courseware vs. textbooks: achievement, attitude, and personal reflection of efl learners towards call

language learning courseware has been receiving growing attention by english educators since its advent. a variety of softwares have been designed by software designers and resorted to by language educators to supplement language textbooks. this experimental study investigated how the application of computerized version of language textbooks and the reception of the entire course through computer screen may affect the achievement of a group of iranian efl learners compared to their counterparts who resorted to traditional textbooks.the study also intended to compare the efl learners’ attitude towards computer assisted language learning (call) before and after their language learning experience in the computerized environment on the bases of an attitude toward call (a-call) questionnaire.furthermore, the learners in the call group were interviewed subsequent to the course with regard to their experience in the computerized environment.thirty male pre-intermediate efl learners were selected randomly and assigned equally to the experimental (call) and control (traditional) groups. paired and independent t-tests were used to pinpoint any significant differences between and within the two groups. the results of the t-tests demonstrated a significant progress for both groups during the course. however, no significant differences were observed between the groups after the course. with regard to the attitude of the experimental group towards call, the results of the paired sample t-test revealed a significant change in the attitudes before and after the language course in a negative way. moreover, the inter-item t-test demonstrated significant differences for certain items. participants in the experimental groups also interviewed after the course to inspect their ideas and experiences in the call class. they expressed the merits and demerits of resorting to computers in a language class. it was concluded that the mere reception of a language course through the computer screen can not be counted on as a guarantee of better language learning.