Innovation in Language Learning

Providing an innovative solution for distance language learning is nowadays very challenging. The distance teachers are most of the time left alone to set up their classes and teaching material whereas learners are struggling to keep motivation at a high level.
After 2 years of research and experimentation, CLL Language Centres (associated to the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium) developed and launched an innovative solution, Visiagora, where classes are based on a communicative approach and are built up around a pedagogical structure of 30 minutes in a virtual classroom: learners benefit of the experience of a short but intense one-on-one class with the features of a physical classroom but are taking their language course from the comfort of their home or office. As a result, the learning experience and motivation is increased and the foreign language acquisition becomes more efficient.
This paper goes through the innovative and communicative pedagogical approach and structure of our 30-mn classes: they are composed of 7 phases (introduction, lesson overview, comprehension activity, consolidation activity, presentation activity, production activity and delay correction & summary), and also offer self-training pre-lesson and post-lesson activities.
It will also develop the features of our virtual classroom and whiteboard, which enable the learners and teachers to benefit from all the features of a physical classroom.
To conclude, the learning and teaching experiences from the perspective of learners and teachers will be presented, as well as the results in terms of foreign language acquisition (based on the CEFR) of the learners who used our solution.

Keywords: Distance learning, virtual classroom, one-on-one classes, innovative pedagogy;