Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL), which was considered a fad or “novelty” for many years, has finally achieved the recognition it deserves thanks to the new multimedia computing, the Internet, and the World Wide Web. In fact  students can now gain access to authentic audio and video materials computers are now able to play natural human speech together - with full-screen interactive video ─ they can communicate  with one another and with the teacher in real (syncronous) or delayed (asynchronous) time and can develop learner autonomy through self-access and interactive learning. Distance learning is also administered through digital platforms on an unimaginable scale in terms of the numbers of users and the geographical distances.
With hindsight, one can see that the so-called first-generation of CALL applications were restricted to the operation of mechanic activities such as games or matching activities which provided learners with instant feedback ─ the “correct solution”. Later on in the nineties, a second-generation of programmes focussed attention on the possibilities of selecting, organizing and accessing knowledge through new technological advances ─ online dictionaries, hypertext, glossing, DVDs, Internet, etc. These learning experiences, however, have been strongly criticized for been merely technology-enhanced language learning. The truth is that we don’t know much about how the use of computers influences learning. To date CALL has been based more on intuition and experience than on a sound pedagogy and research. In this millennium we are approaching a third generation of CALL which undoubtedly prioritizes the search for a more learner-centred and task-based pedagogy drawn upon a variety of psycholinguistic and pedagogic sources. In sum, the key issue in the next years will be not only to optimise CALL efficacy but also to address the urgent need to find ways to assess these new learning experiences with the help of research-based methods.
        This special issue of IJOAL on “CALL IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: NEW APPROACHES FOR TEACHING AND TESTING” will try to address a broad range of theoretical and practical matters in terms of teaching/learning, testing and research. Above all, we wish to provide ELT teachers with new insights into CALL directly applicable to many of their own classroom scenarios. 
        Thus, as guest editors of IJOAL we solicit papers which may provide answers to some of the following issues:

1. In search of an effective pedagogy: cognitive views on computer-based models of second language acquisition.
2. Aspects of web-based instructional design: learner autonomy, hypertextuality, feedback, socialization and cooperative teaching.
3. The design of webquests and other effective ICT-supported learning activities.
4. The use of online resources: corpus consultation instruction, online dictionaries, glossing, grammar tools etc. 
5. New skills in computing literacy: online reading, email, blogging, videoconferencing etc.
6. Multimedia listening: the use of DVDs, webcasts, video blogs, videotext etc.
7. Technological tools in the improvement of L2 pronunciation and oral language development: automatic speech recognition systems, text to speech software, web-based tools, chats, software etc.
8. The design and use of CBTs (Computer-Based Tests), WBTs (Web-based Tests) and CATS (Computer-Adaptive Language Tests). 
9. Methods of assessing virtual courses: quantitative and qualitative research.
10. Emerging technologies: digital platforms, basic ICT competence, networked-based multimedia, SKIPE and potcasting, MALL (Mobile Assisted Language Learning) etc.

-- The papers pertaining to the areas mentioned above should in submitted in MS-Word to the Guest Editors, at their contact addresses given below not later than 1st Jul 2008.

-- For your convenience, the Guidelines for the preparation of Camera Ready Manuscripts is attached herewith.

Guest Editors:
Carmen Pérez Basanta
María Moreno Jaén
University of Granada (Spain)

Editors:
Harpreet Kaur Bahri
Deepinder Singh Bahri
C/o BAHRI PUBLICATIONS
1749A/5, Govindpuri Extension
Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019
E-mail: bahrius@vsnl.com