Autonomy and Foreign Language Learning in a Virtual Learning Environment
Autonomy and Foreign Language Learning in a Virtual Learning Environment

Author: Miranda Hamilton

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2013-04-11

Total Pages: 390

ISBN-13: 1441189807

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Digitalised learning with its promise of autonomy, enhanced learner choice, independence and freedom, is an intuitive and appealing construct but closer examination reveals it to be a rather simplistic proposition, raising the following questions. -What do we mean by autonomy? -What are we implying about the role of the teacher, the classroom, and interaction between learners? -What do we understand about the impact of technology on the ecology of the learning environment? This book describes the use of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) by a group of advanced English language learners in Mexico, comparing what students thought and what they did in response to the technology. The theoretical aim of the book is to work towards the construction of a theory of the development of autonomy and virtual learning in an EFL context. Enhanced understanding about the relationship between autonomy and technology has the potential to inform academics, software designers, materials writers, teacher educators, and teachers and to help learners in their quest to acquire a foreign language.

Language, Autonomy and the New Learning Environments
Language, Autonomy and the New Learning Environments

Author: Douglas Allford

Publisher: Peter Lang

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 9783039105670

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The emergence of new learning environments, technological and institutional, implies a need for language understanding and autonomous learning. What do they mean? Why are they necessary? How do they interrelate? This book looks at these questions. The authors consider mother tongue and second/foreign language education in relation to 'language understanding', which includes formal knowledge and an ability to use language communicatively, and should cover the 'new' literacies. Autonomous language learning has been interpreted in various ways, and setting language understanding as a goal allows some of these (such as 'training' models) to be challenged and others endorsed. Some implications of the information society for education are considered. Learning increasingly takes place outside educational establishments, and the authors examine changes from face-to-face teacher-student interaction to mixed-mode and distance learning. The new environments create new possibilities, such as knowledge construction through computer-mediated interaction and learner autonomy in online networks, and these are explored. Throughout the book, the centrality of the teacher's role is affirmed, as educator and guide on autonomous second/foreign language programmes, and as a moderator of online discussions and a designer of online materials.

Learner Autonomy and CALL Environments
Learner Autonomy and CALL Environments

Author: Klaus Schwienhorst

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13: 0415361907

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The book describes, in theory and through the presentation of empirical research, how we can develop learner autonomy and work towards reflective and communicative learners that are not afraid to experiment with language and language learning in CALL environments.

Language Learning Environments
Language Learning Environments

Author: Phil Benson

Publisher: Multilingual Matters

Published: 2021-06-04

Total Pages: 165

ISBN-13: 1788924924

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This book is the first in-depth examination of the application of theories of space to issues of second language learning. The author introduces the work of key thinkers on the theory of space and place and the relevance of their ideas to second language acquisition (SLA). He also outlines a new conceptual framework and set of terms for researching SLA that centre on the idea of 'language learning environments'. The book considers the spatial contexts in which language learning takes place and investigates how these spatial contexts are transformed into individualised language learning environments, as learners engage with a range of human and nonhuman, and physical and nonphysical, resources in their daily lives. Revisiting linguistics and language learning theory from a spatial perspective, the book demonstrates that the question of where people learn languages is equally as important as that of how they do so. This work is essential reading for any researcher wishing to research the role of the environment as an active player in SLA.

Autonomy Support Beyond the Language Learning Classroom
Autonomy Support Beyond the Language Learning Classroom

Author: Jo Mynard

Publisher: Psychology of Language Learning and Teaching

Published: 2022-02-28

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 9781788929035

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Through the application of self-determination theory (SDT) to research and practice, this book deepens our understanding of how autonomous language learning can be supported, developed and understood within environments outside of the classroom. Theoretical, empirical and practice-focused chapters examine autonomy support in a range of contexts and settings, dealing with learning environments and open spaces, communities and relationships, and advising and self-access language learning. They reveal what occurs beyond the classroom, how socializing agents support autonomous motivation and wellness, and how SDT can enhance our understanding of supporting language learner autonomy. It will be of interest to language teachers, university lecturers and learning advisors who are providing support outside the classroom, as well as to graduate students and researchers who are working in the fields of applied linguistics and TESOL.

Autonomy and Foreign Language Learning in a Virtual Learning Environment
Autonomy and Foreign Language Learning in a Virtual Learning Environment

Author: Miranda Hamilton

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2013-06-13

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 1441150641

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Digitalised learning with its promise of autonomy, enhanced learner choice, independence and freedom, is an intuitive and appealing construct but closer examination reveals it to be a rather simplistic proposition, raising the following questions. -What do we mean by autonomy? -What are we implying about the role of the teacher, the classroom, and interaction between learners? -What do we understand about the impact of technology on the ecology of the learning environment?This book describes the use of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) by a group of advanced English language learners in Mexico, comparing what students thought and what they did in response to the technology. The theoretical aim of the book is to work towards the construction of a theory of the development of autonomy and virtual learning in an EFL context. Enhanced understanding about the relationship between autonomy and technology has the potential to inform academics, software designers, materials writers, teacher educators, and teachers and to help learners intheir quest to acquire a foreign language.

Language Learner Autonomy
Language Learner Autonomy

Author: David Little

Publisher: Multilingual Matters Limited

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781783098583

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This book combines detailed accounts of classroom practice with empirical and case-study research and a wide-ranging engagement with applied linguistic and pedagogical theory. Points for discussion encourage readers to relate the argument of each chapter to their own context, and the book concludes with some reflections on teacher education.

Language Education in Digital Spaces: Perspectives on Autonomy and Interaction
Language Education in Digital Spaces: Perspectives on Autonomy and Interaction

Author: Carolin Fuchs

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2021-09-09

Total Pages: 230

ISBN-13: 3030749584

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This book brings together contributions on learner autonomy from a myriad of contexts to advance our understanding of what autonomous language learning looks like with digital tools, and how this understanding is shaped by and can shape different socio-institutional, curricular, and instructional support. To this end, the individual contributions in the book highlight practice-oriented, empirically-based research on technology-mediated learner autonomy and its pedagogical implications. They address how technology can support learner autonomy as process by leveraging the affordances available in social media, virtual exchange, self-access, or learning in the wild (Hutchins, 1995). The rapid evolution and adoption of technology in all aspects of our lives has pushed issues related to learner and teacher autonomy centre stage in the language education landscape. This book tackles emergent challenges from different perspectives and diverse learning ecologies with a focus on social and educational (in)equality. Specifically, to this effect, the chapters consider digital affordances of virtual exchange, gaming, and apps in technology-mediated language learning and teaching ranging from instructed and semi-instructed to self-instructed contexts. The volume foregrounds the concepts of critical digital literacy and social justice in relation to language learner and teacher autonomy and illustrates how this approach may contribute to institutional objectives for equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education around the world and will be useful for researchers and teachers alike.

Social Dimensions of Autonomy in Language Learning
Social Dimensions of Autonomy in Language Learning

Author: G. Murray

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2014-05-06

Total Pages: 279

ISBN-13: 1137290242

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This book examines how autonomy in language learning is fostered and constrained in social settings through interaction with others and various contextual features. With theoretical grounding, the authors discuss the implications for practice in classrooms, distance education, self-access centres, as well as virtual and social learning spaces.

Identity, Motivation and Autonomy in Language Learning
Identity, Motivation and Autonomy in Language Learning

Author: Garold Murray

Publisher: Multilingual Matters

Published: 2011-04-14

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 1847694985

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In this volume researchers from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North and South America employ a variety of theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches in their exploration of the links between identity, motivation, and autonomy in language learning. On a conceptual level the authors explore issues related to agency, metacognition, imagination, beliefs, and self. The book also addresses practice in classroom, self-access, and distance education contexts, considering topics such as teachers’ views on motivation, plurilingual learning, sustaining motivation in distance education, pop culture and gaming, study abroad, and the role of agency and identity in the motivation of pre-service teachers. The book concludes with a discussion of how an approach which sees identity, motivation, and autonomy as interrelated constructs has the potential to inform theory, practice and future research directions in the field of language teaching and learning.