Informal Learning and Institution-wide Language Provision: University Language Learners in the 21st Century

This book takes a fresh look at both context and the language learner in an attempt to shed light on the holistic and ever-changing system of the contemporary L2 speaker’s language development. Drawing on complex dynamic systems theory as a means to more fully understand the holistic nature of contemporary language learning, the author attempts to bridge the longstanding gap between formal language provision in Higher Education institutions, and more informal language acquisition achieved through activities such as listening to music, watching films and television, and playing games. Based on a theoretical understanding of the interplay between these contexts, contents and practices, the author offers suggestions concerning the shape of language centres in higher education and the role of teachers in readying the contemporary language learner for autonomous lifelong and lifewide language development. This book will be of particular interest to language teachers, teacher trainers, and higher education administrators. Denyze Toffoli is Professor of Applied Linguistics at Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France. She was previously head of the Department of Languages for Specialists of Other Disciplines (LanSAD) at the University of Strasbourg, serving some 15,000 users in 10 different language centres.

Chapter 1: Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) -- Chapter 2: The Triple-A of L2 Learning: Autonomy, Ability and Attachment (Viewing the Contemporary Language Learner Through the Lens of Self-Determination Theory) -- Chapter 3: Portrait of Two Contemporary Language Learners in Higher Education -- Chapter 4: Institution-wide Language Provision: Theoretical Perspectives on What Works and What Doesn't -- Chapter 5: Targeting Student-Centred Language Through Self-Access: Why Traditional Self-Access is No Longer Relevant Today and How to Make It So -- Chapter 6: Students Outside the System: Informal Learning -- Chapter 7: Teaching Language to Contemporary Learners in Higher Education.