The reasons learning and teaching languages online are becoming ever more popular are many, not least the convenience of not having to travel to and from lessons at unsuitable times of day. All you need to do to learn a new language, or improve at one you are already familiar with, is to turn on your computer in the comfort of your own home or office for an hour or two every few days and have access to high-quality, face-to-face learning experiences with a trained expert based anywhere in the world. 

Learning online does not necessarily mean the loss of the of pace and dynamics of the traditional face-to-face classroom and in fact can enhance the best features of this type of learning. Additionally, learners who are less extrovert can benefit from the relatively anonymous nature of the internet and our work to date has shown that well-structured online lessons maintain attention in a way that is not possible in a traditional classroom environment. Learners on our pilot scheme regularly reported being entirely focused on the language or text being used and on communicating the meanings they were trying to express. The high-pressure demands of real time communication were lessened by the security they felt in being in a space where not only they were not afraid to make errors, but that they felt comfortable with these being on view. This represents an important development.

Tony Winn
University of Central Lancashire