Is the foreign language class really a more threatening place than the virtual enviroment?

Abstract

Computer technology has the potential to provide rich resources for language teaching and learning. As computer access increases, so do new learning technologies in education. This paper is specifically interesed in the case of English language instruction in a Teacher Training Faculty, and blended e-learning components as tools for supporting English language acquisition. Through the analysis of a researcher-developed survey, this study examines and compares students’ feelings and perceptions towards their participation in class and their participation in the online environment with the aim of detecting whether major differences between the two contexts exist. It also seeks to discover the extent to which learners value the online environment within the whole language learning process. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for and relevance of research focusing on this learning format, given the specific characteristics of University education today, in the light of the recent implementation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) at University.

Keywords

• Computer Mediated Communication (CMC), blended learning, forum, discussion board,