E-Learning and Foreign Language Teaching
E-Learning is defined as electronic-supported foreign language learning which combines online and offline learning processes as well as synchronic and asynchronic communication methods.
Foreign language e-learning has a range from computer-based language courses, blended learning courses to virtual learning situations. | Often associated with individualized and independent learning arrangements, e-learning allows to work autonomously and to cooperate with other agents in virtual spaces. E-learning comprises various opportunities for foreign language learners to get in contact with native speakers and to apply the foreign language in authentic situations.
|
E-Mail, Chat, Blogs, & Co.
![Picture](/uploads/9/5/4/7/9547768/1328650260.jpg)
Source: http://englisch.schule.de/email.htm
Correspondence-projects are the most common way to communicate with native speakers or with other language learners.
The contact can be made via e-mail, chat or in an Internet Forum.
Getting to know the Internet-language and Internet-behavior, the students cannot only develop their communicative skills in speaking and writing, they also evolve their intercultural communicative competence as well as their media competence.
The contact can be made via e-mail, chat or in an Internet Forum.
Getting to know the Internet-language and Internet-behavior, the students cannot only develop their communicative skills in speaking and writing, they also evolve their intercultural communicative competence as well as their media competence.
Creating Blogs can improve communicative skills, too. Writing virtual diaries, presenting contents, or posting videos can increase the motivation to produce foreign language products and visualize and document the personal development.
The use or production of podcasts or videocasts in foreign language teaching is another example of e-learning (Learn more about podcasts). |
In addition, various websites provide useful video material. But also TV channels provide live streams etc.
A good way to train Internet research tasks is working with WebQuests. This possibility refers to the task-based language learning approach and helps students to organize and structure Internet research projects.
As future teachers we can all benefit from the features presented above and make our lessons creative, diverse and interesting. But we have to keep in mind, that we can overdo it with all these virtual and technical features and neglect real interaction and social competence.
Moreover, we always have to inform the students about data protection and Internet security.
Bibliography
Grünewald, A. (2010): „E-Learning“. In: Surkamp, C. (Hrsg.): Metzler Lexikon. Fremdsprachendidaktik. Stuttgart: J. B. Metzler.
A good way to train Internet research tasks is working with WebQuests. This possibility refers to the task-based language learning approach and helps students to organize and structure Internet research projects.
As future teachers we can all benefit from the features presented above and make our lessons creative, diverse and interesting. But we have to keep in mind, that we can overdo it with all these virtual and technical features and neglect real interaction and social competence.
Moreover, we always have to inform the students about data protection and Internet security.
Bibliography
Grünewald, A. (2010): „E-Learning“. In: Surkamp, C. (Hrsg.): Metzler Lexikon. Fremdsprachendidaktik. Stuttgart: J. B. Metzler.