Learners’ and teachers’ voices in developing digital language learning environments: insights from a survey

Abstract

AbstractThis article deals with a learning environment survey conducted among University of Helsinki students and language teachers in the university’s Language Centre (LC). The survey was designed to acquire information for the development of a practical strategy for the digitalization of language learning and teaching by the local LC. The article presents the central results of the survey by systematically comparing the student (N=219) and teacher (N=39) data, and it also considers more general implications. The investigated areas include attitudes towards and experiences of out-of-classroom (language) learning environments in general and digital environments in particular. Special attention was in the possible differences and similarities of the response groups’ views and experiences in order to point out possible gaps as specific challenges within the local context. One of the most central findings is that while there may be challenges, particularly in designing pedagogy for online environments, no huge generational gaps exist in attitudes towards online tools.