Researching Online Foreign Language Interaction and Exchange : Theories, Methods and Challenges

This book provides an accessible introduction to some of the methods and theoretical approaches for investigating foreign language (FL) interaction and exchange in online environments. Research approaches which can be applied to Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) are outlined, followed by a discussion of the way in which tools and techniques for data-collection in diverse online contexts can contribute to our understanding of online foreign language interaction. The compilation of chapters presents a comprehensive overview of key issues in virtual, intercultural and multimodal research contexts and gives insight into the particular challenges and situations which this area of language learning implies.
Researching Online Foreign Language Interaction and Exchange addresses the needs of researchers and newcomers to the area who are hoping to learn about the current state of the field by providing overviews of varying approaches and extensive literature review as well as extracts of real data to illustrate the theories, methods or issues in question.

Melinda Dooly is a teacher educator at the Science of Education Faculty of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain). She teaches English as a Foreign Language Methodology (TEFL) and research methods courses, focusing on telecollaboration in education. Her research addresses teacher preparation and the use of CALL and CMC at primary, secondary and university levels.
Robert O’Dowd teaches EFL and Applied Linguistics and is secretary for International Training at the University of León, Spain. He has a PhD on the use of networked technologies in the foreign language classroom and has published widely on the theme of online intercultural exchange. He is currently coordinating the INTENT project – a European Commission Lifelong Learning Project on the integration of telecollaboration in university education.