Foreign Language Resource Centers

Center for Language Education and Research

Blending Language Classes 101

In light of continuing budget cuts, many schools and universities are re-evaluating foreign language programs and some language programs face elimination. Particularly in urban districts, foreign languages play an increasingly prominent role where schools serve diverse ethnic communities and teaching languages remains critical. Research, such as a recent study by the U.S. Department of Education, shows that blended learning – a mix of online and face-to-face methodologies – can be more effective than either online or face-to-face learning by themselves. Blended learning can enhance quality of teaching and learning while at the same time help to cut costs and better prepare our students for their professional future. This workshop will walk participants through the steps of blending a language class that they bring with them to the workshop. We will start with our existing face-to-face courses and move through the process of blending them, along the way exploring how blended courses and learners differ from face-to-face, what makes a compelling blended environment, and considerations for teaching a blended course. We will also introduce you to different ways of incorporating digital content, using open-source learning management systems, and implementing Web 2.0 technologies. Participants in this workshop would also benefit from the Rich Internet Applications for Language Learning: Introductory Techniques workshop for specifics on some Web 2.0 programs.

Jul 15 - Jul 17, 2010