found in the perceptions of the teachers on computer use according to gender, years of experience, or level of education. Conclusions and Recommendations: It was concluded that the school administration does not encourage computer use at school, which decreases the teachers' desires for using computers. It is recommended that EMU's administration integrate technology into their programs to support foreign language learning and raise teacher awareness through in-service training courses in this respect.