Handbook of Research on E-Learning Methodologies for Language Acquisition

Throughout the decades, a wide variety of methodologies and approaches to the teaching of languages have developed. In the current, technology driven environment, demand is high for new tools and student-centered collaborative learning approaches to promote students' language and communicative skills. The Handbook of Research on E-Learning Methodologies for Language Acquisition contributes over 50 authoritative research studies planning e-learning theory, pedagogy, methodologies and approaches developed and implemented by prominent international authors. An essential addition to the reference collection of any academic library, this commanding Handbook of Research will foster professional discussion and progress among researchers, practitioners, and educators in this rapidly developing field.

Rita de Cássia Veiga Marriott BA, MEd, is a member of the academic staff in the Department of Hispanic Studies and at the Centre for Modern Languages at the University of Birmingham UK, where she is a Portuguese Language Tutor. She has lectured at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR) and at Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) in Brazil in subjects including EFL, ESP, Collaborative Learning Online, Translation Studies, New Technologies in Education in the Department of Languages and the Department of Education at graduate and post-graduate levels and has also given Teacher Training Courses related to Computer Assisted Language Learning at CELIN (UFPR s Language Centre). She has participated in several projects involving e-learning and CALL and has been a member of the research group on Education, Communication and Technology at PUCPR since 2004. She is a founder-member of Braz-TESOL (1983), and since 1986 she has presented papers at various events nationally and internationally. Her research interests include language teaching, learning and acquisition, CALL, e-learning, new technologies in Education and the use of concept maps for language learning/teaching, and she has published in several of these areas including a book, chapters in books, articles in Journals and conference contributions. She is currently a doctoral student in E-Learning and Language Acquisition in the School of Education at the University of Birmingham UK.

Patricia Lupion Torres has been a professor at PUCPR (Pontifical Catholic University of Parana/Brazil) since 1982. She was Head of the Education Department from 1994 to 1998 and again from 2003 to 2005. She was the coordinator of Research and Assessment of the Distance Learning Department from 2002 to 2003. She was also a lecturer at UFSC (Federal University of Santa Catarina/Brazil) on the Media and Knowledge Masters Course from 1999 to 2002. A Pedagogue, she is a Specialist in Psycho-pedagogy and in Sociological Theories and has a Master in Education from PUCPR. She took her doctorate on Media and Knowledge at UFSC. She was on the Board of Directors of PUCWEB from 2003 to 2005. She is currently the Pedagogical Coordinator of the National Service on Rural Learning SENAR-PR. She manages projects on the use of virtual learning environments for distance learning in Higher Education, teaches the Masters and Doctorate in Education Courses at PUCPR whilst is the Director of Distance Learning at the same institution.