Tweet! Language learning using MOOCs

There seem to have been a few of us this week noticing an alternate use for the MOOC, as an opportunity to learn a language. I don’t mean however enrolling in a MOOC that teaches a specific language, I mean just participating in a MOOC in the language you are choosing to learn.

This is something I have never considered before and to be honest when it was first mentioned I didn’t really consider it too much, then… a fellow student gave me a 0 mark for a peer review piece and I maintain it was because they didn’t understand the word vantage.  It’s only a MOOC, the mark doesn’t matter in the scheme of things, but I was unjustifiably annoyed.

This has left me with a lot to think about in terms of MOOC participation,  is it ok to participate in the activities around learning of the subject matter if you are not fully participating?  Do the differing levels of participation affect fellow students negatively?  Do we have unrealistic expectations on a free course?