Knowledge Village signs up Wollongong varsity

A Centre for Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) will be set up at Knowledge Village by the University of Wollongong.

The centre will have two advanced laboratories - one for multi-media language teaching centred on e-learning and the other for more advanced student-centred work in both language learning and computer science.

The centre will combine these facilities with more traditional teaching facilities, to enable the development, testing and use of new technologies for English language teaching.

The centre, which will open in September, will take advantage of high-bandwidth connectivity provided by Knowledge Village to deliver highly interactive language teaching, said Dr Rodney Hills, director of the University of Wollongong.

Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, director of Knowledge Village, said: "Information and communication technologies are playing an increasing role at all levels and in all fields of education. Their use has also transformed the delivery of language education in many interesting ways. CALL technologies have enhanced the language learning process by increasing the level of interactivity."

The centre will initially use the technologies for English language preparation classes for pre-university students, but plans eventually to introduce computer-assisted language learning across a broad range of English language programmes.