About eLanguages
eLanguages is a professional elearning research and development group within Modern Languages at the University of Southampton.
eLanguages creates online courses and resource sets (Toolkits), of interactive online learning materials in the form of 'reusable learning objects' (RLOs). Focussing primarily on study skills and language development, these are highly interactive and learner-friendly. We are also involved in a range of development projects and research into innovative tools to support online learning.
What do we do?
Our activities fall into two broadly interlinked areas: the creation of online learning material, and our research.
We have been developing online language learning materials since 2004, and we now have a large bank of material to draw from. We also have a wide understanding of the issues and problems involved in designing online learning material, and delivering it to large, diverse groups of people. We have put some of our online learning materials together into resource sets (Toolkits) which have been licensed to around 30 universities so far.
Why is our material successful?
Our material is successful because it is developed by teachers working with learning technologists, and so it combines interactive technology with a sound pedagogic basis enhancing both the teaching and the student learning experience in an easy and cost-effective way. It can benefit students at all levels - from Foundation level to PhD - and can be offered in a wide range of contexts including blended (classroom) situations or through self-directed study online.
Our online learning materials are used by the Centre for Language Study to increase the capacity and range of the in-sessional language support that is offered to international students. The EAP Toolkit also underpins summer pre-sessional courses and is available year round to international students studying at the University of Southampton. The Study Skills Toolkit is also available and supports British students / native speakers of English. These support resources enables students to cope better with the demands of their academic study and to get more out of their experience at Southampton.
Expansion of our Toolkits
We also produce subject-specific online learning material. In 2005 we worked in collaboration with the School of Nursing and Midwifery to create a bespoke Study Skills Toolkit for use with their 3000 students. The School of Nursing and Midwifery recruits students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, and so the provision of Study Skills support forms a crucial part of their courses. We continue to work on developing subject-specific materials in collaboration with specialists from other disciplines (see, for example, HUMLO and LAWLO) and also have learning resources for law, biological sciences and business. We work with colleagues across Modern Languages to create language-learning and other resources for students of Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.
In 2008 we produced a free web-based toolkit for international students planning to study in the UK. This is available at Prepare for Success. This project is now entering a second phase to expand the resources on this website.