  In the first part of this article, we explore the background of
computer-assisted learning from its beginnings in the early XIXth century and
the first teaching machines, founded on theories of learning, at the start of
the XXth century. With the arrival of the computer, it became possible to offer
language learners different types of language activities such as comprehension
tasks, simulations, etc. However, these have limits that cannot be overcome
without some contribution from the field of natural language processing (NLP).
In what follows, we examine the challenges faced and the issues raised by
integrating NLP into CALL. We hope to demonstrate that the key to success in
integrating NLP into CALL is to be found in multidisciplinary work between
computer experts, linguists, language teachers, didacticians and NLP
specialists.
