Callguide: using programmable hypertext as a shell for call programs

This paper describes a project, Callguide, to investigate the hypertext system Guide as an authoring shell for computer assisted language learning programs. The paper begins by considering the advantages of computers in CALL. It goes on to discuss the interface requirements for a CALL package. The Callguide programs were written, under a hypertext system without audio-visual facilities, to improve the intensive reading skills of advanced students who have A-level or equivalent in English as a Foreign Language and who are additionally motivated by the need to study a technical discipline in the foreign language. Herr, the discipline is computing, but the techniques would apply equally well to other subjects. The project has largely concentrated on exercises to improve the student's lexical skills and ability to understand, in detail, a technical text. Lexical skills include exercises to recognise antonyms and synonyms, word formation to correspond with part of speech and understanding idiomatic expressions. Discourse skills include maintaining coherence throughout a passage by verb correspondence in tense, mode and aspect, identifying referents of pronouns and relative pronouns, and traditional comprehension exercises including completing Cloze texts and connectivity matrices. A brief user evaluation of the project is followed by a conclusion.