Designing Task-Based CALL to Promote Interaction: En busca de Esmeraldas

Abstract

Developing effective language teaching materials based on second language acquisition principles is a priority which needs to be addressed in all language teaching areas.The field of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) is no exception."En Busca de Esmeraldas" is a CALL activity delivered via the Internet and based on principles of language teaching (Doughty & Long, 2002; Long, in press) and on Chapelle's (1998) proposals for developing multimedia, grounded in SLA research.The first part of this article presents the steps necessary for designing an effective language learning tool to foster communication and negotiation, taking into consideration the importance of supporting integral education, using tasks, providing elaborated input and feedback, and promoting collaborative learning.The second part of the article reports on a study conducted using such a tool to determine whether communication and negotiation occurred, and whether the negotiation was similar to that reported in previous studies that claim such negotiation facilitates the comprehension process.