In recent years, with the rapid development of information technology, computer-assisted language learning (CALL, Computer Assisted Language Learning) has been fully developed and more widely used. Like with a discerning eye, visually impaired main goal is to improve the learning of English listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities. IT, CALL wide range of applications, especially, the ability to effectively improve these four aspects of the visually impaired has a prominent role and significance. 

One for the visually impaired in terms of the traditional English way of learning the following problems: 

1 reading, visual impairment can limit reading surface. 

Modern English textbooks in Braille and Braille books mainly use a word or two points, an ordinary 16 open English textbooks or books would be printed into Braille thick one, or even two or more sub-set of this, Braille books and making the need for a relatively long period, which determines the discerning eye can be any demand to select different versions of English textbooks and books, but the room visually impaired selection is small, which greatly limits the visual impaired readers face. 

2 write English Braille limit the scope of the exchange. 

Many successful English fans in the introduction to the learning experience while others would say such a trick: to improve their writing skills, definitely need to write more, and better English than their own, or who are native English speakers do pen pals. Regular correspondence can effectively improve their English writing ability. But through the exchange of Braille, greatly limits the scope of the visually impaired friends, because it will only read and write English Braille two people might come to establish contact through letters. In addition, the domestic education is still blind to many of the class system, the English teacher's energy is limited, can not give every student essay layout, and then for the students comments. 

3 Listen, listen to the visually impaired limiting effect. 

The traditional English learning, students mainly to improve their "Listen" capability by listening to the radio and tape. Learners often listen to the radio, you can improve your English listening, but for English beginners, listening to the radio exercise is flawed, such as: Speed uncontrollable, after listening to the brain or a blank, but no repeatability , can not do according to their own requirements repeated listening and reading. Sighted through the tape to learn English, you can listen to it again, and then go over the original were compared, that is, "to listen to and read" cycle; while for the visually impaired a "listening and reading" is very difficult. The authors have mentioned above, Braille reading materials in English is very limited, in most cases only by listening repeatedly to achieve learning outcomes. 

4 that the actual living environment limits the English say. 

Currently, for the Chinese people to learn English the ubiquitous "dumb English", many training courses and spoken English fans spontaneously organized by a free English Corner was born, it can be said that preparing the feast for all lovers of English, we discerning person can always sign up to attend a training course, but also to free English corner or talk to various levels of English fans make friends, improve their spoken language. As a developing country, China's barrier construction has made great achievements, but a visually impaired, to get out into the community fully independent or a process, no visually impaired accompanied by family and friends, can not be completely and normal people like to share dinner. 

Second, the application of information technology can improve listen to the visually impaired, speaking, reading and writing skills. 

1 screen reading software to provide reading support 

With the development of screen reading software, perfect English voice speech database which provides more clear and smooth, and can handle reading smart tone, intonation, providing speed, tone, volume multifaceted regulation. The user can be adjusted according to their different needs of voice quality and response speed. Moreover, the majority of screen reader software has shortcut keys that can be set to English or reading spelling, which is learning English for the visually impaired friend who provides a good software support. 

Chinese-English, English-Chinese or English bilingual dictionary is an essential tool for learning English discerning book, because have enough to learn English vocabulary is the premise and guarantee. A thick dictionary, to be printed into English Braille to tens or even hundreds of this book, which is visually impaired people in terms of usage and storage are very inconvenient. Kingsoft translation software is very good, it's powerful, can be used as a two-way dictionary and easy to use. With the help of screen reading software, visually impaired people can fully independent operation of the software, which is good to make up for the shortage of visually impaired people to learn English books problems. 

2 online education, providing learning, communication environment 

Advocate for access to quality online education teacher, visually impaired English fans can not only learn to choose the subjects they want to learn and professional through the network, and can enjoy the same excellent teachers and discerning. In addition, the convenience of learning styles and learning time to break the shackles of classroom learning to avoid participating in regular English classes for the visually impaired English fans bring traffic, such as learning the limitations. 

The network also provides a number of learning resources. Visually impaired people according to their needs, to obtain relevant information from the Internet. By screen reading software, monitors and other ideas of modern information technology and equipment, visually impaired people can easily read and learn. This makes up for the lack of English fans Visually Impaired learning materials. 

3 through the network to carry out other ways of teaching and learning of English 

A. E-mail / Forum BBS 

E-mail and the birth of various English forum can be said to visually impaired English fans brought the gospel, with the help of screen reading software under the keyboard, they can freely with their friends use English to communicate in writing, to exercise their own writing ability, greatly reducing the communication process and complexity. 

B. chat / instant messaging software 

English learning, especially learning English, creating language environment is very important. Traditional English Corner, English classes restrict the freedom of the visually impaired, in large part will weaken the visually impaired confidence, but with the development of network technology, the problem of lack of environmental practice has ceased to exist, replaced by is a variety of virtual exchanges scenes, "and who want to talk to and who to talk" era is not the time and place restrictions has come under network technology. 

Chat rooms / instant messaging software faster than e-mail, BBS, more user-friendly, and its interactive communication, data in the form of multi-style, can effectively break the constraints and build a new social relationships. Now screen reader software can already do a very good support most operating chat rooms and MSN Messenger, Tencent QQ, E, then pass and Skype as the most popular instant messaging software. Network communication software in the network growing concern Spoken English Teaching, should cause the visually impaired and blind educators of English fans attention, because they limit the breakthrough for the visually impaired and spoken English learning, improve the visually impaired and spoken English, with realistic and practical promotional value. 

Third, although the effect of information technology to improve the visually impaired learning English is obvious, but it is carried out under the current situation following problems still exist. 

1 degree promotion of IT in schools for the blind across the country are quite different, many schools have just completed the campus network, and even many schools for the blind did not carry out IT education, there are many schools to build networks of machines and the current staffing can be difficult spare time to do the room completely free and open to students. For visually impaired people are not speaking English fans attending schools for the blind, they want to share the information age has brought convenience, must have their own machine and can help them to learn a set of screen reader software, which most of them person concerned will cause some economic burden. 

A low degree of accessibility construction 2 pages. Although the screen reader software has been developed to the extent of most software applications and operating systems can be well supported, but the country does not like the United States and other developed countries, like the construction of a series of comprehensive web accessibility standards, there is no established web without supervision barriers to building organizations and institutions, so many pages of the construction has not yet reached the degree of accessibility of their friends for a visually impaired person concerned is not too friendly, it also limits the portion of visually impaired people use the Internet to English fans learning rights. 

3 carried out using IT learning English, from a certain extent be changed, "Professor learning content" for the students "to look for their own learning content to learn", but also more inclined to lifelong learning, this form of study highlights the dominant position of learners, learners need to have a more conscious initiative and have the ability to independently discern. "Autonomous learners with learning only under considerable autonomous learning ability to expand." 

In short, the emergence of any new thing there is always its associated difficulties appear, but as long as the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, 

We should not be exclusive. 2004 Lee visually impaired youth 陈鹏顺 IELTS and abroad by the fact that in Australia, for many visually impaired English fans to increase the confidence of learning. In order to effectively improve the visually impaired in English and spoken English level, to a more accurate understanding of social visually impaired, and to explore new career path for all aspects of the visually impaired and other IT-assisted learning English visually impaired people need more an up efforts to research and practice. 

Main References: 

Jen-Chieh Huang, "Computer Assisted Language Learning" Shanghai effectiveness University Press 

Huang Kai, Ye Jianguo "The future of instant messaging." 

Hu Haolei "instant messaging software in the network Spoken English Teaching" Network Education College, Shanghai International Studies University