Foundations of CALL

Computer assisted language learning (CALL) is both exciting and frustrating as a field of research and practice. It is exciting because it is complex, dynamic and quickly changing – and it is frustrating for the same reasons. Technology adds dimensions to the already multifaceted domain of second language learning, requiring new knowledge and skills for those who wish to incorporate it into their professional practice or understand its impact on the language teacher and learner. Yet the technology changes so rapidly that CALL knowledge and skills must be constantly renewed to stay apace of the field. The amount of literature in the field is impressive: there are thousands of published articles, almost 500 of which were considered in preparing this series. We have many promising and innovative ideas but only the beginnings of definitive answers as to how to use computers most effectively to support language learning. Despite this uncertainty, as computers have become more a part of our everyday lives – and permeated other areas of education – the question is no longer whether to use computers but how. CALL researchers, developers and practitioners have a critical role in helping the overall field of second language learning come to grips with this domain. So what exactly does this exciting and frustrating field of CALL entail? Beatty offers the following characterization: ‘a definition of CALL that accommodates its changing nature is any process in which a learner uses a computer and, as a result, improves his or her language’ (2003: 7). This definition, though rather broad, is nevertheless a reasonable starting point when we consider the range of articles that show up at CALL conferences, in CALL journals and in CALL books. It does, however, give rise to two additional questions: What do we mean by ‘computer’? And what do we mean by ‘improve’? The first of these is an important question in defining the field because CALL as considered here does not include simply the canonical desktop and laptop devices we label computers. It also includes the networks connecting them, peripheral devices associated with them and a number of other