Games are used to provide a rich learning and teaching environment. Generally, good educational
games should have clear educational objectives. The definition of simulations and games are somewhat
similar. Simulations imitate reality, whilst games may not simulate reality. Students are able to gain
knowledge about rules, processes as well as other skills from the games. The major characteristic of
educational games is entertaining, which students can enjoy themselves while practicing their language
skills. At this point, games sometime are called entertaining games or edutainment.
Testing is a tool for assessment and a method to determine what students know and do not know. It
can take the form of an informal quiz or a formal evaluation. There are various types of computer-based
learning tests. In order to help students learn, the test should be appropriately selected, related to the
objective of each lesson for the students. As a result, the students will enjoy learning environment and
succeed in their studying. In short, testing is used for helping students feel independent as the test format
and structure are less formal than the traditional one. Additionally, the students might feel at ease while
taking the tests.
The activities illustrated above, not only course software based CALL but also online programs,
including web-based learning, learning management system, multimedia courseware, online communication,
online assessment and online feedback, which the Internet and network system are required for running
these programs. However, online programs are not probably viewed as ideal for CALL into English language
teaching. In this regard, an attempt to try to develop and use CALL programs in the classroom in the Thai
context continuously appears in a number of studies. The following sections present some studies that are
known to determine the success and failure of developing CALL programs in English classroom.