“Normalisation of Bax in the Saudi Kingdom”

     

         In the paper Bax used Warschauer's identification of  the stages of CALL since its inception in the 1906s . First stage (1970s-1980s) was structural . The focus was in the structure rather than the use of the language . Methods were traditional . Computers were used to drill and practice . Accuracy was the mean of learning . Second stage (1980s-1990s) was communicative . The focus was on communication using target language and cognitive development . Communicative language teaching method were used . Fluency was the mean of learning . Third stage of CALL is integrative which is used these days . Technologies that are used are multimedia and internet . Context-based method is used . Materials are authentic Discourses . Agency is the aim of learning . 

        Bax described normalization as the stage the technology becomes invisible , included in every practice . To achieve this , a certain  changes are required such as changes in technology , classrooms , teachers and students attitude toward the technology  . And the means to achieve this changes is to do an action research to identify the barriers of normalization and how to come over it . 

    Saudi Arabia has integrated using technology to learning process . And we still are having some obstacles because of the lack of technical skills of the teachers especially the elderly  . They do not know how to use a computer so how can we expect them to use it in a class . But the new generation especially who are in their 20s know how to use technology . I think when this generation becomes teachers , they definitely will use technology effectively in a classroom  . So first ,  we have to make sure that all teachers know and use technology in their classrooms even if it was for some courses or some exercises . Then we can work on normalization .