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  • Writer's pictureMu Mei Hsueh
    • Dec 27, 2023
    • 3 min read

Online Learning's Impact on Language Learners & Strategies

Updated: Jan 1

M25 U4 A1: Language Learners in an Online Learning Environment


The online learning environment can be both positive and with certain challenges:


Positive Impacts:

  1. Easy Access and Flexibility: Online platforms offer flexibility, allowing learners to access materials and engage with lessons at their own pace and time, which can be advantageous for language learners.

  2. Multimedia Resources: The online environment provides access to diverse multimedia resources, such as videos, audio recordings, interactive exercises, and visual aids, aiding language comprehension.

  3. Engagement Opportunities: Platforms like Kahoot, Blooket, Canvas, Flipgrid, or Wakelet foster engagement through discussions, and activities, encouraging participation. Additionally, these platforms make it easy to collect data and review results, helping in tracking progress and understanding students' performance.

Challenges:

  1. Technological Barriers: Access to stable internet, devices, and technological literacy can be challenges for some language learners.

  2. Lack of Face-to-Face Interaction: The absence of physical presence and face-to-face interaction might affect students' ability to practice verbal communication and non-verbal cues, affecting language fluency.

  3. Limited Immediate Feedback: In some cases, the delay in feedback or interaction with instructors could slow students' learning process, especially concerning language proficiency improvement.

  4. Social and Emotional Isolation: Online learning might lead to feelings of isolation, affecting motivation and engagement, particularly among language learners who thrive on social interaction for language acquisition.

In summary, the online learning environment for language learners offers good chances for accessibility, engagement, and tailored learning experiences. However, it also presents challenges related to technology access, reduced face-to-face interaction, limited immediate feedback, and potential social and emotional isolation. How to balancing these aspects is important for online learning.

 

Reflection on Applying Teaching Strategies


1. Strategies for Classroom Management:

  • Establishing norms and procedures: Implementation of class norms using strategies from Whole-Brain Teaching (WBT) at the beginning of each class as a regular part of the routine.

2. Strategies for Lack of Face-to-Face Interaction:

  • Scheduled Live Sessions: Incorporate regular live sessions via video conferencing tools to encourage direct interaction and practice speaking skills.

  • Virtual Partner Activities: Organize virtual partner or group activities that necessitate conversation and collaboration among students.

  • Employing whole-brain teaching methods to capture attention: Encouraging the use of engaging teaching methods, like whole-brain teaching techniques, to enhance student engagement and focus during lessons.

  • Utilizing Online Platforms: Exploring diverse online platforms such as Nearpod, Canvas, Flipgrid, or Wakelet provides opportunities to foster engagement through discussions, and interactive activities.

  • Integrating choices: Incorporating more student choices into the curriculum, allowing students to explore their interests and goals. For instance, incorporating a social-emotional check-in using pictures to let students choose how they feel at the start of each class, or offering the extension menus to provide choices and let students choose further challenges.

3. Strategies for Limited Immediate Feedback:

  • Structured Feedback Timelines: Establish clear timelines for feedback on assignments or activities to ensure students receive prompt responses.

  • Peer Review Sessions: Encourage peer-to-peer feedback sessions where students can review each other's work, promoting interaction and quicker feedback loops. 

4. Strategies for Social and Emotional Isolation:

  • Virtual Community Building: Creating online discussion forums or social spaces where students can interact, share experiences, and support each other. Platforms like Flipgrid or Seesaw.

  • Making Real-World Connections to Course Material: Guide students on applying what they learn both inside and outside the classroom.

 

References:

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