Page 18 - LanGuide Project: Research and Professional Insights
P. 18
a Čebron and Emma Beatriz Villegas Cunja
the design technology and pedagogy for mLearning of the new LanGuide
App, developed within the LanGuide project.
The language-learning materials developed within the project rely on the
presupposition that language usage in an internationalized academic en-
vironment is tightly connected to practical everyday situations of a so-
journer where an app can make a difference, for instance when seeking
to make themselves understood and communicate own meaning in typical
everyday situations within mobility exchanges. An app cannot solve all lan-
guage issues when engaging with a variety of situations in a new country
and a new academic institution. However, informal learning with content
that can be useful and shared with others, is suggested to enhance lan-
guage learning, add to the pace of integration and help provide a smooth
transition to a new studying or working environment.
After a lengthier analysis of earlier pertinent research, the paper dis-
cusses the framework that helped structure the language-learning mate-
rials within the LanGuide project and guided the technical design of the
LanGuide App. The approaches adopted in designing the language mod-
ules and the underlying pedagogy are presented, followed by a discussion
on the effectiveness and/or shortcomings of the methodology adopted. Fi-
nally, a few suggestions for further integration of eLearning methodology
and resources into practices of foreign language learning are also briefly
examined.
Learning with mobile devices is rapidly entering the mainstream of ed-
ucation (Johnson et al., 2014) and learning of foreign languages seems to
have a particularly prominent role in these endeavours. However, there
are still limitations imposed by technical affordances of the mobile devices
that can bound the pedagogical exploits of a resourceful language teacher.
Thus, the paper tries to answer the questions regarding the pedagogi-
cal principles, which should guide development of language-learning ma-
terials for mLearning, which approaches adopted in designing language-
learning materials for mLearning can be considered similar to those di-
recting textbook production, and summarizes the lessons, which can be
learned to successfully implement autonomous language learning on mo-
bile devices.
Considerations on Traditional Language Learning, eLearning
and mLearning
According to recent research on education in a technology-oriented world,
future learning in higher education will presume independence and in-
18
the design technology and pedagogy for mLearning of the new LanGuide
App, developed within the LanGuide project.
The language-learning materials developed within the project rely on the
presupposition that language usage in an internationalized academic en-
vironment is tightly connected to practical everyday situations of a so-
journer where an app can make a difference, for instance when seeking
to make themselves understood and communicate own meaning in typical
everyday situations within mobility exchanges. An app cannot solve all lan-
guage issues when engaging with a variety of situations in a new country
and a new academic institution. However, informal learning with content
that can be useful and shared with others, is suggested to enhance lan-
guage learning, add to the pace of integration and help provide a smooth
transition to a new studying or working environment.
After a lengthier analysis of earlier pertinent research, the paper dis-
cusses the framework that helped structure the language-learning mate-
rials within the LanGuide project and guided the technical design of the
LanGuide App. The approaches adopted in designing the language mod-
ules and the underlying pedagogy are presented, followed by a discussion
on the effectiveness and/or shortcomings of the methodology adopted. Fi-
nally, a few suggestions for further integration of eLearning methodology
and resources into practices of foreign language learning are also briefly
examined.
Learning with mobile devices is rapidly entering the mainstream of ed-
ucation (Johnson et al., 2014) and learning of foreign languages seems to
have a particularly prominent role in these endeavours. However, there
are still limitations imposed by technical affordances of the mobile devices
that can bound the pedagogical exploits of a resourceful language teacher.
Thus, the paper tries to answer the questions regarding the pedagogi-
cal principles, which should guide development of language-learning ma-
terials for mLearning, which approaches adopted in designing language-
learning materials for mLearning can be considered similar to those di-
recting textbook production, and summarizes the lessons, which can be
learned to successfully implement autonomous language learning on mo-
bile devices.
Considerations on Traditional Language Learning, eLearning
and mLearning
According to recent research on education in a technology-oriented world,
future learning in higher education will presume independence and in-
18
