Call for papers – Beyond the Language Classroom
Phil Benson and I are editing a book on the topic below and are inviting your contributions. You can download the call for papers here.
An estimated 80% of adult learning takes place outside of formal education (Cross 1981). For language learning, it is likely that out-of-class experiences play an equally important role. It is therefore surprising that the role of informal language learning has received very little attention over the years, with the vast majority of research instead focusing on classroom methods, materials and interaction.
Researchers from a range of backgrounds, however, have started to realise the important contribution of informal language learning, both in its own right, and in its relationship with classroom learning. Studies in the areas of learner autonomy, learning strategies, study abroad, language support, learners’ voices, computer-mediated communication, mobile-assisted language learning, and many others, all add to our understanding of the complex and intersecting ways in which learners construct their own language learning experiences, drawing from a wide range of resources, including materials, teachers, self-study, technology, other learners, and native speakers.
Because of the predominance of informal language learning, it is important that the existing body of research is solidified and that the various disciplines that have looked at this area are brought together to present the current state of knowledge in one, accessible volume. For this reason, we are inviting researchers from different background to contribute individual chapters that together cover all the relevant areas.
Call for papers
We are inviting contributions to an edited book, to be published by a major international publisher, on the topic of language learning and teaching beyond the classroom. The aim of the book is to provide an account of the range of settings and types of learning and teaching beyond the classroom and to develop a broad theoretical understanding of this area of research and practice.
This call for papers is for two types of contributions: the first part of the book will include empirical papers reporting on research in out of class language learning. The second part of the book will include contributions reporting on the practical implementation of pedagogy is for out of class learning. This could include institutional efforts to encourage and support students in their learning outside the classroom, or it could report on the assessment of learning done outside the institution, for example.
Proposals can cover any of the following areas:
Self-access, distance education, workplace learning, home schooling, computer-mediated learning, use of mobile devices, study abroad, use of broadcast materials, self-instruction, online or offline learning communities, naturalistic learning, or learning in multiple settings.
Within this broad framework, contributions may focus on issues such as:
- strategy use
- motivation and affective factors in out-of-class learning
- access to resources
- new modes of teaching and learning
- interaction between out-of-class and in-class learning
- interaction between language learning and everyday life.
- assessment of out-of-class learning.
- any other relevant areas.
Submitting an abstract
Abstracts should be a maximum of 500 words and give a clear picture of the setting(s), the research method (for papers in the first part of the book), the pedagogical context (for papers in the second part), and the main points to be made in the chapter.
Proposals and submission enquiries should be sent as MS Word documents by e-mail to the editors at:
< pbenson at ied dot edu dot hk>
The deadline for the receipt of proposals is 31st May, 2009. The subject line of the email should read, “Beyond the Language Classroom / Chapter Proposal.” All proposals should include the following information:
(i). Full name and title of the author(s)
(ii). Professional status (Lecturer, Professor) (iii). Professional address
- Department
- Employer
- City & Postal/Zip code
- Country
- Phone/Fax
- E-mail addresses (home/work)
(iv). Please attach a short biographical statement of each author (ca. 50-100 words).
All proposals will be reviewed and a decision about its possible inclusion is expected to be made within two weeks. Acceptance of your abstract does not guarantee inclusion of your chapter in the book, as the final chapter draft will be subject to further review.
The first draft of the chapters is due on or before January 15, 2010.
Authors of accepted proposals will be sent further guidelines for the development of their chapter in due course. Prospective authors may submit more than one chapter proposal; however, only one chapter can be accepted per individual author.
Tags: autonomy, call, call for papers, publications