Language Learning Online: Toward Best Practice (Book Review‪)‬

Language Learning Online: Towards Best Practice from the series Language Learning and Language Technology Uschi Felix (Ed.) 2003 ISBN 90 265 1948 6 EUR 65.0 / US$ 65.00 221 pp. Swets & Zeitlinger Lisse, Netherlands The Foreword to this volume provides a clear problem statement for the book as well as computer assisted language learning generally: "Technological innovation is driven by many factors, but not one of them concerns a pedagogical imperative. There is no dialogue between teachers and technologists about what kind of technological innovation learners need: neither side knows how to begin the dialogue" (p. ix). Language Learning Online: Towards Best Practice attempts to begin the dialogue, focussing specifically on language learning materials and programmes accessed via the World Wide Web. Best practice is here loosely defined as "using the most appropriate tools to their best potential to achieve sound pedagogical processes and outcomes" (Felix, chapter 1, p. 8-9). Achieving this requires informed teachers, good research, and dialogue with developers. The book aims mainly to inform teachers about the world of online learning, its current solutions, problems, and potentials.