A discussion of the Video on Demand (VOD) system for classroom teaching of English-as-a-foreign-language (TEFL) outlines the system's current and potential use, and examines whether such an approach is educational or simply provides entertainment, and whether education and entertainment are compatible. The VOD system, pioneered in Japan, uses computer terminals in the classroom and other locations to provide instantaneous, digital access to an extensive collection of audio/video recordings. It is used in less than ten percent of Japanese universities, primarily private institutions, and in varied instructional environments; several applications and environments are described. Materials currently available and copyright issues are also reviewed. It is concluded that it is too early to assess VOD's use because it is still limited, that institutions considering its use must consider important issues such as cost and copyright restrictions and materials availability, that other technology-based teaching methods may be more cost-effective, and that attention must be given to the education vs. entertainment debate. Contains 4 references. (MSE)