Investigating Students’ and Teachers’ Perceptions of Using the iPad in an Italian English as a Foreign Language Classroom

Recent research indicates that mobile technologies can support second language learning. However, studies focused on the use of the iPad as a mobile technology to enhance second language learning and teaching in schools are still scarce. This study reports on an action research project that investigated the use of the iPad in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context in an Italian school. The study sought to investigate learners’ and teachers’ perceptions of mobile learning through the use of the iPad. The data was collected through a survey (N=41), classroom observations (N=4), interviews (N=20), and recorded teacher meetings (N=5). Results show a positive impact on student motivation and on the approach to second language learning tasks. We found that within the duration of the study students and teachers became increasingly independent in the use of the iPad for English language learning and teaching. This study provides educators with hints on how to start integrating mobile devices to perform specific language learning/teaching tasks

Exploring Learners' and Teacher's Participation in Online Non-Formal Project-Based Language Learning

This article reports on the implementation of online project-based language learning in a non-formal educational context. Project-based learning may enable additional out-of-class language practice and digital technologies can support this activity, but little is known about whether learners will participate. Twenty-one tertiary learners from across Indonesia used multiple Web 2.0 tools to collaboratively create English learning materials for children as a project over the course of four weeks. Online data, learners' reflections, and interviews were analysed using content analysis. The study explores participation levels among learners and their teacher. Findings suggest that while learners' participation varied considerably, the teacher's participation was consistently the highest in all platforms except Google Docs. Learners had different attitudes towards their own and their peers' contribution, but generally valued the teacher's participation

Negotiation for Meaning Routines in Audio SCMC Interactions: An Expanded Framework

Negotiation for meaning, in response to instances of non-understanding, plays an important role in SLA. Meaning negotiation routines in face-to-face classroom interactions have been identified by Varonis and Gass. Smith expands the model to adapt it to text chat CMC environments. In the past decade, synchronous audio CMC has become commonly used for online language teaching, but its affordances are different from text chat CMC. Therefore, it is necessary to examine what meaning negotiation routines are in language learners’ oral interactions in this new online learning environment. In this study, participants were invited to complete two information gap tasks in which target lexical items were embedded to elicit learners’ negotiation for meaning and then they participated in a stimulated recall interview. Based on the analysis of students’ oral interactions in synchronous audio CMC, the authors propose two new possible stages in negotiation for meaning routines and demonstrate how different modes of communication can affect language learning online

The Linguacuisine Project: A Cooking-based Language Learning Application

[EN] In this article, we present the Linguacuisine app, which was a product of the Erasmus Plus-funded project ‘Linguacuisine’.Erasmus Plus-funded project ‘Linguacuisine’.Seedhouse, P. (2019). The Linguacuisine Project: A Cooking-based Language Learning Application. The EuroCALL Review. 27(2):75-97. https://doi.org/10.4995/eurocall.2019.13663OJS7597272Ayeomoni, M.O. (2011). Language, food and culture: Implications for language development and expansion in Nigeria. International Journal of Educational Research and Technology, 2(2), 50-55.Barcroft, J. (2002). Semantic and Structural Elaboration in L2 Lexical Acquisition, Language Learning, 52(2), pp. 323-363. https://doi.org/10.1111/0023-8333.00186Carretero, S. Vuorikari, R. & Punie. Y. (2017). DigComp 2.1: The Digital Competence Framework for Citizens with eight proficiency levels and examples of use. EUR 28558. https://doi.org/10.2760/388Dix, A., Finlay, J., Abowd, G. & Beale, R. (2003). User-Centred Design. London: Prentice Hall.Ellis, R. (2003). Task-based Language Learning and Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Johnson, K. (2003). Designing language teaching tasks. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230596672Paterson, A. & Willis, J. (2008), English through music. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Samuda, V. & Bygate, M. (2008). Tasks in Second Language Learning. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230596429Schmitt, N. & McCarthy, M. (Eds.) (1997), Vocabulary: Description, Acquisition, and Pedagogy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Seedhouse, P. (Ed.) (2017). Task-Based Language Learning in a Real-World Digital Environment: The European Digital Kitchen. London: Bloomsbury.Seedhouse, P., Preston, A., Olivier, P., Jackson, D., Heslop, P., Plötz, T., Balaam, M. & Ali, S. (2013). The French Digital Kitchen: Implementing Task-Based Language Teaching beyond the Classroom. International Journal of Computer Assisted Language Learning and Teaching, 3(1), 50-72. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijcallt.2013010104Skehan, P. (1998). A cognitive approach to language learning. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1177/003368829802900209Skehan, P. (2003). Task-based instruction. Language Teaching, 36, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1017/S026144480200188XThomas, M. & Reinders, H. (Eds.) (2010), Task-Based Language Learning and Teaching with Technology. London, New York: Continuum International Publishing Group.Willis, J. (1996). A framework for task-based learning. Harlow, U.K.: Longman

Technology-Mediated L2 Strategy Instruction and Its Potential to Enhance Evaluation and Research

This paper discusses the potential of technology-mediated forms of L2 strategy instruction (SI) to not only facilitate SI but to enhance evaluation of SI interventions and L2 strategy research more generally. It uses results from a recent empirical study to show how computer-based forms of SI may offer remedies for problematic features of evaluation, including access to process data showing how learners actually perform strategy-related tasks, the timing and frequency of collection of learner perception data, and most importantly, data about task perception and meta-cognitive monitoring, which can position L2 strategies within frameworks for self-regulated learning. The underlying premise of this article is the need to revitalize the field of L2 learner strategies with new methods for evaluation and research that can better capture the complex nature of L2 strategy use

Qualitative Research In Online Language Learning - What Can It Do?

In this article we explore the theoretical foundations of qualitative research in online language learning. We will look at the distinction between offline and online language learning and discuss whether different ways of knowledge generation are appropriate for those different learning environments. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies will be examined and their fit with various learning theories evaluated. Fundamental theoretical differences between epistemologies supporting a realist ontology and those favouring relativist ontologies will be presented and set in the context of online and technology enhanced language learning research. Finally, we argue that a sociocultural framework, which goes beyond quantitative research approaches, is necessary to adequately understand the experiences of language learners and teachers who share a common interest in the new digital environments

A Blended Chinese-as-a-Foreign- Language Short Course: Design and Perceptions

This study investigated learners’ perceived effectiveness of a blended Chinese non-credit bearing short course designed for engineering students with no prior knowledge about Chinese language. Few studies have examined how to design blended Chinese courses for beginning learners. The design of this study was based on the framework of parameters proposed by Neumeier (2005). Bloom’s taxonomy of learning objectives in the cognitive domain was adopted in deciding on the time distribution to the two modes (Face-To-Face and online), and on sequencing the two modes. FTF was the lead mode with activities that help learners apply and practice what they learned creatively. Online activities were designed mainly to help learners memorize vocabularies, analyze word order, and comprehend culture. Data were collected through a survey and an informal interview. The findings show that the design is effective but improvements are needed