39,451 research outputs found

    Identifying good practice : a survey of college provision in English language and literature, and modern foreign languages

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    English Language MOOCs in China: Learners’ Perspective

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    [EN] In the wake of rapid development of Language MOOCs (LMOOCs), numerous studies have proposed principles and guidelines to inform curriculum design. Very few of them have, however, reported on learners’ views. This study aims to contribute to this line of research by bringing in a learners’ perspective. It is based on a content analysis of 3,510 learner reviews on 41 English LMOOCs offered by a national MOOC provider in China. It focuses on Chinese EFL learners’ views of LMOOCs.  The results indicate that their views pertain mainly to seven categories: (1) content design of course videos, (2) presentation design of course videos, (3) MOOC program instructors, (4) assessments and assignments, (5) course settings, (6) forum discussions, and (7) technological environment, of which the first three are of the most importance to the learners. It is argued that Chinese EFL learners’ perception of English LMOOCs might be rooted in their engagement pattern with the courses, their perceptions of the role of teachers, the design of existing English LMOOCs, and a preference for the traditional way of foreign language teaching and learning they are acquainted with before engaging with the LMOOCs. The context-specific evidence could be used as an empirical base to guide future design of LMOOCs for foreign language learning in China.Ding, Y.; Shen, H. (2020). English Language MOOCs in China: Learners’ Perspective. The EuroCALL Review. 28(2):13-22. https://doi.org/10.4995/eurocall.2020.13090OJS1322282BĂĄrcena, E., & MartĂ­n-Monje, E. (2014). Introduction. Language MOOCs: an emerging field. In E. Martin-Monje. & E. BĂĄrcena. (Eds.), Language MOOCs: Providing learning, transcending boundaries (pp.1-15). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.2478/9783110420067.1Beirne, E., MhichĂ­l, M. N. G., & CleircĂ­n, G. (2017). LMOOCs, classifying design: survey findings from LMOOC providers. In K. Borthwick, L. Bradley, & S. ThouĂ«sny. (Eds.), CALL in a climate of change: Adapting to turbulent global conditions-Short papers from EUROCALL 2017 (pp.30-34). Research-publishing.net. https://doi.org/10.14705/rpnet.2017.eurocall2017.684Breslow, L., Pritchard, D. E., de Boer, J., Stump, G. S., Ho, A. D., & Seaton, D. T. (2013). Studying learning in the worldwide classroom: Research into edX's first MOOC. Research and Practice in Assessment, 8(1), 13-25.Cai, J. G. (2017). Challenges of foreign language teaching in colleges: Analysis of Guidelines on College English Teaching. Foreign Language Teaching, 38(1), 6-10.Carlos, A. M. F., VerĂłnica, E. C. R., & Guerrero, J. S. (2017). BLMOOCs, a proposal for the design of language MOOCs in a blended context. In L. TerĂĄn. & A. Meier. (Eds.), Proceedings of the fourth international conference on edemocracy and egovernment (pp. 265-268). IEEE.Colpaert, J. (2014). Reflections on present and future: towards an ontological approach to LMOOCs. In E. Martin-Monje. & E. BĂĄrcena. (Eds.), Language MOOCs: Providing learning, transcending boundaries (pp. 161-172). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.Ding, Y. (2019). What constitutes an effective instructional video: Perspectives from Chinese EFL learners. In B. Zou & T. Michael. (Eds.), Recent developments in technology-enhanced and computer-assisted language learning (pp.236-256). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-1282-1.ch011Drake, J. R., O'Hara, M., Seeman, E. (2015). Five principles for MOOC design: With a case study. Journal of Information Technology Education: Innovations in Practice, 14, 125-143. https://doi.org/10.28945/2250Elo, S., & KyngĂ€s, H. (2008). The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62, 107-115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.xFontana, M., & Leffa, V. (2018). MOOCs for language teaching: A study on CALL from the connectivist perspective. Alfa: Revista de Linguistica, 62(1), 73-86. https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-5794-1804-4Gimeno-Sanz, A. (2017). Designing a MOOC for learners of Spanish: exploring learner usage and satisfaction. In K. Borthwick, L. Bradley & S. ThouĂ«sny. (Eds.), CALL in a climate of change: Adapting to turbulent global conditions-Short papers from EUROCALL 2017 (pp.122-127). Research-publishing.net. https://doi.org/10.14705/rpnet.2017.eurocall2017.700Hew, F. K. (2016). Promoting engagement in online courses: what strategies can we learn from three highly rated MOOCs. British Journal of Educational Technology, 47(2), 320-341. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12235Ho, J., & Crookall, D. (1995). Breaking with Chinese cultural traditions: Learner autonomy in English language teaching. System, 23(2), 235-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/0346-251X(95)00011-8Khalil, M., Brunner, H., & Ebner, M. (2015). Evaluation grid for xMOOCs. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 10(4), 40-45. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v10i4.4653Han, Y. (2019). Reflections on the MOOCs construction in China and applicability of MOOCs in foreign language courses. Technology Enhanced Foreign Languages, 189, 34-38.Luo, R. (2017). Modes of autonomous foreign language learning in the Internet environment-A survey of language MOOCs in Chinese and American MOOC platforms. Foreign Language World, 6, 29-36.Luo, S. (2016). Autonomous foreign language learning model under MOOCs environment. Modern Educational Technology, 1, 87-93.MartĂ­n-Monje, E., Castrillo, M. D., & Mañana-RodrĂ­guez, J. (2018). Understanding online interaction in language MOOCs through learning analytics. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 31(3), 251-272. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2017.1378237Peng, X., & Xu, Q. (2020). Investigating learners' behaviors and discourse content in MOOC course reviews. Computer and Education, 143, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103673Perifanou, M. (2016). Designing strategies for an efficient language MOOC. In S. Papadima-Sophocleous, L. Bradley & S. ThouĂ«sny. (eds.), CALL communities and culture - short papers from EUROCALL 2016 (pp. 380-385). Research-publishing.net. https://doi.org/10.14705/rpnet.2016.eurocall2016.592Read, T. (2014). The architectonics of language MOOCs? In E. Martin-Monje & E. BĂĄrcena. (Eds.), Language MOOCs: Providing learning, transcending boundaries (pp. 91-105). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.Scollon, R., & Scollon, S. (1994). The post Confucian confusion. Research Report No. 37. Department of English, City Polytechnic of Hong Kong.Shen. H., Yuan, Y., & Ewing, R. (2014). English learning websites and digital resources from the perspective of Chinese university EFL practitioners. ReCALL, 27(2), 156-176. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0958344014000263Sokolik, M. (2014). What constitutes an effective language MOOC? In E. Martin-Monje & E. BĂĄrcena. (Eds.), Language MOOCs: Providing learning, transcending boundaries (pp. 16-32). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.Teixeira, A. M., & Mota, J. (2014). A proposal for the methodological design of collaborative language MOOCs. In E. Martin-Monje & E. BĂĄrcena. (Eds.), Language MOOCs: Providing learning, transcending boundaries (pp. 33-47). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.Wang-Szilas, J., & Bellassen, J. (2017). Dualism-based design of the Introductory Chinese MOOC 'Kit de contact en langue chinoise'. In K. Qian & S. Bax. (Eds.), Beyond the language classroom: Researching MOOCs and other innovations (pp. 43-58). Research-publishing.net. https://doi.org/10.14705/rpnet.2017.mooc2016.670Zhong, Y., & Shen, H. (2002). Where is the technology-induced pedagogy? Snapshots from two multimedia EFL classrooms. British Journal of Educational Technology, 33(1), 39-52. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8535.0023

    Distance learning of foreign languages

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    doi: 10.1017/S0261444806003727This article provides a critical overview of the field of distance language learning, challenging the way in which the field is often narrowly conceptualised as the development of technology-mediated language learning opportunities. Early sections focus on issues of concept and definition and both theoretical and pedagogical perspectives on the field. Emphasis is placed on evident shifts from a concern with structural and organisational issues to a focus on transactional issues associated with teaching/learning opportunities within emerging paradigms for distance language learning. The next section reviews choices and challenges in incorporating technology into distance language learning environments, foregrounding decisions about technology made in particular sociocultural contexts, the contribution of ‘low-end’ technologies and research directions in developing new learning spaces and in using online technologies. The investigation of learner contributions to distance language learning is an important avenue of enquiry in the field, given the preoccupation with technology and virtual learning environments, and this is the subject of section six. The two final sections identify future research directions and provide a series of conclusions about research and practice in distance language learning as technology-mediated interactions increasingly come to influence the way we think about the processes of language learning and teaching

    Trialing project-based learning in a new EAP ESP course: A collaborative reflective practice of three college English teachers

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    Currently in many Chinese universities, the traditional College English course is facing the risk of being ‘marginalized’, replaced or even removed, and many hours previously allocated to the course are now being taken by EAP or ESP. At X University in northern China, a curriculum reform as such is taking place, as a result of which a new course has been created called ‘xue ke’ English. Despite the fact that ‘xue ke’ means subject literally, the course designer has made it clear that subject content is not the target, nor is the course the same as EAP or ESP. This curriculum initiative, while possibly having been justified with a rationale of some kind (e.g. to meet with changing social and/or academic needs of students and/or institutions), this is posing a great challenge for, as well as considerable pressure on, a number of College English teachers who have taught this single course for almost their entire teaching career. In such a context, three teachers formed a peer support group in Semester One this year, to work collaboratively co-tackling the challenge, and they chose Project-Based Learning (PBL) for the new course. This presentation will report on the implementation of this project, including the overall designing, operational procedure, and the teachers’ reflections. Based on discussion, pre-agreement was reached on the purpose and manner of collaboration as offering peer support for more effective teaching and learning and fulfilling and pleasant professional development. A WeChat group was set up as the chief platform for messaging, idea-sharing, and resource-exchanging. Physical meetings were supplementary, with sound agenda but flexible time, and venues. Mosoteach cloud class (lan mo yun ban ke) was established as a tool for virtual learning, employed both in and after class. Discussions were held at the beginning of the semester which determined only brief outlines for PBL implementation and allowed space for everyone to autonomously explore in their own way. Constant further discussions followed, which generated a great deal of opportunities for peer learning and lesson plan modifications. A reflective journal, in a greater or lesser detailed manner, was also kept by each teacher to record the journey of the collaboration. At the end of the semester, it was commonly recognized that, although challenges existed, the collaboration was overall a success and they were all willing to continue with it and endeavor to refine it to be a more professional and productive approach

    Internationalisation from home- global collaborative project based learning

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    This paper explores how cross-institutional project-based-learning facilitated by Web 2.0 ICTs supported cross-cultural and cross-institutional student peer learning experiences. The focus of this paper relates to the most recent project named ‘The Gift’ conducted through ‘The Global Studio’. At each institution the students formed small local project teams which were paired with teams of students from one of the other collaborating universities. Initial findings suggest the majority of students perceived this innovative initiative as having facilitated their learning, especially in the intended areas of development of virtual teamwork and communication skills. This paper focuses on initial findings with regards peer learning in relation to ICTs and cross-cultural communication

    Interactive Software to Accompany Yookoso: Has it all Been Worthwhile?

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    In this paper, we describe the development of interactive software to accompany Yookoso (Tohsaku 1999), the textbook in use in the first two years of the Japanese language course at Queensland University of Technology. We begin with a discussion of what is meant by interactivity; we then examine the advantages of using the software in association with the textbook package, as opposed to using the textbook package alone. We also discuss the importance of integrating multimedia materials into the curriculum and the role of the teacher in this model of ‘blended learning’. It is hoped the paper will prove useful to those who are considering implementing or have already implemented a CALL component in their Japanese language program

    A blended approach in teaching an EAP course: Malaysian instructors’ perceptions of the new course materials

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    This paper reports on a study which examines instructors’ perceptions of the new commercial course materials that comprises a course book and online practice reinforcement activities. The materials were used to teach undergraduate English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course for Social Sciences at a Malaysian public university. This represents the main facet of the blended approach introduced when the course was redesigned. The sample comprises ten instructors who taught the course for one semester. Three qualitative instruments were utilized to elicit data namely, instructor-researcher reflective notes, focus group discussion and one-to-one interviews. The results of the study were generally positive, however, two main concerns were raised. The first was regarding the difficulty level of the reading comprehension activities in the course book which majority of the instructors felt were too simple and not challenging enough for their students. The second was on internet connectivity to the online practice website which the instructors felt was too slow and was unable to support the students efficiently. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of the findings and provides suggestions for the next cycle of the researc
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