Beyond Babel:
Language Learning Online
This book offers a warts and all presentation of what is currently being done in Web-based language learning by a group of practising experts. It is unique in combining reflections on developments, practice and research in a refreshingly jargon-free style, drawing on the experience of hands-on teachers, professional and amateur developers, and students of all ages, in a variety of approaches and settings. The book presents a substantial body of new research into students' perceptions of the Web environment and the relative influence of learning strategies, learning styles and study preferences. It also contains a substantially updated and expanded version of the material published in the best-selling VLL, including approximately 600 useful language learning Web sites.
The book is an essential guide for
- Teachers who want to develop their own materials on the Web.
- Teachers who are interested in integrating interesting Web sites and ideas into their curriculum.
- Teachers and researchers interested in students' perceptions of the Web environment.
- Anyone who wishes to refresh a language, or get a feel for a new one, in the comfort of their own home.
- Anybody who wants to learn more about approaches to Web-based language teaching.
Contents of Beyond Babel: Language Learning Online
- Foreword
- About this book
- About the CD-ROM
Part 1 Development: Doing it with more or less
- Introduction
- InterDeutsch — Going solo: First steps into virtual teaching on a zero budget
Claudia Popov
- Advanced EFL online: How can it help?
Miriam Schcolnik
- A resource centre on the Net: A model for less commonly taught languages
Injung Cho
- Going online: Can language teachers go it alone and is it worth the heartache?
Sally Staddon
- Sakura: An interactive site for Japanese language learners
Takako Tomoda & Brian May
- Online German for secondary school students
Stefo Stojanovski, Fred Hollingsworth, Jennifer Saynor-Locke
- Building "Bridges": Design issues for a Web-based Chinese course
Jane Orton
- Worlds of words: Tales for language teachers
truna aka j. turner
Part 2 Practice: Virtual Language Learning revisited
- Developments since 1998
- Reflections on the pedagogy
- Resources surveyed
- Acknowledgements
- Verification of sites
- A Integrated materials
- B Substantial materials or whole subjects
- C Substantial materials — commercial or protected
- D Small courses and bits and pieces
- E Grammar and grammar-based material
- F Publishers’ sites
- G Magazines and creative writing
- H Tools
- I Self-contained interactive tasks
- J Web tasks
- K Webquests and simulations
- L Cooperative ventures
- M MOOS, MUDS and MUSHES
- N Chat sites
- O Sites for children
- P Structured teaching plans for interactive tasks
- Q Professional development and resources for teachers
- R Metasites
- More thanks
- Index by language
Part 3 Research: Absolutely worth the effort!
- Introduction
- Is the Web a viable language learning tool?
- Study 1: Tertiary students’ views
- Focus: Learning strategies
- Study 2: Tertiary, secondary and primary students’ views
- Delights and dilemmas — Perceived advantages and disadvantages of Web-based language learning
- General conclusions, implications and recommendations
- References
- Appendices
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