Can learning apps REALLY support language learning? The research may be surprising - Shawn Loewen

About this episode

The episode discusses the effectiveness of learning apps in supporting language acquisition with Dr. Shawn Loewen.

Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help. "How do we make research meaningful for the classroom? What really helps students acquire grammar? Can apps ACTUALLY support second language learning?" These are some of the questions we tackled in our conversation with Dr. Shawn Loewen. Shawn Loewen is Professor of Second Language Studies at Michigan State University, where he directs the doctoral program in SLS. His research focuses on instructed second language acquisition, the research-practice gap, and mobile-assisted language learning. He is the author of several influential books and serves as associate editor of The Modern Language Journal. His new book, "Edited Volume in Instructed SLA" is out now. In our discussion, we dive into: whether the explicit vs implicit debate matters if people can actually learn languages on "those apps" pattern recognition and why some learners “just get it” task-based language teaching vs. Instructed SLA why most institutions don't really know what their approach to learning is leveraging AI and technology for learning bridging the gap between researchers and teachers the limits and potential of…

People in this episode

Guest: Shawn Loewen

Topics covered

• language learning
• mobile-assisted language learning
• research-practice gap
• task-based language teaching
• AI in education

Keywords

• language acquisition
• grammar
• learning apps
• communicative language teaching
• AI technology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Michigan State University, The Modern Language Journal

Books & works: Edited Volume in Instructed SLA

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