Self-regulation strategies in foreign language virtual exchanges

Copelia Mateo-Guillen; Marta Del Pozo Beamud; Marta González-Lloret

Authors

Copelia Mateo-Guillen University of Alicante (Corresponding author)
Marta Del Pozo Beamud University of Castilla-La Mancha
Marta González-Lloret University of Hawaii, Manoa, USA

Keywords:

technology-mediated L2 interactions; self-regulation strategies; Virtual Exchanges; online self-regulated learning; CLIL.

Abstract

Despite the growing popularity of virtual exchanges (VEs) for their potential for collaborative work in all areas of education, not much research has been done about their use for the development of self-regulation strategies, which are essential for language learning. To address this gap, this exploratory study investigates which self-regulation strategies higher education students employ when interacting virtually in their L2 with peers from another university. The participants of the study consisted of 45 students from two universities in Spain enrolled in content and language integrated learning courses (CLIL) with similar syllabi. Starting from existing criteria for self-regulation previously proposed for face-to-face communication (Martínez-Adrián et al., 2019), four weeks of interactions of nine groups of students were analysed. The results of the study provide evidence of the potential of VEs to support virtual and task-oriented content and language learning experiences and boost the use of self-regulated strategies in oral communication. In addition, by investigating technology-mediated interactions, it was found that other types of self-regulation not found in face-to-face interaction are present and should be considered in future research.

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Author Biographies

Copelia Mateo-Guillen, University of Alicante (Corresponding author)

Dr Copelia Mateo Guillen holds an International PhD in linguistics applied to teaching English as a foreign language. She works in the Faculty of Education of the University of Alicante. She has participated in different research projects and in research networks in university teaching. Her research focuses on technology in language learning, innovative methodologies, and internationalization in education. She is also part of GIDU-EDUTIC/IN Research Group and the NAER editorial team.

Marta Del Pozo Beamud, University of Castilla-La Mancha

Dr Marta del Pozo Beamud is a lecturer at the University of Castilla-La Mancha. She holds a doctorate in Applied Linguistics. She works at the Department of Modern Languages of the Faculty of Education of Cuenca, Universidad de Castilla La-Mancha (Spain). Her main research interests and her area of expertise are affective variables, bilingualism and CLIL. She is a member of both AESLA (Spanish Association of Applied Linguistics) and ADEAN (Spanish Association of Anglo-American Studies).

Marta González-Lloret, University of Hawaii, Manoa, USA

Dr Marta González Lloret teaches Spanish Applied Linguistics at the University of Hawai'i, Manoa. Her research focuses on CALL (Computer-assisted Language Learning), Task-based language teaching, L2 pragmatics and uses of Applied CA. Her most recent book is a co-edited volume with M. Vinagre "Comunicación Mediada por Tecnologías: Aprendizaje y Enseñanza de la Lengua Extranjera" (Equinox, 2018). She is co-editor in Chief of System Journal, VP of CALICO Organization, and Secretary of the IATBLT.

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