What the heck is CALL?

CALL, which stands for Computer Assisted Language Learning is basically a set of tools used to facilitate the learning of a language. Notice how I have made the word facilitate in bold? First of all, I have just learnt how to do that. And secondly its to point out that CALL is not a teaching tool but rather, one that is used to promote self learning in a student centered manner and hence should not be confused with a method. Okay, enough with the bold. Lets see what else we have here.

Anyway, CALL, which was originally called CAI (Computer Assisted Instruction) was developed in the 70's. The reason for the change in name is not clear to me, probably it was just two scientist dicking over who had the bigger... clipboard (just learned that one too). In any case the two terms are used pretty much in tandem to each other to describe a process in which a learner uses a computer to learn where lessons carry two important features:

1. Bidirectional or interactive learning, and

2. Individualized learning, meaning the user can tailor the lesson to his/her own needs.

Also, since computers have been used to teach since the 60's, CAL has gone through three stages depending on the available technology as well as the pedagogical outlook of the day. The stages are:

1. Behaviorist CALL

2. Communicative CALL, and

3. Integrative CALL

The explanations for each of these different stages will be discussed in a later post.