ARE ESL/EFL SOFTWARE PROGRAMS EFFECTIVE FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING?

This study investigated the extent to which ESL/EFL software programs on the market develop language skills. A software evaluation instrument was used to evaluate fifteen ESL/EFL software programs for the technological, pedagogical and individualization features that would account for the incorporation of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) principles and an interactive approach to computer use in language teaching. Results indicated that only three programs incorporated more than 75% of the technological features, four programs incorporated more than 70% of the pedagogical features, and only one program contained more than 70% of the features that allow for individualization of instruction. Overall, only two programs incorporated more than 70% of all analyzed features. The analysis of the programs provided evidence that the differentiating factor in ESL software programs lies not only in their pedagogical orientation, but also in how they incorporate CLT principles and an interactive approach to computer use into their design.