Review of CALL Dimensions: Options and Issues in Computer-Assisted Language Learning

Abstract

Reviews the book, CALL dimensions: Options and issues in computer-assisted language learning by Mike Levy and Glen Stockwell (see record 2006-08572-000). The volume was hugely influential and this author remembers the book being described at a EUROCALL plenary in Limerick in 2003 as "one of CALL'S bibles". The authors begin the publication by explaining that the central themes of the book and the organization of its chapters stem from the analysis of a corpus of CALL articles and book chapters published in 1999. The chapters in this book are based on the main themes which emerged from the analysis of this corpus, namely design, evaluation, computer-mediated communication (CMC), theory, research, practice and technology. While this approach enables the authors to present their work in an order which reflects the most common themes in current CALL research, unfortunately it also results in a book structure which can appear, at times, rather confusing and disjointed. The book offers an in-depth explanation and analysis of current theories of language acquisition which are being used in CALL research, such as interactionism, activity theory, constructivism and sociocultural theory. Apart from the issue of the book's structure, there is very little to criticize about this volume. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)