scholarly journals Institutional and individual dimensions of transatlantic group work in network-based language teaching

ReCALL ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIE A. BELZ

Network-based language teaching (NBLT) involves the application of global or local communication networks within foreign and second language education (Warschauer and Kern, 2000). In telecollaboration, a type of NBLT, distally located language learners use internet communication tools to support dialogue, debate, collaborative research and social interaction for the purposes of language development and cultural awareness (e.g. Kinginger et al., 1999). To date, the research on NBLT has been limited, focusing primarily on pedagogical implementations of technology and linguistic features of online communication. In particular, researchers have not robustly explored social and institutional dimensions of telecollaboration (Chapelle, 2000:217) nor have they adequately investigated the pervasive assumption that telecollaborative interaction will necessarily and unproblematically afford language learning (e.g. Kramsch and Thorne, to appear). Drawing on social realism (Layder, 1993), a sociological theory which emphasizes the inter-relationship between structure, i.e. society and institution, and agency, i.e. situated activity and psycho-biography, in researching and explaining social action, I present a sociocultural account of German-American telecollaboration. In particular, I explore the meanings that the macro features of (1) language valuation (Hilgendorf, 1996); (2) membership in electronic discourse communities (Gee, 1999); and (3) culturally determined classroom scripts (Hatch, 1992) may have for the differential functionality of virtual group work in this partnership. Differences in group functionality are reflected at the micro-interactional level in terms of (1) frequency and length of correspondence; (2) patterns of discursive behavior such as question-answer pairs; and (3) opportunities for assisted L2 performance and negotiation of meaning. Ethnographic data (e.g. interviews, electronic and classroom discourse, surveys and participant observations) on individual psycho-biographies are interwoven with macro-level descriptions and statistics to paint a rich picture of learner behavior in intercultural telecollaboration. This project is funded by a United States Department of Education International Research and Studies Program Grant (CFDA No.: 84.017A). The author is a research associate for the German component.

Neofilolog ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 28-41
Author(s):  
Krystyna Droździał-Szelest

Innovation in language education, just as in any other discipline, is connected with changes whose primary goal is to make the process of language learning/language teaching more efficient. Examples of such innovations include, for instance, task based instruction, computer assisted language learning or the use of portfolio as a means of assessment.Innovation implies a new, qualitatively different perception of the language learning/ language teaching process, roles of teachers and learners, use of materials etc., hence it is believed to constitute a challenge for language teachers and their professionalism. The present article is an attempt to answer the question whether and to what extent the language teaching profession is actually prepared to deal with innovation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siylvia Velikova ◽  
◽  
◽  

This article investigates the meanings of key terms used to describe the theory and practice of language learning and teaching as an academic discipline and as a field of enquiry. The study discusses various manifestations of terminological variability and analyses four of the most frequent terms (methodology of language teaching, language didactics, language pedagogy, language education) which reveal the nature of language learning and teaching and its conceptualisation in the current “post-method” era.


Author(s):  
Christian Swertz ◽  
Rosa Schultz ◽  
Katharina Toifl

This chapter reports the concept development and evaluation results from the project LANCELOT (LANguage learning with CErtified Live Online Teachers). LANCELOT is funded by the Leonardo da Vinci program of the European Commission. LANCELOT, a training program for live online language teachers, covers the technological, methodological, and intercultural aspects of live online language training. Concepts for the use of current online communication technologies and suitable language teaching methods in a virtual language classroom have also been developed within the project. These concepts are integrated by means of an innovative pedagogical concept for online teaching and learning called Web-Didactics. In order to verify that it is ready for the market, the training program recently underwent thorough testing and evaluation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Mercer

Abstract This article begins with an outline of the developments in Positive Psychology (PP) generally and specifically within SLA focusing on theoretical, empirical and practical developments. It moves on to consider PP’s potential contribution to language teaching focusing on how it can help promote emotional, social and psychological wellbeing for language learners and teachers. It explores the concept of ‘Positive Education’ and reflects on possible lessons from these broader developments for a specific approach to ‘Positive Language Education’. It is argued that PP facilitates new ways of thinking about language learning and can provide the ideal vehicle from which to foreground wellbeing as a concept and dual aim in language education.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Teresa MacKinnon ◽  
Sarah Pasfield-Neofitou

Language education faculty face myriad challenges in finding teaching resources that are suitable, of high quality, and allow for the modifications needed to meet the requirements of their course contexts and their learners. The article elaborates the grassroots model of “produsage” (a portmanteau of “production” and “usage”) as a way of imagining a movement toward the use and creation of open educational resources (OER) for language learning. Through a set of examples of video resources that fill a need for authentically compelling language learning materials, the authors demonstrate the potential of produsage to engage teachers and learners around digital resources, to the benefit of language teaching and learning. In support of this grassroots model, the authors propose practices and policies to address challenges involved in engaging teachers and learners around OER in higher education.  


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-57
Author(s):  
Kinga Bajorek ◽  
Sławomir Gawroński

Abstract The use of mass communication in the field of foreign language teaching is not a new phenomenon, because traditional media have been in use in this area for a few decades. Nowadays, however, several tendencies confirming the scale of this phenomenon can be observed. Mass media, and new media in particular, are used both in the process of self-education and as an important tool used by foreign language teachers. Technological progress, the communication revolution, the spread of the Internet, and the development of new media and mobile technologies offer modern and more effective methods of language education. This article reviews the conditions relating to the relationship between mass media and language learning, taking into account the possibility of using one of the key functions of mass communication, namely its educational function. The authors, using literature analysis, defined and analyzed the causes of specific symbiosis between media tools and technologies as well as the methodology used in the field of foreign language teaching.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 516
Author(s):  
Maria Zenaide Farias de Araújo ◽  
Janete S. Santos ◽  
Elbia Haydée Difabio

  RESUMEN Las autoras sitúan esta investigación dentro de los presentes cambios educativos que involucran la práctica del maestro-pedagogo, en lo que concierne a la educación lingüística, a partir de los siguientes problemas: 1) ¿Cómo incorporan o incorporaron conceptos de enseñanza de lengua como conjunto de variedades los maestros de la 4ª serie del nivel primario? 2) ¿Cómo usarían ellos un léxico específico sobre el habla amapaense, para tratar la noción de lengua como conjunto de variedades, considerando el paradigma de sustentabilidad en la educación lingüística? Para dar solución a estos problemas se elaboró el siguiente objetivo general: - Analizar el discurso docente sobre la práctica de enseñanza de lengua, concerniente a variación lingüística, en la 4ª serie del nivel fundamental, a partir del uso de un léxico específico sobre el habla local, considerando el paradigma de sustentabilidad en la educación lingüística. Para alcanzar tal objetivo, se realizó una investigación exploratorio-analítica, de metodología cualitativa y de cuño interpretativo. La especificidad del objeto requiere, en este caso, que se utilice la contribución teórico-metodológica de la Sociolingüística Variacional (SV) y Sociolingüística Educacional (SE), y para la sustentabilidad en educación, el aporte de Hargreaves y de Fink, además de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para Educación, Ciencia y Cultura (UNESCO), entre otros. Para el análisis de los discursos, se emplean recortes del PCNEF de lengua portuguesa de la escolaridad inicial y de los Proyectos Pedagógicos del Curso de Pedagogía de UNIFAP. Para la recolección de la información empírica, se optó por entrevistas semi-estructuradas y para la triangulación de datos, discursos documentales y el generado en trabajo de campo. Las hipótesis se resumen: i) las prácticas pedagógicas para el aprendizaje lingüístico favorecen las dimensiones profundidad, amplitud y duración de la sustentabilidad educativa; ii) a pesar de la existencia de obras específicas sobre el habla local, en la educación lingüística del Estado no existe preocupación por enseñar (ni reflexionar sobre la lengua materna), a partir de lo local para alcanzar lo universal/nacional, orientación sugerida por los PCNEF-LP (documentos oficiales).   PALABRAS CLAVE: Educación Lingüística Sustentable; Formación Docente; Práctica Pedagógica Docente; Léxico; Enseñanza   ABSTRACT The authors situate this research within the present educational changes that involve the practice of the teacher-pedagogue, as far as linguistic education is concerned, from the following problems: 1) How do 4th grade teachers of the elementary education incorporate concepts of language teaching as a set of varieties? 2) How would they use a specific lexicon about Amapaense’s discourse, to treat the notion of language as a set of varieties, considering the paradigm of sustainability in language education? In order to solve these problems, the following general objective was developed: -Analyze the teacher’s discourse about the practice of language instruction on linguistic variation at the 4th grade of the elementary education, based on the use of a specific lexicon of local discourse, considering the paradigm of sustainability in language teaching. To achieve this objective, an exploratory-analytical investigation was made, as well as a qualitative methodology of interpretative essence. The object’s specificity requires, in this case, the use of the theoretical-methodological contribution given by the Variance Sociolinguistics (VS), the Sociolinguistic Education (SE), and the sustainability in education, supported by Hargreaves and Fink, in addition to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), among others. For the speeches’ analysis, cutouts from the National Curricula Parameters for the Elementary Education and the Pedagogy Course Project from the Federal University of Amapá (UNIFAP) were used. For information collection, we opted for semi-structured interviews and data triangulation, documentary discourses and the generated material from the field work. Summarized hypotheses: i) pedagogical practices for language learning favor the depth, breadth and duration dimensions of educational sustainability; ii) despite the existence of specific works on the local discourse, within the State’s linguistic education there is not concern about teaching (or reflecting about the mother tongue), from local to universal/national, as suggested by the official documents.   KEYWORDS: Sustainable Linguistic Education; Teacher training; Teacher’s Pedagogical Practice; Lexicon; Teaching.     RESUMO Os autores situam essa pesquisa dentro das atuais mudanças educacionais que envolvem a prática do professor-pedagogo, no que se refere à educação linguística, a partir dos seguintes problemas: 1) Como incorporam ou incorporam conceitos de ensino de línguas como um todo? de variedades os professores da 4ª série do nível primário? 2) Como eles usariam um léxico específico sobre o discurso de Amapase, para tratar a noção de linguagem como um conjunto de variedades, considerando o paradigma da sustentabilidade na educação de línguas? Para resolver estes problemas o seguinte objetivo geral foi desenvolvido: - Analisar o discurso de ensino sobre a prática da língua de ensino sobre variação linguística na 4ª série do nível fundamental, a partir do uso de um léxico específico de discurso local, considerando o paradigma da sustentabilidade no ensino de idiomas. Para atingir este objetivo, foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratório-analítica, metodologia qualitativa e interpretação. A especificidade do objeto requer, neste caso, a teoria e metodologia contribuição Sociolingüística Variational (SV) e Sociolingüística Educação (SE) é usado, e para a sustentabilidade na educação, a contribuição de Hargreaves e Fink, mais Organização das Nações Unidas para a Educação, Ciência e Cultura (UNESCO), entre outros. Para a análise dos discursos, corta PCNEF Lusófona escolaridade inicial e ensinando Projeto Curso de Pedagogia UNIFAP são usados. Para a coleta de informações empíricas, optou-se por entrevistas semi-estruturadas e triangulação de dados, discursos documentários e gerados em trabalho de campo. As hipóteses são resumidas: i) as práticas pedagógicas para a aprendizagem de línguas favorecem as dimensões profundidade, amplitude e duração da sustentabilidade educacional; ii) apesar da existência de trabalhos específicos sobre a fala local, na educação linguística do Estado não há preocupação em ensinar (ou refletir sobre a língua materna), desde o local até alcançar o universal / nacional, sugerido por o PCNEF-LP (documentos oficiais).   PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Educação Linguística Sustentável; Formação de Professores; Prática Pedagógica de Ensino; Léxico; Ensino.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Si Thang Kiet Ho

<p><b>Intercultural competence has become an important goal of foreign language education in response to the need for learners to function effectively in an increasingly multicultural world. Language and culture are seen as interwoven and inseparable components and therefore learning a foreign language inevitably means learning about other ways of being and behaving. Many foreign language programmes around the world, particularly in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, have adopted an intercultural pedagogy which seeks to integrate into the language teaching experience opportunities for developing intercultural competence for language learners. This study investigates intercultural teaching and learning in tertiary EFL classrooms in Vietnam, a context in which intercultural approaches to language teaching and learning have not been widely considered.</b></p> <p>The study consisted of three phases. The first phase involved a curriculum review in which I critically evaluated the extent to which culture and culture learning are represented in the curriculum frameworks for tertiary EFL programmes and in the national education policy on foreign language education in Vietnam. The findings showed that the importance of culture and culture learning is not emphasised, and the designation of culture to separate culture courses establishes a separate status, construct and treatment of culture and culture learning in the EFL programmes.</p> <p>In the second phase of the study, I analysed the perceptions of fourteen Vietnamese EFL teachers and two hundred Vietnamese EFL students on culture in language teaching and learning, and their classroom practices. The findings indicated that the teachers' beliefs about culture teaching revealed a predictable priority for teaching language rather than culture. Their culture teaching practices were greatly influenced by their perceptions and beliefs regarding culture in language teaching. The students also treated culture as a subordinate priority in language learning. Overall, they found culture learning beneficial for their language learning and supported the teachability of language and culture in EFL classes. Both the teachers and students identified a number of constraints that restricted their opportunities and motivation to engage in teaching and learning culture.</p> <p>The third phase of the study involved an empirical study investigating the effect of adopting an intercultural stance in English speaking lessons on thedevelopment of the learners' intercultural competence. Over a nine-week teaching period, eighteen English speaking lessons (90 minutes / lesson / week) for two equivalent, intact classes (seventy-one students) were observed. For one class, the lessons were adapted to reflect the principles of intercultural language learning. For the other, no changes were made. The results showed that the intercultural competence of learners in the intercultural class increased by significantly more than that of learners in the standard class. In particular, the students in the intercultural class were able to better articulate ethnorelative awareness and attitudes towards their home culture and the target culture. The findings also showed that the reflective journal was an effective tool to assess learners' process of acquiring intercultural competence, particularly affective capacities that are not easy to evaluate by other means.</p> <p>Overall, the study provided evidence for the feasibility of intercultural teaching and learning in tertiary EFL classrooms in the Vietnamese context. It also showed that intercultural teaching and learning cultivated learners' affective capacities which are often overlooked in the EFL classroom. It is hoped that the study can inform the work of curriculum designers, education policy-makers as well as EFL teachers and students for the implementation of intercultural language teaching and learning in Vietnam and elsewhere.</p>


RELC Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 003368822093922
Author(s):  
Yang Liu ◽  
Fan Fang

This article explores the recent development of translanguaging from the perspective of multilingualism. This is in light of the multilingual turn in the field of foreign language teaching, particularly English language teaching (ELT), which challenges the fixed and traditional monolingual framework for foreign language education. In particular, this article reviews stakeholders’ attitudes towards the implementation of translanguaging in foreign language classroom settings. It is found that stakeholders generally hold positive attitudes towards translanguaging practices in various ELT contexts. This review highlights the importance of re-examining the significance of translanguaging in ELT practices, for example, by challenging the monolingual English-only language policy and recognizing students’ first language as a linguistic resource to facilitate language learning in both English language and content learning. The article concludes by offering some practical pedagogical implications for both policy makers and language practitioners.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Diane Nagatomo

Japanese teachers of English in Japanese higher education are an under-researched, yet a highly influential group of teachers. A yearlong case study with one teacher, a literature specialist who is relatively new at teaching English, was conducted. Through multiple interviews and classroom observations, it was found that the teacher’s beliefs toward language learning and language teaching are deeply rooted in how she successfully learned English and are shaped by her love for literature. The paper concludes with a call for more qualitative and quantitative research investigating the teaching practices and the English pedagogical beliefs of Japanese university English teachers in order to deepen our understanding of English language education in Japan. 日本の高等教育機関における日本人の英語教師の役割は大きいにもかかわらず、これまで十分に研究の対象になって来なかった。文学が専門の比較的経験の浅い1人の教師を対象として1年間、ケーススタディを行った。数回のインタビューおよび教室での観察を通じて、その教師の言語学習・言語教授についての本人の信条が、自分の英語学習における成功体験および文学への愛情に少なからず影響されていることが判明した。本論では、日本における英語教育の理解を深めるためには、大学教師がどのような教育を行っているか、どのような教育上の信念を持っているのかを、質的にも量的にもさらに研究する必要性があると結論づけている。


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