Association of University Language Communities’ (AULC) annual conference 2021

Description

Title of presentation:
"Digital Linguistic Immersion for Year Abroad students of Spanish at the University of Edinburgh"
Abstract:
Linguistic immersion (either associated to Study Abroad programmes, mobility exchanges or content-based language learning) is considered a key aspect within the developmental process and activation of any essential linguistic competences of a language student.
In a new context in which hybrid teaching models and digital learning are becoming the norm, telecollaboration and online exchanges are meant to complement, extend or even replace many of the in-person immersion experiences carried out by students abroad as part of a standard Modern Languages degree.
In this session we will be offering an analysis of our experience coordinating a digital Year Abroad experience for Spanish students at the University of Edinburgh during their third year of Spanish, the time in which they were supposed to undertake a mandatory year of studies abroad, working or studying in a Spanish-speaking country.
We aim to present a number of digital solutions that can be provided by enriching a standard Virtual Learning Environment (Blackboard Learn in this case) driven by hybrid methodological approaches focused in sociolinguistic and intercultural content learning and reflection, student action and authentic interaction, telecollaboration and transmedia language production.
Typical linguistic immersion students are able to solve problems and make decisions, reflecting on their own cultural practices and the ones of the target language. Focusing on aspects related to curriculum design, learning technology and second language teaching, we will be able to show that it is possible to name this type of experiences “digital linguistic immersion” as they succeed in motivating students and taking further their Spanish language skills by improving their applied digital competence at the same time.

Period	30 Mar 2021
Event type	Conference
Location	Leeds, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	National