Virtual Reality is ever-more present in our daily lives: from creating entire virtual worlds into which we can delve and explore, to augmenting our reality and seeing Pikachu frolic around our apartments, the possibilities make this a technology we cannot ignore. And with the advances in headsets and gears that facilitate our immersion into different worlds, it would be a shame to not use this in education.| Online Language Teaching
Generative AI (GenAI) has rapidly evolved since the introduction of ChatGPT in 2022, revolutionizing how we interact with technology. From real-time audio conversations to advanced data analysis, GenAI continues to reshape industries—including education. For language teachers, these tools offer innovative ways to create lesson plans, generate texts, and provide interactive learning experiences. However, to harness their full potential, educators must develop AI literacy, learning how to cra...| Online Language Teaching
Language Teaching with Generative AI Harnessing AI to Elevate Instruction Generative AI (GenAI) has the potential to transform language education. Recent advancements in GenAI allows language educators to become their own personal content publishers. When used correctly, teachers can provide…| Online Language Teaching
It is established that the pedagogy of heritage language teaching should be rooted in community building and appreciation for cultural and linguistic variety. Shared experiences and community building are known to increase student engagement and give opportunity for active learning. In Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL), students explore an issue for an extended period and create a product which is connected to their own concerns, interests, and identity.| Online Language Teaching
Using real-world texts in the language classroom is not new. We find authentic texts in language textbooks most frequently in the form of advertisements, business cards, screenshots of websites, segments of newspaper articles, or literature. Yet, these real-world texts do not end up under the spotlight they deserve! To illustrate the practical application of utilizing real-world texts in language instruction, let's delve into a specific set of activities from the online platform Italian in Wo...| Online Language Teaching
Wikipedia Expands the Small LCTL Classroom Guest Author: Lisa Gulesserian, PhD, Preceptor in Armenian at Harvard University and winner of the 2024 MAFLT LCTL Innovation Awards In my daily life as a Preceptor on Armenian Language and Culture at Harvard University, it seems that not a day passes without a Wikipedia check. If I want […]| Online Language Teaching
Students are engaged and willing to learn if a class is interesting to them. Thus, unique, creative educational experiences create opportunities for diverse forms of engagement in and outside the classroom.| Online Language Teaching
Mandarin Chinese is not easy, but I think that most people will agree with me that the most difficult part of learning Mandarin is learning Chinese characters. To a second language learner, learning characters is laborious work. However, Chinese characters are not just a form of communication but a form of art.| Online Language Teaching
Teaching the Whole Class: Technology for Differentiated Instruction Thomas Jesús GarzaAssociate Professor of Slavic and Eurasian Studies and Director, Texas Language CenterUniversity of Texas at Austin Welcome all! The 2020s have proven (so far!) to be a watershed period in…| Online Language Teaching
How do we engage adult novice language learners using task-based learning and authentic or near-authentic materials with content that permits further inquiry into history and culture, while also creating an inclusive learning environment and different pathways to learning and assessment, in hybrid and/or blended settings? For LCTL programs, the question has pragmatic implications in terms of enrollments, student retention, and program viability. While technological integration in the language...| Online Language Teaching
When I reflect back on the astonishing experience of teaching for more than an entire school year on Zoom, I am surprised by how much I gained from it. One of its many benefits was that I allowed myself an extraordinary amount of freedom to experiment with new approaches to teaching Spanish. I made a concerted effort to liberate myself from my usual perfectionism so that I could try new methods and tools, keeping what worked well and jettisoning whatever did not. It was fun! This intellectual...| Online Language Teaching
