The Department of Linguistics and Information Technologies

• Department Staff

Mark Warshauer

The Department of Linguistics and Information Technologies was founded in 2008. However, methodological and research work in the area of computerizing the humanities education has been conducted by our specialists since 2001. At that time the Centre of Distance Education was organized at the MSU Faculty of Foreign Languages as a response to a social order to develop distance education in Russia.

The Department of Linguistics and Information Technologies is a scientific subdivision that has the following aims:

• working out the principles of informatization of linguistic education on the basis of a verified didactic theory;
• further development and improvement of distance education and computer didactics theories and methods;
• elaboration of recommendations on pedagogically rational integration of ICT in teaching foreign languages and cross-cultural communication.

1. Research in and elaboration of theoretical foundations of linguistic education informatization and computerization:

a) developing and delivering lecture courses on distance and blended learning theory and methods;

b) developing and conducting special courses and seminars on various issues concerning the integration of web-technologies, Internet resources and services, videoconference and mobile

technologies into foreign language and cross-cultural communication teaching;

c) working out and implementation of a new model of University courses on the basis of ICT;

d) elaboration of didactic principles of e-learning environment for subject courses;

e) preparation of PhD theses, diploma and course papers within the indicated area.

2. Collaboration with regional higher education institutions in the sphere of computerization and informatization of language education : holding seminars, progress tutorials, internship.

3. Collaboration with foreign universities (international projects on the basis of videoconference technologies).

4. Regular holding of International scientific and methodological conferences “ICT in linguistics, FLT and cross-cultural communication” in order to exchange and disseminate best practices in the use of advanced information technologies in linguistic education.

5. Conducting scientific and methodological courses and seminars within the framework of professional development program for language teachers.

The V Jubilee conference 'ICT in linguistics, FLT and cross-cultural communication' was held on 7-9 June 2012. Proceedings of the Conference under the editorship of A.L.Nazarenko were published ( Issue 5. – Moscow, 'University book', 2012). The book can be obtained at the Department. It is necessary to call in advance : tel. 8 (499) 783 02 16.

Within the framework of the program 'MSU to schools' a professional development course for language teachers of Moscow schools on ICT in FLT, elaborated under the supervision of professor A.L.Nazarenko, was organized in 2012. Those who completed the course successfully were granted state-recognized certificates.

In January 2013 a pilot telecollaboration project with the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA, was conducted based on the distance professional development course 'Integrating Technology into the Foreign Language Classroom' (designed by V.A. Dugartsyrenova). The main objective of the project was to enable its participants to gain valuable insights into ways of integrating modern technology to empower the language classroom. On the Russian side, the project involved secondary education and university foreign language educators from across Russia studying the course via distance: using web-based communication tools and electronic materials. On the American side, the partners were in-service and pre-service foreign language teachers taking a blended 'Teaching with Technology' course which was offered as part of their Master’s program (College of Education, 'Foreign Language Education' program). A questionnaire was conducted at the end of the project, which confirmed positive feelings regarding the project by the majority of the participants. The respondents felt the collaborative nature of the project provided an important stimulus for them to revisit their teaching philosophies and practices, engage in a fruitful exchange of ideas with overseas partners, bring in their experience, and use the best of their creative power.

A new long-term (540 hrs) blended learning program for English teacher retraining " Theoretical and Pragmatic Foundations of Foreign Language Teaching: Contemporary Approaches" was launched on the 24th of September, 2013. Alongside with resources and services of the Internet the Program adopted the webinar technology.

• Professional development distance course 'Integrating Technology into the Foreign Language Classroom' (in English, 72 hrs).
• On-site and off-site course 'Informational and Communicational Technologies in Foreign Language Teaching: theory and skills' (in Russian, 72 hrs). Starting in 2014 spring term.
• Blended learning teacher retraining program 'Theoretic and Pragmatic Foundations of Foreign Language Teaching: contemporary approaches' (540 hrs.) Started on September 24, 2013.

Information on the Department research and academic activities is presented on the Department's web site, FFLAS MSU web site and in 'The Moscow University' newspaper publications. The latest publication (?21, June 2012, 'Information Technology in Linguistics') was about the Fifth International Scientific and Methodological Conference 'ICT in Linguistics, Foreign Language Teaching and Intercultural Communication'.

Head of Linguistics and IT Department, PhD in philology (doctor nauk), full professor Nazarenko Alla Leonidovna

Address: MSU, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Area Studies, Russia, 119192, Moscow, 31/1, room 521

Telephone: 8 (499) 783 02 16, 8 (495) 734 02 88

e-mail: lingvit@ffl.msu.ru