Innovation in Language Learning

‘Internationalization’ represents an important strategic focus of many universities around the world. To pursue this goal, many universities in Hong Kong have been committed to developing students’ cross-cultural skills and bringing diverse global perspectives to the campus to inform and enrich students’ worldview. Although many local Hong Kong students are enthusiastic about enhancing their English speaking skills and cultural competence, and international students are striving to integrate into the local community, there are limited social integration opportunities available on campus to bring the two groups together in everyday contexts. In addition, the university formal curriculum emphasises academic rather than social competence. To this end, a Social Learning Space (SLS) has been established in a Hong Kong university, aiming to provide organic learning opportunities by enabling students to exercise their agency as they interact with each other and engage with the Space through participating in language learning and cultural exchange activities and discussion groups conducted by a Communication Advisor along with a team of local and international Student Ambassadors. Indeed social learning spaces have been established at universities around the world as settings which encourage active, social, and experiential learning (Oblinger, 2006). It has been argued that social learning spaces serve a key role in the transformation of universities into more globalized settings and in developing students’ global citizenship (Murray, Uzuka & Fujishima, 2017). This paper presents the experience of trialling social language learning and cultural exchange activities in the SLS. The activity evaluation questionnaire results collected from 136 participants and feedback of committed service users collected from semi-structured interviews will be presented. Suggestions on ways to enhance the effectiveness of the SLS activities and increase student engagement in language learning will be explored.

Keywords: Social learning space, social communication skills, student engagement, cultural exchange

References: 

Murray, G., Uzuka, M., & Fujishima, N. (2017). Social language learning spaces: Globalization glocalized. Studies in Self-Access Learning Journal, 8(3), 235-246.

Oblinger, D. G. (ed.). (2006). Learning spaces. Washington, DC: Educause. Online book. https://www.educause.edu/research-and-publications/books/learning-spaces