The IAIE Tetrad: Introducing a Requirements Model for CALL

Abstract

This is a graduate thesis for BA English Language and Culture at Utrecht University. The field of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) has introduced many new L2 learning techniques and resources. The various approaches to CALL are often very different from each other and therefore hard to compare, which results in difficulties when trying to pick an appro- priate ESL CALL method. Without a structured approach, it is difficult to set the requirements for an effective CALL method. In order to identify the requirements, dependencies between requirements, and strengths and weak- nesses of CALL methods, this paper introduces a newly designed framework: The IAIE Tetrad. The IAIE Tetrad builds upon literary findings from the multiple theories on language learning. A visualisation of the IAIE Tetrad, called the IAIE Pyramid, can be used to give an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of individual CALL implementations and can be used to compare methods alongside each other.