Computer technology has been used to develop "Cafe," a self-instructional course in written French communication, which is offered to the general public by the University of Montreal. The course consists of three workbooks containing 1200 items dealing with vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, agreements, morphology, syntax, and fine points of style. While the items are of the multiple choice variety, the "correct" answer is considered to be relative to the context. It is always accompanied by an explanation and by illustrations of the way the other options would be used. Anglicisms are discussed as well as the difference between French and English usage. Computers are used to grade pretests, diagnostic tests, and posttests; to correlate the difficulty level of test items with student needs and competence; to calculate norms; and to choose the actual items that appear in the materials. The test items and their contexts were chosen, with the help of computers, from a variety of sources in an attempt to present the French language as it is used in a variety of contexts. After experimentation via computer, the items were divided into tracks according to difficulty, and the three workbooks were assembled. It has been shown that the course responds to student needs, gives students an active role, and maximizes their opportunity to learn. (AMH)