Google Docs in Language Teaching and Learning

BILOVÁ, Štěpánka. Google Docs in Language Teaching and Learning. CASALC Review. Česká a slovenská asociace učitelů jazyků na vysokých školách, 2017, 7 (2017), No 2, p. 151-162. ISSN 1804-9435.

Basic information

• Original name: Google Docs in Language Teaching and Learning
• Name in Czech: Google Docs ve výuce a učení se jazykům
• Authors: BILOVÁ, Štěpánka (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: CASALC Review, Česká a slovenská asociace učitelů jazyků na vysokých školách, 2017, 1804-9435.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 50300 5.3 Education
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14640/17:00100408
• Organization unit: Language Centre
• Keywords (in Czech): Google Docs; odborná angličtina; právnická angličtina; výuka jazyků; ICT
• Keywords in English: Google Docs; English for Specific Purposes (ESP); legal English; language teaching; ICT
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

A shared online environment enabling multiple users to edit documents simultaneously, e.g. wikispaces or Google Docs, has become very popular in classes focused on developing writing skills or in any language classrooms. The paper provides an overview of literature dealing with the use of Google Docs in teaching and then presents tried and tested Google Docs activities which proved to be effective within university ESP courses not specialized in writing. The examples are taken from the context of legal English; however, they can be easily adapted to other professional, academic or general settings. The activities concern mainly in-class situations and they exploit Google Docs as a tool which facilitates fulfilling language tasks, rather than employing Google Docs as the main instrument of enhancing the skills.