Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and trilingualism in the Basque Country

Abstract

With the aim of enhancing the learning of Basque, Spanish and English languages by school pupils, the Federation of Ikastolas (i.e. cooperative of private schools grant-aided by the Basque Government) created the IKASYS Programme for incorporating personal computers into language learning (Computer-Assisted Language Learning or CALL). The programme was launched experimentally in the 2008/09 academic year. This paper explains the content of the IKASYS Programme and contextualises it, outlining the research undertaken to date in this field and the results thereof. Subsequently, the methodology used for the pilot project is described as well as the results obtained. Outstanding amongst these is the fact that students from all the years studied—2nd, 4th and 6th years of primary school (at the ages of 7, 9 and 11 years)—who have participated in the IKAS YS Programme obtained results for the three languages superior to those of pupils who had not taken part.