Livemocha - Language Learning and Social Networks

Language Learning and Social Networks

Livemocha calls itself the largest language learning community in the world. In many ways it operates like a social networking site, and the basic ethos of the system is peer-to-peer: registered members can engage in synchronous and asynchronous communication, make a personal profile, connect with a circle of friends, upload content (there is a page dedicated to cultural exchange), contribute translations and help expand the base of available languages, and review other members’ work, such as recorded dialogues from lessons. It has been referred to as “the Facebook of foreign languages,” and its potential impact on conventional language teaching compared to that of Wikipedia on the traditional encyclopedia. One reviewer of the site observed, “With its unparalleled ability to connect people throughout the world, is changing the way that many people learn languages. There is still no way to avoid the hard slog through vocabulary lists and grammar rules, but the books, tapes and even CDs of yesteryear are being replaced by e-mail, video chats and social networks.”

The main advantages of this new web-based educational approach are argued to include: easy and convenient access to native speakers (“learn from a native speaker without leaving home”); exposure to how people actually speak the language, including slang, colloquialisms and everyday conversation; increased motivation and confidence through social contacts; and, the creation of a massive pool of expertise on a wide variety of languages. Criticisms tend to focus on the weak points of crowd-sourcing: there is no way to prevent sloppy or inadequate feedback, and the quality of translated content can be uneven.

The topic of the impact of the Internet on language study is starting to elicit scholarly study, though it is often noted that there is a lack of empirical data to thoroughly evaluate the new methodologies. In one of the most comprehensive assessments to date, Meei-Ling Liaw writes: “Livemocha, with its carefully designed learning materials and integration of Web 2.0 technologies into learning activities, creates an interactive, authentic, and meaningful language learning environment that many traditional language instruction contexts cannot provide. Despite some of the specific concerns discussed in relation to Livemocha, the social networking aspect of the system undoubtedly plays a key role in making the learning interesting and attractive to its users worldwide.”