With telecommunications software, a computer can communicate with another one thousands of miles away via a modem and phone line. Satellites now beam programs from around the world. A computer controls the position of a satellite dish to pick up the desired programs. These live broadcasts can be videotaped for later classroom viewing. If desired, a computer can generate characters on videotape, providing sub-titles in English or in foreign languages for these programs.
Some technologies lend themselves better to the acquisition of certain language skills than others.
CAI can be used by groups or individual students within a classroom or media center, or over local or long-distance computer networks. Students waiting for a message to arrive from another classroom or another country are highly motivated to read that message, and in turn, to respond in writing to this real form of communication. With a basic word processing program, students can write short articles and compile and edit a newspaper based on their classroom exchanges. With the hookup of a special tape recorder to the computer, interactive audio provides multiple possibilities to teach and test active listening skills. In computer-assisted audio, the printed screen comes alive with sound for the acquisition of listening and speaking skills as well as reading and writing skills.