ABSTRACT
This chapter explores an integrated approach to computer-assisted language learning (CALL) that addresses both general language competence and specialized discourse processing expertise in the development of communicative competence in a second language. It focuses on to create an interactive multimedia CALL environment that can be used to supplement normal classroom instruction. The environment will assist second language learners by providing them with opportunities for guided practice and instruction with a variety of discourse tasks while giving tutorial assistance to help them develop both general and specialized communicative competence. This environment allows the researcher to overcome a major difficulty with classroom-based research, that is, the lack of researcher control inherent in the classroom situation. At the same time, by embedding research within CALL environments that simulate naturalistic situations and domains of language use, one can avoid the artificial nature of many performance tasks used in language research.
