LAPLI The Language Learning Lab: A Methodological Proposal for a Hybrid Course in a Virtual Environment

The teaching of languages to higher-intermediate and advanced-level students requires a distinct methodology. Many of these students are, or will be, language teachers and need to be motivated to continue learning the foreign language, practice the acquired knowledge, and develop teaching and researching skills. Aiming at challenging them to go beyond their limitations, LAPLI — the language learning lab: a methodology of integrative CALL using the Internet — is made of 12 activities in which the students, based on authentic material selected by them, are stimulated to develop fluency and accuracy in the foreign language, focusing on the development of their reading and 701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Suite 200, Hershey PA 17033, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.idea-group.com ITB12477 INFORMATION SCIENCE PUBLISHING This chapter appears in the book, User-Centered Computer Aided Language Learning edited by Panayiotis Zaphiris © 2006, Idea Group Inc. 134 Marriott & Torres Copyright © 2006, Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited. writing skills, but also promoting their oral skills. Students use the language as a tool to accomplish tasks in a contextualized way, being involved in individual and collaborative learning, natural learning, meaningful learning and discovery-based learning, by means of the new technologies in a virtual learning environment.