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Internet-based Language Learning
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| General | Online Testing | Software | VLEs | Weblogs/Blogging |
Applying New Technologies Appropriately to Modern Foreign Languages. Case studies on the use of the Internet to teach foreign languages, with emphasis on special educational needs.
Internet for Modern Languages. This tutorial covers the key information skills for language teachers and researchers using the Internet. Learn how to use the Internet to help with your coursework, literature searching, teaching or research.
Language Learning in Tandem. The UK site of the EU-funded International Tandem Network project to match language learners with native speakers in Europe. Adult learners can register on-site to be tandem partners and to be paired with suitable partners.
Learning and Teaching Languages using ICT. Pedagogical advice and a large collection of academic resources (links, bibliographies) for using ICT for teaching and learning. At the time of writing, the site is available in Swedish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Spanish, English, and German. If you want to avoid the introductory graphics and Flash animation, go to the main menu page and choose a language.
LTSS Guides. A series of guides to learning technology produced by the Learning Technology Support Service at the University of Bristol. Topics covered include implementing and evaluating learning technology, computer-mediated conferencing, virtual learning environments, and teleconferencing for learning. Although slanted towards users at Bristol, the guides are generic enough to be useful for any teacher in higher education.
Mixxer: Language Exchange online via Skype. A free exchange bringing together language learners and teachers in tandem learning via the VoIP technology Skype.
ReLaTe: Remote Language Teaching using videoconferencing. A joint project of the University of Exeter and University College London, UK.
Reports on videoconferencing in the Language Classroom. Links to reports, websites and papers on the use of VC in foreign language teaching.
SLOAN-C. Previously known as " Asynchronous Learning Networks (ALN)", this is a resource centre for teachers interested in the use of Internet-based teaching and learning. ALN used to publish the ALN journal, archives of which are freely available online.
Teaching with the web. Page with various ideas and pointers for using the web as a teaching resource.
Telecollaboration. Resources for foreign language teachers using internet communication tools for teaching and intercultural exchanges.
What a Site! Finding, Evaluating, and Integrating Web Sites. A sort of 'tutorial' for educators using the WWW as a teaching resource, to help them meaningfully integrate Internet materials into their teaching rather than just providing students with a "laundry list" of hyperlinks.
Sites enabling the creation of server-based online exercises
CASTLE. Create online quizzes and assessment exercises based on the CASTLE (Computer ASsisted Teaching and LEarning) server at the University of Leicester, UK.
Downloadable software which can be used to create browser-based exercises
Half-Baked Software. The developers of the freeware Hot Potatoes suite, which allows authors to create a range of interactive browser-based exercises using Javascript without the need for any prior HTML or Javascript knowledge. An excellent piece of software, and highly recommended. The team have also developed Quandary, with which you can create "Action Mazes".
Interactive Language Learning. Authoring software to create interactive exercises in French, German, and Spanish, as Java applets.
Spellmaster. An online authoring tool which enables you to create simple browser-based timed vocabulary exercises (JigWord, MatchWord, SpeedWord) which you can save to disk and use on your students. You'll need the Flash 5 plugin as the exercises are created as Macromedia Flash files.
Webauthor. Create interactive exercises by filling in forms on the website. The exercises are stored as CGI scripts on the Webauthor server.
Also known as Managed Learning Environments (MLEs).
coMentor. A collaborative web-based virtual learning environment. The software runs on Unix servers, is accessible to all Java-capable browsers, and is free to UK Higher Education institutions.
COSE Virtual Learning Environment. An online learning environment, developed at the University of Staffordshire, UK, which is now available with a free licence (from 21/6/02), and which will shortly be Open Source. The site contains the binary downloads, plus extensive support documentation, case studies, reports, and a FAQ. COSE is committed to interoperability via conformance with IMS specifications.
Focus on Virtual Learning Environments. An introduction to VLEs, describing what they are and do, and listing the products on the market. A most useful feature of this site is the many case studies from UK colleges and universities, and there's a section on what not to do when choosing and implementing a VLE, drawn from painful real-life experience.
Moodle. An Open Source VLE project, with strong language support (available in 34 languages) and based on social constructionist pedagogy. One to watch as a strong competitor to proprietary commercial VLEs.
Sites related to weblogging (or 'blogging' if you must) for both general and languages audiences. Suggestions for sites, articles and papers dealing specifically to weblogging and language learning/teaching would be very welcome.
The Art of Blogging. A good, considered introduction for beginners to what the hell 'blogging' actually is and how useful it can be, full of useful tips and references, and links to weblogging resources such as tools and blog servers. An excellent 'how to' starting point for the weblog neophyte.
Into the Blogsphere. A title that sounds like a crass 1950s B-movie, but a site that contains serious analyses and critiques of weblogs and weblog communities, including studies of the pedagogical value of weblogs.
