As the coordinator of a CALL (computer assisted language learning) Lab at a Canadian University I have had to review tons of software to determine what we will choose to roll out in our lab.  This is no simple task as there is a huge amount of ESL software available for teachers to use with their students who are learning English. 

Some of it is designed for classroom or computer lab use while other software titles are intended for self-study. When you are reviewing software to use in your langauge learning programs, you will need to assess it in terms of what you need, your teaching/learning style and philosophy, and what you want the software to do for you and your ESL/EFL students.

Here are some of the key things that you may want to keep in mind when deciding on purchasing language learning software either for a lab, or for personal use by ESL / EFL students on their own computers.

These are not listed in any real order of importance, and keep in mind that I work in a CALL lab in a university program that focuses on academic English preparation for students entering directly into normal university level classes.  Your situation will probably be different.

Price - This is always an important consideration, but only in terms of the other items we'll discuss below.  Just keep in mind that the best software isn't always the most expensive.  In our lab, the most heavily used software was free, open source software that wasn't even designed for ESL use, but it works like a dream for what our language students need.

Appropriateness - Some software is best for kids & public school levels, and other ESL software is better suited for university level students.  Some software tries to do both!  Review the content and see just how appropriate it is for the students you work with.

Relevance - Just how relevant is the software and the content of the software to what you and your ESL students are trying to learn? Do the themes match?  Are the language skills the ones that you and your students are working on?  Is it too hard or too easy for your average student?

Originality - How original is the content. This is perhaps less important overall, but if the content is all recycled/non-original, there can be a very high boredom factor.

Real English or "Made for ESL" English - This is always a source of discussion and occasional controversy.  I tend to be more towards Real English vs. made for ESL content.  You need to make the choice that is most comfortable for you, but in reviewing several hundred ESL software titles, I can assure you there there is a LOT of REALLY BAD and REALLY unnatural English included in a lot of language learning software packages.  Auralog's "Tell me More" is one of these.

Extendable or not? - Can new materials be added to the software?  Does the publisher add new content that you can add into the system? Can you create/modify content and add it to the software?  Software like Rosetta Stone is horribly static, while much of the ESL software from Clarity (e.g. tensebuster) is completely authorable so you or your students can create and add in new language learning units at any time.

Repeatable or not? - A great deal of language learning software really ends up being single use software.  Once a student has done the exercises in section one, there is little benefit in repeating them since they will be shown the exact same material in the same order as their first time through.  This is not 100% bad. There are some very good langauge learning software packages out there - Pronunciation Power for example- that have essentially static content, but still give good levels of practice.

Connection to other ESL materials you use (texts, themes etc.) - Increasingly ESL grammar, reading, speaking/listening texts also have CDs included with additional materials students can use.  Some for example Focus on Grammar, have complete multimedia packages that you can buy that complement and supplement the content in the text.  Beyond this, make sure that the materials provided in the software match or are at least comlimentary to what you are teaching.

System compatibility - This is VERY important.  Many language learning programs come if several flavours - single install, workstation, lab, server based.  Then you need to consider the computers that will run the software - is your lab set up the same way as the software developers?  We run a fully networked lab with 22 machines - however all the machines run as individual workstations.  How is your lab set up?  Be sure to chat with your IT department before spending $5,000+ on the 'wrong' version, and be sure to check with the publisher for their return and exchange policy if you can't get the software working.

There are probably a number of other issues that are relevant to your specific situation.  Just go into your software research and purchasing with your eyes wide open and a clear idea of what it is that you need the software to do for you and your language students and you'll be in a good place to make more informed choices.

Cheers,

Eric