Language teaching at a distance: From the first generation model to the third

In the past 15 or 20 years, distance learning (DL) has had a significant impact on education in many fields. Although worthwhile distance learning projects have also been undertaken in EFL and ESL, few language teachers are familiar with this mode of instruction or with the work that has been done. However, a knowledge of how this burgeoning mode of instruction operates would enhance the language teacher's repertoire and, as much can be learnt from a consideration of the stages through which DL has passed and from an examination of characteristic examples, the purpose of this paper is to describe those stages and to discuss some of the most interesting work that has been done in distance learning. The paper will also seek to demonstrate that DL is a challenging, versatile, and valuable mode of instruction, but one that is still neglected by English language teachers.