When the Music Stops: A Review of Using Computers in Language Learning

Authors

  • John Underwood

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/cj.v4i3.35-45

Keywords:

artificial intelligence, CALL, communicative activities, courseware design, drills

Abstract

Graham Davies' "Using Computers in Language Learning" (with a separate section on ESL by John Higgins), is for the most part a useful guide through the maze of programming languages, authoring systems, exercise formats, etc., which face the teacher contemplating the use of computers for language learning. Unfortunately, however, much of the information in the text refers to British sources, limiting its usefulness to the American teacher. A more serious flaw is the underlying assumption that computers are best suited for mechanical drill, thus freeing the teacher for communicative activities. The reviewer suggests that the continued use of computers in this fashion may well lead to the demise of CALL before experimenters have had an opportunity to explore its full potential.

References

Higgins, John. 1983. "Can computers teach?" CALICO Journal 1.2:4-6.

Higgins, John and Tim Johns. 1984 Computers in Language Learning. New York: Addison-Wesley.

Knorre, Marty, et al. 1985. Puntos de Partida (2nd ed.). New York: Random House.

Kossuth, Karen. 1984. Suggestions for comprehension-based computer-assisted instruction in German. Unterrichtspraaxis 17 (Spring):109-115.

Putnam, Constance E. (1983). "Foreign language instructional technology: the state of the art," CALICO Journal 1.1:35-41.

Underwood, John. 1984. Linguistics, Computers and the Language Teacher: A Communicative Approach. Rowley, Massachusetts: Newbury House.

Underwood, John, and Richard Bassein. 1985. JUEGOS COMMUNICATIVOS: Spanish Games for Communicative Practice for the Apple IIe, IIc, II+, based on Knorre, et al., Puntos de partida (2nd ed.). New York: Random House.

Vernick, Judy and Lori Levin. 1986. "Intelligent grammar tutoring in ESL." Paper presented at the 1986 TESOL convention, Anaheim, California

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Published

2013-01-14

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Underwood, J. (2013). When the Music Stops: A Review of Using Computers in Language Learning. CALICO Journal, 4(3), 35-45. https://doi.org/10.1558/cj.v4i3.35-45