Introduction to CALL

        I am a first year MA TESL student with a background in Linguistics and Spanish. I have had some experience teaching English as a second language, but this experience has been limited. I have studied many aspects of teaching second languages, yet, computer applications to language learning (CALL) is very new to me. The only place that I have had direct experience with CALL has been in my own experiences as a student in a second language classroom. My teachers used a program called Quia.com and on this site I had to take test that were all about rote memorization and fill in the blanks, with little opportunity for spontaneous or creative language use.
       In my undergraduate studies I focused on many areas of second language learning including pronunciation, reading comprehension, speaking skills, etc. but I only have heard about CALL in passing. None of the lectures in any of my previous classes have more than glanced over the areas of CALL and because of this I have a very limited understanding of what CALL involves and how it is best utilized in the classroom.
       Since my experience and knowledge with regards to CALL is very limited I am interested in many different facets of CALL for this course. I would like to learn different ways CALL can be used in the classroom and what resources are out there for teachers and students to make use of.  I am also interested in learning how to use CALL in ways that are more creative than I have seen it used in my past second language classes. I would like to invest time figuring out how to use CALL for more than just drills and fill in the blank type questions since they give the students little opportunity to express themselves.
      An area of interest of mine is second language reading comprehension. There are many factors that influence a students reading comprehension like the ability to use glosses while reading a text or not. I want to learn about how CALL can help students reading comprehension. Computers can provide instant definitions and much faster help than many textbooks or teachers and I believe that this can aid in a students reading comprehension by creating a less stressful environment since students would have more resources at their disposal while they read.  This can make them more comfortable with the task of reading in a second language. Reading is so important for the students to be able to improve their proficiency in the L2 so being more comfortable can help keep the students motivated to read as well.