Distance Education and Languages Evolution and Change

by Holmberg, Borje; Shelley, Monica; White, Cynthia J.

• ISBN13: 9781853597756
• ISBN10: 1853597759
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-03-23
• Publisher: Multilingual Matters

Summary

This edited book is the first collection of studies dealing specifically with the teaching of languages at a distance. It contains contributions from language teaching professionals working all over the world in different contexts and at different stages of development, and covers a variety of languages. Based on practical experience and research, it includes work on learner autonomy and support; theories of distance language learning; the development of intercultural competence; methodology and course design; different learning environments and how to make best use of them, and language teacher education. These contributions have been collected together in one volume to encourage the establishment of collaborative links between practitioners in different institutions and around the world and inspire more related research in the future to guide our understanding and reflection on evolution and change within the field.

Author Biography

Börje Holmberg is a linguist by training who leads the field in the development of theories relating to distance learning and teaching. He has held senior posts at Hermods in Sweden, the FernUniversität and the Private Distance-Teaching University of Applied Sciences in Germany. He holds honorary doctorates from universities in Australia and the UK. His many publications include Growth and Structure of Distance Education (1986) and Theory and Practice of Distance Education (1995). Monica Shelley is a linguist who has worked at the Open University in the UK in Community Education, Modern Languages and Knowledge Resources Management. She has edited and published work in the field of foreign languages and distance education and her research interests focus on the language learning needs of distance learners, on the design and structure of language courses taught at a distance and the development of intercultural competence. Cynthia White is Associate Professor in the School of Language Studies at Massey University in New Zealand, where she has worked in the field of distance education at the tertiary level for nearly 20 years. Her primary research areas are language learning in self-instruction contexts, learner autonomy and distance education. Her most recent publication is Language Learning in Distance Education (2003).

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Borje Holmberg
Introduction	ix
Monica Shelley
Cynthia White
Part 1: Learner Autonomy
Autonomy and the Distance Language Learner	1	(19)
Stella Hurd
Critical Reflection and Autonomy: A Study of Distance Learners of French, German and Spanish	20	(20)
Linda Murphy
Theoretical and Practical Issues in the Promotion of Collaborative Learner Autonomy in a Virtual Self-access Centre	40	(15)
Alex Ding
Part 2: Learner Perspectives and Support
Towards a Learner-based Theory of Distance Language Learning: The Concept of the Learner-Context Interface	55	(17)
Cynthia White
Feedback in Distance Language Learning: Current Practices and New Directions	72	(20)
Cristina Ros i Sole
Mike Truman
A Framework for Supporting Students Studying English via a Mixed-mode Delivery System	92	(27)
Carisma Dreyer
Nwabisa Bangeni
Charl Nel
Part 3: Development of Intercultural Competence
Assessing Intercultural Competence Gain in a German Distance Learning Course for Adults	119	(21)
Monica Shelley
Uwe Baumann
Developing Professional Intercultural Communicative Competence: Reflections on Distance Learning Programmes for Language Educators and Translators/Interpreters in Bulgaria	140	(26)
Richard Fay
Leah Davcheva
Part 4: Methodology and Course Design
Teaching Foreign Language Skills by Distance Education Methods: Some Basic Considerations	166	(12)
Borje Holmberg
Course Design for the Distance Learner of Spanish: More Challenges than Meet the Eye	178	(17)
Cecilia Garrido
Part 5: Learning Environments
Learner Autonomy and Course Management Software	195	(17)
Donald Weasenforth
Christine F. Meloni
Sigrun Biesenbach-Lucas
Chatlines for Beginners: Negotiating Conversation at a Distance	212	(18)
Vincenza Tudini
Making Online Students Connect: Ethnographic Strategies for Developing Online Learning Experiences	230	(12)
Andreas Schramm
From Parrots to Puppet Masters: Fostering Creative and Authentic Language Use with Online Tools	242	(16)
John Milton
The Challenges of Implementing Online Tuition in Distance Language Courses: Task Design and Tutor Role	258	(20)
Mirjam Hauck
Regine Hampel
Part 6: Language Teacher Development
Closing the Distance: Compensatory Strategies in Distance Language Education	278	(17)
Heidi Hansson
Elisabeth Wenno
Please (Primary Language Teacher Education: Autonomy and Self-Evaluation)	295	(14)
Franca Poppi
Lesley Low
Marina Bondi
Exploring Zones of Interactivity in Foreign Language and Bilingual Teacher Education	309	(18)
Do Coyle
Notes on Contributors	327	(6)
Author Index	333	(6)
Subject Index	339