Collaboration through Wiki and Paper Compositions in Foreign Language Classes

This study investigates the nature of collaboration on wikis as opposed tothe nature of collaboration resulting in a paper composition. In order tounderstand this phenomenon students were placed in groups of four andasked to write two essays during the semester. On one essay students wereasked to produce a composition in the target language on a wiki. Onanother they were asked to produce a composition that would be given tothe teacher in hard copy. Specific research questions includeddetermining to what extent students prefer collaborating to produce a wikior paper composition. Additionally, we attempted to determine, accordingto students, what the advantages and disadvantages of collaborating on awiki composition versus a paper composition are and what effect theseadvantages and disadvantages might have on collaboration. Data wascollected from over one hundred university students through likert-scaletype questions, open-ended written questions as well as face to faceinterviews. Findings indicate that the collaborative process on the wikireflected true collaboration where students had a hand in each part of thecomposition. On the other hand, while completing the paper composition,students generally handed their assigned portion to a single student in thegroup who was designated the compiler and would rarely see or commenton the other group members’ work. The authors also provide a discussionof specific advantages and disadvantages of wiki and paper-basedcompositions and important implications for practitioners

Conversaciones virtuales: Investigación y práctica en los intercambios de lengua en línea

Advances in digital technology have created interesting opportunities for language learners to engage in conversation with native speakers. These opportunities provide the possibility for tremendous growth in language and culture learning (Lewis & O’Dowd, 2016) in ways that until recently did not exist. These interactions can take a variety of forms. Some instructors create highly controlled interactions with specific activities and pre-assigned partners. Others students are asked to connect to social media style sites where they experience enormous autonomy in choosing when they interact, who they interact with, and what they speak about (Malerba, 2012). Online exchanges with native speakers also vary according to the linguistic competence of the speakers. Generally, online exchanges have been used with learners who are at intermediate or advanced skill levels. However, the present study builds on recent research suggesting that even novice level learners can benefit from interacting with native speakers online (Satar & Özdener, 2008; Schenker, 2017). In this study, the authors examined novice students’ perceptions of learning and changes in comfort level after participating in a series of online and in-person exchanges over the course of a semester. The study compared students’ perceptions of online interactions generally with those of in-person exchanges and also compared the results of the use of various services. Results suggest that students in all of the groups, online and in-person, felt more comfortable interacting with native speakers and felt that they improved their language skills by engaging in these activities. With that said, students in the in-person group tended to feel more comfortable speaking with native speakers, but students in most of the online groups felt that the one on one nature of the interactions in the online settings led to the most growth.Los avances en la tecnología digital han creado oportunidades interesantes para que los estudiantes de lengua participen en conversaciones con hablantes nativos. Estas oportunidades brindan la posibilidad de un enorme crecimiento en el aprendizaje de lenguas y culturas (Lewis & O’Dowd, 2016) en formas que hasta hace poco no existían. Estas interacciones pueden tomar una variedad de formas. Algunos instructores crean interacciones sumamente controladas con actividades específicas y compañeros asignados previamente. A otros estudiantes se les pide que se conecten a sitios al estilo de las redes sociales donde experimentan una enorme autonomía para elegir cuándo interactúan, con quién interactúan y de qué hablan (Malerba, 2012). Los intercambios en línea con hablantes nativos también varían de acuerdo con la competencia lingüística de los hablantes. En general, los intercambios en línea se han utilizado con estudiantes que se encuentran en los niveles intermedios o avanzados. Sin embargo, el presente estudio se basa en investigaciones recientes que sugieren que incluso los principiantes de nivel principiante pueden beneficiarse de la interacción en línea con hablantes nativos (Satar & Özdener, 2008; Schenker, 2017). En este estudio, los autores examinaron las percepciones de los estudiantes principiantes sobre el aprendizaje y los cambios en el nivel de comodidad después de participar en una serie de intercambios en línea y en persona en el transcurso de un semestre. El estudio comparó las percepciones de los estudiantes sobre las interacciones en línea en general con las de los intercambios en persona y también comparó los resultados del uso de diversos servicios. Los resultados sugieren que los estudiantes de todos los grupos, en línea y en persona, se sintieron más cómodos interactuando con hablantes nativos y sintieron que mejoraron sus habilidades lingüísticas al participar en estas actividades. Dicho esto, los estudiantes en el grupo en persona tienden a sentirse más cómodos al hablar con hablantes nativos, pero los estudiantes, en la mayoría de los grupos en línea, sintieron que la naturaleza de las interacciones en línea de hablar uno a uno condujo a un mayor crecimiento

Facebook as a Virtual Learning Space to Connect Multiple Language Classrooms

This study examined the potential of the Facebook group utility inassisting 54 university Spanish students and pre-service Spanishteachers as they explored their roles as teachers and learners.Participants represented two Spanish language classes and twoSpanish teaching methods classes at the university level. These classeswere combined into a Facebook group and student interactions wererecorded. A qualitative case study was used to frame the 12 weekresearch project. Data were collected from the Facebook group wall,weekly student reports, and a final optional survey (n = 42). Resultswere organized with respect to how participants used the Facebookgroup, how the virtual and physical learning spaces were connected,benefits of participation as perceived by the students, and genuinenessof student contributions. Recommendations are offered for thoseconsidering the implementation of similar virtual learning spaces asextensions of face-to-face foreign language or teacher trainingclassrooms

Digital Connections: Student Experiences in Online Language Exchanges

Exciting advances in technology have provided foreign language teachers with opportunities to connect students to native speakers of target languages. Much of the research in this area focuses on changes in proficiency or cultural sensitivity. Although valuable, the research is lacking in understanding students’ experiences online, including positive and negative feelings, challenges, as well as students’ overall opinions of the exchanges’ usefulness for learning. The present study used a mixed methods approach to examine the experiences of third-semester university students participating in online language exchanges with native speakers. A third-semester Spanish class at a large university consisting of 18 students was selected as a sample. Students were required to speak online with native Spanish speakers in the target language for 20 minutes each week. Students completed weekly surveys and a final survey, and three students were selected for semi-structured interviews. The data reveal common struggles that students face during online exchanges, methods students use for coping with these difficulties, areas of perceived growth, and social factors that affect students’ experiences. The article concludes with recommendations for what foreign language educators can do to support students in similar online exchanges

Stroke genetics informs drug discovery and risk prediction across ancestries

Previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of stroke — the second leading cause of death worldwide — were conducted predominantly in populations of European ancestry1,2. Here, in cross-ancestry GWAS meta-analyses of 110,182 patients who have had a stroke (five ancestries, 33% non-European) and 1,503,898 control individuals, we identify association signals for stroke and its subtypes at 89 (61 new) independent loci: 60 in primary inverse-variance-weighted analyses and 29 in secondary meta-regression and multitrait analyses. On the basis of internal cross-ancestry validation and an independent follow-up in 89,084 additional cases of stroke (30% non-European) and 1,013,843 control individuals, 87% of the primary stroke risk loci and 60% of the secondary stroke risk loci were replicated (P < 0.05). Effect sizes were highly correlated across ancestries. Cross-ancestry fine-mapping, in silico mutagenesis analysis3, and transcriptome-wide and proteome-wide association analyses revealed putative causal genes (such as SH3PXD2A and FURIN) and variants (such as at GRK5 and NOS3). Using a three-pronged approach4, we provide genetic evidence for putative drug effects, highlighting F11, KLKB1, PROC, GP1BA, LAMC2 and VCAM1 as possible targets, with drugs already under investigation for stroke for F11 and PROC. A polygenic score integrating cross-ancestry and ancestry-specific stroke GWASs with vascular-risk factor GWASs (integrative polygenic scores) strongly predicted ischaemic stroke in populations of European, East Asian and African ancestry5. Stroke genetic risk scores were predictive of ischaemic stroke independent of clinical risk factors in 52,600 clinical-trial participants with cardiometabolic disease. Our results provide insights to inform biology, reveal potential drug targets and derive genetic risk prediction tools across ancestries

Spanish for You: Student-Centered and Languages for Specific Purposes Methods in Lower-Division Spanish

This article investigates a project that used student-centered teaching and languages for specific purposes to increase university students’ motivation to study Spanish and willingness to communicate. After reflecting on their personal goals and interests, students were required to choose a purpose or context in which they might use Spanish in their future. Then students were encouraged to seek opportunities to foster their own language and culture learning related to the unique purposes that each student had selected. Data sources included an anonymous online survey with Likert scale responses and open-ended written responses, plus personal observations of the teacher. Results indicated that many students’ perceptions of Spanish speakers and their cultures changed in positive ways and that students were more willing to communicate with native speakers. However, students reported only a marginal increase in their motivation to continue studying Spanish. The author concluded that student-centered teaching and languages for specific purposes can be effective in lower-division Spanish but may require adjustments on the part of students and more guidance than anticipated from instructors

Spanish for You: Student-Centered and Languages for Specific Purposes Methods in Lower-Division Spanish

This article investigates a project that used student-centered teaching and languages for specific purposes to increase university students’ motivation to study Spanish and willingness to communicate. After reflecting on their personal goals and interests, students were required to choose a purpose or context in which they might use Spanish in their future. Then students were encouraged to seek opportunities to foster their own language and culture learning related to the unique purposes that each student had selected. Data sources included an anonymous online survey with Likert scale responses and open-ended written responses, plus personal observations of the teacher. Results indicated that many students’ perceptions of Spanish speakers and their cultures changed in positive ways and that students were more willing to communicate with native speakers. However, students reported only a marginal increase in their motivation to continue studying Spanish. The author concluded that student-centered teaching and languages for specific purposes can be effective in lower-division Spanish but may require adjustments on the part of students and more guidance than anticipated from instructors.

Virtual and in-person exchanges: Student perspectives on advantages and disadvantages

Interacting with target-language speakers online has become an important way for many second language students around the world to improve their skills in their target language. These types of learning interactions can take place on a wide range of online platforms, whether paid or unpaid, one-on-one or in small groups. Although research on these types of activities, often called virtual exchanges (VE), has increased, relatively little research has compared students’ experiences across different platforms. The present study compared the experiences of first and second-year university students with native speakers in in-person interactions as well as through several online services that connect language learners. Results indicate that students claimed to learn more in the in-person interactions than in the online settings. They also claimed to feel less anxiety in the in-person interactions. However, they also felt that certain online services improved their language learning in ways that were similar to the in-person interactions. In addition, each online or in-person setting offered unique advantages and disadvantages in terms of practicality and learning

Virtual Conversations: Research and Practice in Online Language Exchanges

Advances in digital technology have created interesting opportunities for language learners to engage in conversation with native speakers. These opportunities provide the possibility for tremendous growth in language and culture learning (Lewis & O’Dowd, 2016) in ways that until recently did not exist. These interactions can take a variety of forms. Some instructors create highly controlled interactions with specific activities and pre-assigned partners. Others students are asked to connect to social media style sites where they experience enormous autonomy in choosing when they interact, who they interact with, and what they speak about (Malerba, 2012). Online exchanges with native speakers also vary according to the linguistic competence of the speakers. Generally, online exchanges have been used with learners who are at intermediate or advanced skill levels. However, the present study builds on recent research suggesting that even novice level learners can benefit from interacting with native speakers online (Satar & Özdener, 2008; Schenker, 2017). In this study, the authors examined novice students’ perceptions of learning and changes in comfort level after participating in a series of online and in-person exchanges over the course of a semester. The study compared students’ perceptions of online interactions generally with those of in-person exchanges and also compared the results of the use of various services. Results suggest that students in all of the groups, online and in-person, felt more comfortable interacting with native speakers and felt that they improved their language skills by engaging in these activities. With that said, students in the in-person group tended to feel more comfortable speaking with native speakers, but students in most of the online groups felt that the one on one nature of the interactions in the online settings led to the most growth.Los avances en la tecnología digital han creado oportunidades interesantes para que los estudiantes de lengua participen en conversaciones con hablantes nativos. Estas oportunidades brindan la posibilidad de un enorme crecimiento en el aprendizaje de lenguas y culturas (Lewis & O’Dowd, 2016) en formas que hasta hace poco no existían. Estas interacciones pueden tomar una variedad de formas. Algunos instructores crean interacciones sumamente controladas con actividades específicas y compañeros asignados previamente. A otros estudiantes se les pide que se conecten a sitios al estilo de las redes sociales donde experimentan una enorme autonomía para elegir cuándo interactúan, con quién interactúan y de qué hablan (Malerba, 2012). Los intercambios en línea con hablantes nativos también varían de acuerdo con la competencia lingüística de los hablantes. En general, los intercambios en línea se han utilizado con estudiantes que se encuentran en los niveles intermedios o avanzados. Sin embargo, el presente estudio se basa en investigaciones recientes que sugieren que incluso los principiantes de nivel principiante pueden beneficiarse de la interacción en línea con hablantes nativos (Satar & Özdener, 2008; Schenker, 2017). En este estudio, los autores examinaron las percepciones de los estudiantes principiantes sobre el aprendizaje y los cambios en el nivel de comodidad después de participar en una serie de intercambios en línea y en persona en el transcurso de un semestre. El estudio comparó las percepciones de los estudiantes sobre las interacciones en línea en general con las de los intercambios en persona y también comparó los resultados del uso de diversos servicios. Los resultados sugieren que los estudiantes de todos los grupos, en línea y en persona, se sintieron más cómodos interactuando con hablantes nativos y sintieron que mejoraron sus habilidades lingüísticas al participar en estas actividades. Dicho esto, los estudiantes en el grupo en persona tienden a sentirse más cómodos al hablar con hablantes nativos, pero los estudiantes, en la mayoría de los grupos en línea, sintieron que la naturaleza de las interacciones en línea de hablar uno a uno condujo a un mayor crecimiento