Innovation in Language Learning

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are a series of instructions and methods to allow authorized third-party applications to integrate with the resources and services offered from within a software platform which is generally on-line nowadays. A famous example is from Google Maps that makes APIs available to third parties that allow them to overlay external data on top of the geographical information layers provided by Google. In the field of ICT for language learning, numerous APIs have been released so far from different providers: the international reference portal ProgrammableWeb (http://www.programmableweb.com/) currently indexes dozens of APIs related to on-line language learning and teaching aspects: APIs related to translation tools, APIs to access information from on-line dictionaries and pronunciation databases, APIs to help proofreading texts etc. On top of that, Learning Management Systems (LMS) used for language learning /teaching have started releasing their own APIs to allow third-parties to create custom implementations and applications. This way a third party app can for instance create student profiles on the platform, retrieve student information, such as progress statics, attendance records, learned vocabulary etc.

Here I'm going to present the example of the API developed by Learnlight, an on-line platform used for language teaching based in Spain which currently service around 350,000 students belonging to a broad range of international companies. 

The paper will give an overview of the Learnlight API and its functionalities showing how they address current on-line language learning/teaching needs and how they allow the development of new opportunities and approaches for third-party actors interested in using Learnlight technology.