Reading Reflection for session 5

Chapelle, C. A. (1998). Multimedia CALL: Lessons to be learned from research on instructed SLA. Language Learning and Technology, 2(1), 22-34.

It states that the design and evaluation of CALL learning activities are interdependent. It gives the readers the relevant hypotheses about SLA (Second Language Acquisition). Basic components in the SLA porcess in interactionist research are illustrated by a flow chart. The flow starts from "input", "apperception", "comprehension", intake", "integration" to "output". It elaborates each step one by one and give a detail explanation. Based on the model of SLA, seven hypotheses relevant for developing multimedia CALL are elaborated. And it suggests some implications for multimedia task design and the evaluation of multimedia CALL activities.

This paper attempted to point out some specific implications of research findings for CALL design and evaluation that can provide a guideline for development of SLA research with CALL practice. I think it is worth to read as a reference for teachers to develop multimedia CALL teaching and learning because it gives a detail guideline of integrating multimedia CALL into SLA lessons and helps teachers to choose a good CALL software for meeting students' needs. For example, the CALL software should be able to analyze the mistakes the students made by the software. Because sometimes there are a few acceptable answers for a questions. The CALL software should be able to detect the acceptable answers and the incorrect answers and the minor mistakes. This is one of the conditions the authentic CALL software should have.