Kanji City An Exploration of Hypermedia Applications for CALL

Abstract

Kanji City explores some of the possibilities for design of language instructional materials in hypermedia format. It takes advantage of HyperCard's potential to integrate text with digitized and synthesized sound, interactive graphics and animation. Furthermore, the application demonstrates how hypermedia can support inductive learning through trial-and-error exploration of a simulation of real-life environment, and promote contextualization of language and language use. Kanji City serves as an umbrella for a host of related language learning programs. Several of these modules exemplify the concept of presentation shells that are not restricted to teaching Japanese, but can be filled with contents from a wide range of subjects.