Papers by Maria Luisa Malerba
Bellaterra Journal of Teaching Learning Language Literature, Feb 27, 2014
Learners’ Behaviours and Autonomy in Livemocha and Busuu Online Communities
ABSTRACT
PosterEDEN Appel Speakapps
SpeakApps: Studies on oral production and speaking interaction
Quantum-Inspired Spirituality: Merging Science and Religion in the Post-Galilean Period
This paper reports on a PhD study about informal second language learning in online communities (... more This paper reports on a PhD study about informal second language learning in online communities (Livemocha and Busuu). In these communities learners autonomously seek opportunities for telecollaboration with Native Speakers (NSs) in the absence of teachers and pedagogical tasks, and in an informal context. This paper focuses on learning and social resources of these communities as a support for tandem activities. The methodology adopted had an interpretative framework and consisted of six phases. Results showed that these online environments have a potential for learners to engage in naturalistic repair trajectories. The conclusions that can be drawn from this study are that, despite today's flourishing of social media and new technologies, tandem language learning still presents the same challenges and more investigation is required on the adequate support learners need.
This paper reports on a study on the use of SNSs designed for L2 learning, such as Livemocha and ... more This paper reports on a study on the use of SNSs designed for L2 learning, such as Livemocha and Busuu, where learners autonomously seek opportunities for authentic interaction in spontaneous ways. The study consists in a longitudinal multiple case study approach to investigate learners' informal online interactions taking place in the SNSs. This paper will focus on the results related to the analysis of learners' interactions and to whether the construction of learning opportunities is fostered or impeded by the social dimension that is intrinsic in these communities. In other words, it explores how and if learners are able to cope with both the social and the learning trajectory during their online interactions. The objectives are to learn more about the dynamics and the behaviours enacted by learners with reference to the online interaction with peers, and to explore the role played by the social aspect and its relationship with the learning aspect. To attain these objectives, the paper analyses intercultural, open-ended, dyadic conversations occurring between learners and native speakers (NSs), and learners and non-native speakers (NNSs) in the semi-instructional context of these learning communities and in the absence of teachers and pedagogical tasks. Drawing on socio-cultural approaches, the paper also raises central issues that are related to the surrounding environment of online language learners, such as roles' definition, learners' identity, scaffolding and peer-assistance (macro-level). It then applies these issues to key-concepts in SLA, such as turn-taking, language selection, language alternation, repair strategies and noticing (micro-level). The data collection includes semi-structured interaction interviews and a wide and variegated corpus data consisting of textual private messages and emails, audio and video recordings and textual chats analysed respectively through virtual ethnography and Conversation Analysis (CA). The preliminary results provide insights on learners' ability or inability to manage both the social and the pedagogical trajectories simultaneously. These deliveries are expected to shed more light on their interaction patterns and to provide a better understanding of nowadays' lifelong L2 learning practices in the naturalistic and out-of-class contexts of online communities.
… Understanding Media Today Barcelona May 23rd25th, Jan 1, 2011
This study is related to nowadays' knowledge society in the era of the Internet and aims to inves... more This study is related to nowadays' knowledge society in the era of the Internet and aims to investigate the most important potentialities of the communities in Social Network Sites (SNSs) for second language (L2) learners. In this way, it would be possible to assess how to insert in formal learning activities some of the new forms of learning beyond the book that are taking place through the Web 2.0, taking into consideration that the term "learning" itself is being constantly explored and redefined according to the needs of Web 2.0 learners and to the new possibilities offered by our era. My research, in particular, attempts to raise awareness of some of the complex issues (learner autonomy, motivation, collaboration) surrounding learning taking place on SNS communities referring to the context of in informal L2 learning and reframing these communities as Personal Learning Environments (PLEs). Ethnographic data (e.g. rich accounts of learners' perceptions about their experiences in learning a language on SNSs, interviews and electronic discourse) will paint a picture of learners' behaviour when interacting in these social spaces and sharing videos, pictures, games related to their target language. In this way, I will be able to map out possible difficulties and opportunities for further research into the potential use of SNSs for second language learners.
Thesis Chapters by Maria Luisa Malerba
Previous research has identified some problems in relation to online communities.
Book Reviews by Maria Luisa Malerba
The Point of Being de Derrick de Kerckhove et Cristina Miranda de Almeida, by Louise BOISCLAIR, 2015
POB REVIEW (English) written by Louise Boischair (Ph. D. in semiology and postdoctoral researcher... more POB REVIEW (English) written by Louise Boischair (Ph. D. in semiology and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Montreal).
Derrick DE KERCKHOVE & Cristina MIRANDA DE ALMEIDA (editors.), The
Point of Being, New Castle Upon Tyne, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014, 349p.
Translated into English by Derrick de Kerckhove
"Published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in August 2014, under the editorship of Derrick de Kerckhove and Cristina Miranda de Almeida, The Point of Being invited nine researchers to highlight and to test certain aspects of the concept of Point of Being. Mentioned briefly in his book The Skin of Culture: investigating the new electronic reality, published by Somerville House, in 1995) (Les nerfs de la culture: être humain à l’heure des machines à penser, published by Les Presses de l’Université Laval, in 1998), the concept here is the subject of substantial development and a deep transdisciplinary review. The concept of point of being is intended to offer an alternative to the concept of the point of view, which is not sufficient to account for the new reality in the digital age [...] " (Boischair, 2015)
How to quote the original version of this review:
BOISCLAIR, Louise, « The Point of Being de Derrick de Kerckhove et Cristina Miranda de Almeida », recension, Cygne noir, 2015. En ligne : <http://www.revuecygnenoir.org/recension/the-point-of-being-de-kerckhove-miranda-de-almeida> (consulté le xx/xx/xxxx).
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Papers by Maria Luisa Malerba
Thesis Chapters by Maria Luisa Malerba
Book Reviews by Maria Luisa Malerba
Derrick DE KERCKHOVE & Cristina MIRANDA DE ALMEIDA (editors.), The
Point of Being, New Castle Upon Tyne, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014, 349p.
Translated into English by Derrick de Kerckhove
"Published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in August 2014, under the editorship of Derrick de Kerckhove and Cristina Miranda de Almeida, The Point of Being invited nine researchers to highlight and to test certain aspects of the concept of Point of Being. Mentioned briefly in his book The Skin of Culture: investigating the new electronic reality, published by Somerville House, in 1995) (Les nerfs de la culture: être humain à l’heure des machines à penser, published by Les Presses de l’Université Laval, in 1998), the concept here is the subject of substantial development and a deep transdisciplinary review. The concept of point of being is intended to offer an alternative to the concept of the point of view, which is not sufficient to account for the new reality in the digital age [...] " (Boischair, 2015)
How to quote the original version of this review:
BOISCLAIR, Louise, « The Point of Being de Derrick de Kerckhove et Cristina Miranda de Almeida », recension, Cygne noir, 2015. En ligne : <http://www.revuecygnenoir.org/recension/the-point-of-being-de-kerckhove-miranda-de-almeida> (consulté le xx/xx/xxxx).
Derrick DE KERCKHOVE & Cristina MIRANDA DE ALMEIDA (editors.), The
Point of Being, New Castle Upon Tyne, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014, 349p.
Translated into English by Derrick de Kerckhove
"Published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in August 2014, under the editorship of Derrick de Kerckhove and Cristina Miranda de Almeida, The Point of Being invited nine researchers to highlight and to test certain aspects of the concept of Point of Being. Mentioned briefly in his book The Skin of Culture: investigating the new electronic reality, published by Somerville House, in 1995) (Les nerfs de la culture: être humain à l’heure des machines à penser, published by Les Presses de l’Université Laval, in 1998), the concept here is the subject of substantial development and a deep transdisciplinary review. The concept of point of being is intended to offer an alternative to the concept of the point of view, which is not sufficient to account for the new reality in the digital age [...] " (Boischair, 2015)
How to quote the original version of this review:
BOISCLAIR, Louise, « The Point of Being de Derrick de Kerckhove et Cristina Miranda de Almeida », recension, Cygne noir, 2015. En ligne : <http://www.revuecygnenoir.org/recension/the-point-of-being-de-kerckhove-miranda-de-almeida> (consulté le xx/xx/xxxx).