Abstract
Research into open education has identified a high number of participants and unpredictable mixed abilities as factors responsible for the relatively weak presence of language Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). This contribution presents a model for open online language courses that aims to bridge this gap. The tangible context is a course in Spanish Language and Culture offered by the University of Nottingham: an online course confined within the boundaries of the institution and yet exhibiting several pedagogical features typical of MOOCs. Our Spanish Nottingham Open Online Course combines cultural content and language activities ensuring that language learning is enriched and complemented by informed exchanges on a variety of topics related to the Spanish speaking world. The novelty of our course rests in its design: a highly structured learning environment that facilitates mobility across different language levels and capitalises on community collaboration as a way to support unpredictable mixed abilities and cope with a high number of participants.
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