Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Software for Chinese

This webpage provides online access to reviews of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) software and other computing-related reviews published in the Journal of the Chinese Language Teachers Association (JCLTA). Online reviews will be added or replaced from time to time as new software reviews are published in JCLTA or submitted for online access on this webpage.

A. GENERAL REVIEW ARTICLES

"Computer Assisted Language Learning for Chinese: A Survey and Annotated Bibliography" (PDF, .8 MB) by Dana Scott Bourgerie (Brigham Young U.). Published in JCLTA (2003) 38.2:17-47.

"Concordancers and Concordances: Tools for Chinese Language Teaching and Research" (PDF, 1.03 MB) by Marjorie K.M. Chan (Ohio State U.). Published in JCLTA (2002) 37.2:1-58. This article, with screenshots, includes a review and comparison across several software programs for making concordances of Chinese e-texts. (Note: See also Chinese Computing and Concordancing, M. Chan's poster session with step-by-step, online instructions -- accompanied by screenshots -- for using concordancers for Chinese concordancing.)

"CALL for Chinese: Issues and Practice" by Zheng-sheng Zhang (San Diego State U.). Published in JCLTA (1998) 33.1.51-82. This article reviews ten CALL programs: 1. ABC Interactive Chinese, 2. Chinese Character Tutor, 3. Chinese Express, 4. HyperChina, 5. HyperChinese: The Pronunciation Modules, 6. PinyinMaster, 7. Professional Interactive Chinese, 8. Step into China, 9. The Rosetta Stone, and 10. Wenlin.

B. REVIEWS OF INDIVIDUAL CALL SOFTWARE

(Note: Click on the reviewer's name to access the online review. CLTA-archived reviews are UTF8-encoded.)

Beginning Cantoneseby Dana Scott Bourgerie
Reviewed by: Peter Yang (2000) (Case Western Reserve) CALICO Software Review

>Chinese Character Tutor
Company/Product: FlashWare International
Reviewed by: Cecilia Chu (1997) (UC Berkeley). (Version ?)

Clavis Sinica: Chinese Reading and Reference Software
Company/Product: Clavis Sinica
Reviewed by Michael E. Everson (2003) (University of Iowa). (Version 3.0) Published in JCLTA 38.2:141-145.

HyperChina Interactive Chinese
Company/Product: Sinologic Software
Reviewed by: Cecilia Chu (1997) (UC Berkeley) (Version ?)

HyperChinese: The Pronunciation Modules
Distributor: Cheng and Tsui Company
Reviewed by: Zheng-sheng Zhang (1997) (San Diego State U.) (Version 1.1) Published in JCLTA 32.2.121-125.

The Passage to China: Protocols, Culture and Language for the Business
Reviewed by: Tongtao Zheng (1999) (University of Tasmania) CALICO Software Review

Power Chinese
Reviewed by: Robert Irving (1999) (Monash University) (Version 1.01) CALICO Software Review

Professional Interactive Chinese for Windows
Company/Product: LearnWare
Reviewed by: Jun Wang (1997) (U. of Tennessee, Knoxville) (Version 2.0)
  (This review is part of Computer-Assisted Language Learning @ CHORUS, UC Berkeley.)

Tell Me More
Company/Product: Aurolog
Reviewed by: Jennifer Li-chia Liu (2003) (Indiana University). Published in JCLTA 38.3:123-127.
Reviewed by: Tongtao Zheng (2002) (University of Tasmania). CALICO Software Review

Wenlin: Software for Learning Chinese
Company/Product: Wenlin Institute, Inc.
Reviewed by: Louis Mangione and Brendan O'Kane (2002) (Temple University) (Version 3.0) CALICO Software Review
Reviewed by: Cecilia Chu (1997) (UC Berkeley). (Version 1.0)

C. ON-LINE CHINESE COURSEWARE REVIEWS

Speaking Chinese. A basic beginning on-line Chinese language course designed and developed by Dr. Zhang Lizhong at Latrobe University, Bendigo, Australia

ChiNews On-The-Web. Reading Course developed by University of Hawaii.

Chinese Reading & Writing Course. Produced by National Foreign Language Resource Center, Universiy of Hawaii, Manoa. For fee courses offered in cooperation with participating institutions. Part of a group of courses entitled Advanced Chinese and Korean courses on the World Wide Web. Review by Tyler P. Hawkins.