Language lessons on the PLATO IV system

In the area of language study, many educators are becoming interested in the teaching potential of Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI). The purpose of this paper is to enumerate some of the techniques and lesson types that are used in foreign language (FL) courseware on the PLATO IV system at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. First, the PLATO IV system is outlined in terms of technical capabilities and its integration into the curricula of language classes. Then, some FL courseware is described to exemplify many aspects of reading, writing and listening which can be practiced by students on a computer. It is hoped that these examples can serve as a point of departure for development of future FL courseware.