ONLINE FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING BASED ON TELECOLLABORATIVE TASKS AND PROJECTS

Abstract

The development of new forms of technology has resulted in new methodologies and approaches in pedagogical practices, particularly within the field of foreign language education. This is especially useful in foreign language teaching because it allows students geographically distant to interact remotely. Moreover, the integration of task-based and project-oriented approaches implies a substantial increase in the quality and volume of communicative exchanges in virtual learning environments. This study aims to undertake a comparative analysis of two distinct online groups engaged in the same English B2 level course, although with different pedagogical strategies. While one group engages in collaborative, communicative tasks and a collective project, the other focuses on the individual completion of exercises and drills. Pre- and post-tests were administered to participants of both groups to gauge their linguistic progression. The findings reveal that the group involved in interactive tasks and collaborative projects demonstrated superior advancements in language proficiency. Furthermore, these participants reported an enhanced sense of confidence in their communicative competencies within professional contexts. The study concludes that integrating project-based learning and telecollaborative practices holds considerable potential to enhance the efficacy of foreign language instruction.

Keywords

• foreign languages
• online learning; telecollaboration
• project work
• communicative tasks