The phrase "student computer dialogs" refers to interactive sessions between the student and the computer. Rather than using programing languages specifically designed for computer assisted instruction (CAI), existing general purpose languages should be emphasized in the future development of student computer dialogs, as the power and flexibility of general purpose languages make their extension more useful to a larger proportion of computer installations. Two programing languages have been used at the University of California at Irvine--METASYMBOL, the assembly language used on the Xerox Sigma 7, and FORTRAN. A number of small modules have been written in these two languages, and more are being developed. Technological advances in hardware may soon lead to stand-along systems for student computer dialogs, thus making small-scale programs more important. An example of one module developed at Irvine is provided. (DGC)