To Learn, Unlearn, and Relearn with Personalized Language Learning and Educational Technology

Abstract

The implementation of Personalized Learning as a learning system provides opportunities for students to manage learning according to their competencies, time, and interests. It has emerged as a trend in K-12 classes in the United States and the United Kingdom, but not that much in higher education. Thus, little research has examined higher education students' transition from conventional to personalized language learning. Students must unlearn and adapt to personalized learning. This research reports the experience of a private university students who chose to do personalized learning system. We examined their learning methods, including technology's effects. Based on a semi-structured interview held with 15 students, data were qualitatively collected on the participants' impression of the system and the technology incorporated to support their learning. The interview suggests that most participants integrate personalized learning and use educational technology to support it. To achieve the same goal, they were situated to unlearn the conventional structured system and relearn the new system provided in personalized learning. The participants claimed that personalized learning supports them in improving their self-management, taking care of non-academics matters, and flexibility in learning based on their competencies and interest. Personalized language learning, with the support of technology, has the potential to be the future of institutional foreign language learning.