This volume brings together a selection of articles presented at the EUROCALL 2000 Conference which took place in Dundee from 31 August 2000 for three days. What distinguished the millennium conference from all previous successful gatherings was that it was the venue for the first ever showing of ‘An Illustrated History of Computer Assisted Language Learning’, a Year 2000 initiative which had been supported not just by EUROCALL but also by CALICO and the rest of the world CALL community which was represented on the large panel of experts responsible for vetting my efforts as editor.

The reports of the demise of the CD-ROM have proved to be a little premature, if one judges by the contents of this issue of ReCALL. Whilst it is true that there is a strong emphasis in the articles by Huw Jarvis, Julie Belz and Lina Lee on the opportunities offered by network-based learning – and the trend towards such a focus is inevitable – it remains the case that the CD-ROM is still capable of rich and significant exploitation, as shown in the articles by Gunther Kaltenboeck and Birgit Winkler. Gavin Burnage argues for a ‘broad inclusive approach to networking’ which declines to abandon the old data-carriers, whether floppy-based DOS programs or CD-ROMs and argues for the pragmatic integration of a wide range of disparate resources into a single, coherent framework. DISSEMINATE, the macro-structure articulated here by Philippe Delcloque and Alexandre Bramoullé, is a concept with a similar integrative ambition but from an authoring perspective.

The technologies demonstrated at the InSTIL and EUROCALL 2000 conferences were very inspiring. They gave participants the sense that the technologies of their wildest imaginations are at last materializing, particularly in long awaited advances in speech technologies. Some challenges, however, remain ahead as attempts are made to put these technologies to use in CALL. Past experience demonstrates for example that software designed for recognition of a proficient speaker’s language is different than that required for learner language. It is also evident that while language use may be critical for language acquisition, language use does not necessarily indicate language acquisition. These points were made by Marty, who was working with speech software for French teaching a few years before the current excitement:

...[W]e should keep in mind that the present research and development is aimed only at producing speech easily understandable by natives (e.g., English for native speakers of English) and that the potential markets are industrial (e.g., replacing visual indicators or visual alarms with audio warnings) and in home products (especially toys). Until our needs for improved FL instruction are better understood, it is not likely that those devices will have the voice quality we need. (Marty, 1981:52).

If Marty had attended the InSTIL and EUROCALL conferences in 2000, no doubt he would have been very, very impressed. Even though plenty of work remains, we do seem to have very good voice quality in speech synthesis. The question today is how can we best use these emerging technologies, and so Marty’s suggestion that we must better understand our needs in foreign language teaching remains very relevant. What are the needs for foreign language teaching in the 21st century? The papers at EUROCALL 2000 as well as other work in technology, business, and language teaching suggest that we should be prepared for change in the coming years, but what kind of change? The turn of the century seems an appropriate time to examine some of the speculation on the future of language teaching in general, as well as how technology fits into that future. This paper considers these general questions, and then suggests ways in which links might be made between work in second language acquisition (SLA) and CALL in order to put technologies to use for L2 teaching.

To transform pedagogically sound classroom tasks into effective CALL-ware, it is advantageous to have an approach that takes into account the general principles applicable to all human computer interaction (HCI). This paper outlines an attempt at such an approach. Teacher-designed, pedagogically sound software often fails in terms of usability, while highly usable, professionally made software is often based on ideas that are not in accord with those of a particular curriculum or teacher. The approach outlined below may assist in the process of transforming pedagogic materials and practices already successfully used in the classroom into easily usable software.

This paper examines the provision of networked CALL services at the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge. It argues that in such a context a broad, inclusive approach to networking – one which avoids any over-strict commitment to a single method or paradigm of network delivery, but makes the most of whatever is available – is often the most appropriate. This eclectic approach helps preserve the best of what has been created in the past while keeping up with everything technological advances offer, and respects the wide-ranging and widely-differing views and approaches of Faculty teaching staff. The aim of the MML Network Service is therefore to present a wide range of disparate resources in a single, coherent framework. While welcoming the many advantages the use of the World Wide Web brings, the article stresses that in a broad infrastructure both older programs which have proved their worth and newer, highly-developed programs which have come after them need not be lost while the functionality of the Web is still developing. It also lays out in general terms some technical suggestions for those seeking ideas on the implementation of networking strategies in a Windows-based local area or university-wide network, partly with a view to reinforcing the credentials for CALL and humanities computing generally to be afforded high-quality computing infrastructure both in the present and with whatever technological advances bring in the future.

This paper presents a twelve-month evaluation of a Web-based CALL Project at London Guildhall University, highlighting its rationale and objectives within the design process, the adopted methodology and its findings, shedding further light on students’ attitudes regarding CALL design, multimedia delivery and language learning practices. The evaluated CALL environment, stemming from previously identified user requirements, combines both hypertext navigation with Java-written interactive CALL exercises and provides a built-in authoring mode for increased adaptability. Techniques used involved peer evaluation and discussions in the formative stages of the design as well as user walkthroughs, questionnaires and workshops in the summative phase of the process. Data related to requirements and feedback are presented, emphasising the user-centred approach and its integration within the design process itself. Finally, changes brought about by the evaluation are shown to illustrate the influence and impact the research undertaken has had on the original concepts and the design.

A quality-based authoring tool is defined by its ability to satisfy its users’ needs. In the design and use of such tools in CALL, however, very little reliable information exists about what the tutoring system really does, for example concerning its capacity to create ‘interactive’ lessons. Linked to this, many teachers lack the time and resources to keep up with the latest technological developments, and invariably feel they are under exploiting the possibilities of CALL. This paper proposes a typology of different types of CALL-based interactivity and interaction to help teachers better assess the possibilities of network-based multimedia authoring tools. In adopting a general social constructivist approach, the system of classification looks at how one can link different learning styles, in this case that of Mumford & Honey (1992) Learning Styles, to different types of: (1) on-line learner accompaniment; (2) evaluation of learner production; (3) organised structures of events/states (scenation); (4) data organisation; (5) information units; (6) frequency of choice; (7) choices made available to learners. Finally, a multimedia authoring system, LEM of Speaker (Intranet version 3.30) will serve as a demonstration of the importance of this mode of evaluation to the design and understanding of such authoring tools in CALL.

Building on the experience of developing a CD-ROM for English intonation practice, this article explores some advantages and limitations of this medium for the teaching of suprasegmentals. Despite their undeniable potential for foreign language learning, computers prove to be rather limited in their feedback to pronunciation, especially in terms of error identification and correction, which calls into question one of their very strengths, viz. that of teacher-independent learning. As a possible solution to this dilemma, the present paper proposes to build into the design of a CD-ROM for intonation teaching the concept of learner autonomy, i.e. transferring to an increased degree responsibility for the learning process from the teacher (computer) to the learner. Drawing on the discussion of autonomy by, e.g. Broady & Kenning (1996) and Little (1999), it is demonstrated how incorporating a metacognitive level (by offering the learner the choice to access intonation in different ways) and a metalinguistic level helps to make the CD-ROM users more autonomous in their learning and equip them with the necessary tools for self-assessment and self-monitoring, which in turn can make up for the lack of computerised diagnostic feedback.

This paper discusses the findings of two empirical studies which investigated how students of English used two English learners’ dictionaries on CD-ROM. The outcome of these studies will indicate in what way such dictionaries can serve as reference and language learning tools. It is argued that an English learner’s dictionary on CD-ROM could be much more than an ‘ordinary’ reference work because it includes facilities that are not available in book form, such as audio and visual elements, exercises and games. The studies suggest, however, that a number of changes in content and design will have to be made in order to make such dictionaries more effective and beneficial to their users. Learners, on the other hand, may need to acquire special skills in order to benefit from all the information an English learner’s dictionary on CD-ROM contains.

This paper reports on a large-scale study carried out in four settings that investigates the potential of the Web as a medium of language instruction, both to complement face-to-face teaching and as a stand-alone course. Data was collected by questionnaires and observational procedures to ascertain student perceptions of the usefulness of Web-based learning, their views on its advantages and disadvantages, their personal comfort and enjoyment when working with the Web, their preferred mode of delivery, their evaluation of the quality of resources used, and their learning strategies and study preference. Results showed that students were on the whole positively inclined to working with the Web and found it useful, with the majority preferring to use the Web as an add-on to face-to-face teaching. Reported advantages fell into the broad categories of time flexibility, reinforced learning, privacy and wealth of information; disadvantages into distraction, absence of teacher and personal interaction and lack of speaking practice. Significant differences for age and gender were found relating to clarity of objectives, number of hours worked, mode of delivery, perception of comfort and appreciation of graphics. Very few significant findings relating to strategy strength emerged.

This paper describes a Computer Supported Experiential Learning project at the University of Central England (UCE), for which a bid has been successful to the UK Higher Education Funding Councils’ learning and teaching fund to develop innovative teaching and learning strategies. The project is based upon a well-established curriculum model (Kolb, 1984) which has been adapted by the Learning Methods Unit (LMU) at UCE to include technologies each addressing a particular stage in Kolb’s learning cycle. The model recognises that it is insufficient simply to learn new concepts, just as it is insufficient to have an experience in isolation. The learner must make the link between theory and practice through active experimentation and through reflection on the learning process.

This paper begins by documenting general usage of the Internet as a tool for delivery of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses. It then goes on to illustrate how a number of specific internet-based classroom activities might be integrated onto EAP courses in order to equip non-native speakers with the main skills that they are likely to need when following an academic course at a British university.

Improving the feedback quality of a computer-based system for pronunciation training requires rather detailed and precise knowledge about the place and the nature of actual mispronunciations in a student’s utterance. To be able to provide this kind of information, components for the automatic localisation and correction of pronunciation errors have been developed. This work was part of a project aimed at integrating state-of-the-art speech recognition technology into a pronunciation training environment for adult, intermediate level learners. Although the technologies described here are in principle valid for any language pairs, the current system focuses on Italian and German learners of English.

Network-based language teaching (NBLT) involves the application of global or local communication networks within foreign and second language education (Warschauer and Kern, 2000). In telecollaboration, a type of NBLT, distally located language learners use internet communication tools to support dialogue, debate, collaborative research and social interaction for the purposes of language development and cultural awareness (e.g. Kinginger et al., 1999). To date, the research on NBLT has been limited, focusing primarily on pedagogical implementations of technology and linguistic features of online communication. In particular, researchers have not robustly explored social and institutional dimensions of telecollaboration (Chapelle, 2000:217) nor have they adequately investigated the pervasive assumption that telecollaborative interaction will necessarily and unproblematically afford language learning (e.g. Kramsch and Thorne, to appear). Drawing on social realism (Layder, 1993), a sociological theory which emphasizes the inter-relationship between structure, i.e. society and institution, and agency, i.e. situated activity and psycho-biography, in researching and explaining social action, I present a sociocultural account of German-American telecollaboration. In particular, I explore the meanings that the macro features of (1) language valuation (Hilgendorf, 1996); (2) membership in electronic discourse communities (Gee, 1999); and (3) culturally determined classroom scripts (Hatch, 1992) may have for the differential functionality of virtual group work in this partnership. Differences in group functionality are reflected at the micro-interactional level in terms of (1) frequency and length of correspondence; (2) patterns of discursive behavior such as question-answer pairs; and (3) opportunities for assisted L2 performance and negotiation of meaning. Ethnographic data (e.g. interviews, electronic and classroom discourse, surveys and participant observations) on individual psycho-biographies are interwoven with macro-level descriptions and statistics to paint a rich picture of learner behavior in intercultural telecollaboration. This project is funded by a United States Department of Education International Research and Studies Program Grant (CFDA No.: 84.017A). The author is a research associate for the German component.

Online interactive exchange offers learners many opportunities to use the target language to negotiate both meaning and form in a social context that is crucial for second language acquisition (SLA). This paper discusses the interaction between non-native speakers (NNSs) and the types of communication strategies employed during the online communication. A total of forty students participated in online discussions using a private chatroom. Data from this study suggest that interactive strategies facilitate comprehension of input and output. The results show that regardless of proficiency level, students used a variety of communication strategies. However, students tended to use more comprehension checks, clarification checks, requests and self-repairs to negotiate with each other. The quick interactions taking place in cyberspace impeded students from producing correct and coherent discourse, especially during the learner-learner interaction. Pedagogically, students need to be advised of the need to write correctly to maintain a balance between function, content, and accuracy. One of the corrective techniques is to make students re-examine and revise their exchanges with guided instruction. The current study focused on online interaction among NNSs. To claim the effectiveness of online interaction in SLA with certainty, future studies on online negotiation must include both NNSs and native speakers.

This paper reports on one specific aspect of a study which investigated the learners’ use of the help facilities available within a program called ImPRESSions. Among those facilities, feedback was central to the design of the program and an important aspect of the research study. Little is known about how learners interact with feedback in CALL. This paper explains the design and implementation of the feedback features of the program, and tries to portray insights into how learners used these in four different sessions using ImPRESSions. Learners’ screen movements, observation and retrospection questions about the use of help facilities were recorded for later description and analysis. The results about the use of the feedback facility are presented and discussed from a qualitative perspective.

This paper discusses learners’ responses to metalinguistic feedback and their strategies in error correction in a Web-based Intelligent Language Tutoring System (ILTS) for German. The system consists of a grammar and a parser which analyses student input and provides error-specific feedback to grammar and vocabulary exercises. Furthermore, the ILTS employs a Student Model that matches feedback messages to learner expertise and provides remedial exercises. Two beginner German classes, 33 students in all, used the ILTS for grammar practice, submitting a total of 4405 sentences for analysis. The results indicate that for the vast majority of sentences (79.5%) students read and attended to system feedback. Moreover, as iterations increased students paid more attention to the feedback messages.

This paper describes an experiment in which an attempt was made to show that Japanese Computer Assisted Language Learning (JCALL) with Animated Graphical Annotation (AGA) is more effective and useful in assisting learners to acquire Japanese language listening skills compared to JCALL without AGA. The independent variable in the experiment is AGA. The principal research question addressed was, “Does the AGA used in the JCALL contribute to the students’ overall pronunciation and listening performances in elementary Japanese language courses by looking into its AKUSENTO (symbol missing), SEION (symbol missing) and DAKUON (symbol missing) and TANON, CHOUON & SOKUON (symbol missing)?” The experiment was conducted in Malaysia last summer. One hundred and twelve students (25 male and 87 female) who were enrolled in Japanese language courses participated in this study. The students were randomly divided into two groups and the pre-test/post-test approach was used in this study. The results of the research showed AGA’s effectiveness in assisting the students to improve their listening skills. However, AGA appeared to be less effective in helping the students to improve their pronunciation skills.

Intelligent feedback on learners’ full written sentence productions requires the use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools and, in particular, of a diagnosis system. Most syntactic parsers, on which grammar checkers are based, are designed to parse grammatical sentences and/or native speaker productions. They are therefore not necessarily suitable for language learners. In this paper, we concentrate on the transformation of a French syntactic parser into a grammar checker geared towards intermediate to advanced learners of French. Several techniques are envisaged to allow the parser to handle ill-formed input, including constraint relaxation. By the very nature of this technique, parsers can generate complete analyses for ungrammatical sentences. Proper labelling of where the analysis has been able to proceed thanks to a specific constraint relaxation forms the basis of the error diagnosis. Parsers with relaxed constraints tend to produce more complete, although incorrect, analyses for grammatical sentences, and several complete analyses for ungrammatical sentences. This increased number of analyses per sentence has one major drawback: it slows down the system and requires more memory. An experiment was conducted to observe the behaviour of our parser in the context of constraint relaxation. Three specific constraints, agreement in number, gender, and person, were selected and relaxed in different combinations. A learner corpus was parsed with each combination. The evolution of the number of correct diagnoses and of parsing speed, among other factors, were monitored. We then evaluated, by comparing the results, whether large scale constraint relaxation is a viable option to transform our syntactic parser into an efficient grammar checker for CALL.

This paper examines the role of checklists as a device for evaluating CALL courseware. After defining checklists, it examines the reasons why courseware is difficult to evaluate compared to other educational materials. It then covers in detail the main objections to the use of checklists for courseware evaluation; articles in the CAL literature from the 1980s through the 1990s have complained that checklists are inaccurate, cannot deal with educational issues, lack objectivity and reliability, are biased, etc. The present paper then examines these claims one by one, finding either that the criticism is unjustified or that it applies equally to any form of courseware evaluation. The paper concludes with speculations, drawn from postmodern literary theory, as to why the checklist has been the target of so many unsubstantial attacks.