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Learning
at the Speed of Light: by Francesco Scordato Doctor of Arts in Foreign Languages State University of New York at Stony Brook 2003 It is becoming clear that the Internet, the World Wide Web, and above all, the use of Information Technologies for foreign-language learning are here to stay. The general perception is that we are only at the initial stage and consequently we cannot grasp fully the implications of the Web revolution on society at large, much less on higher education. Past instances have shown that any new technological breakthrough is greeted at first with great enthusiasm from a small group of faculty, the innovators, while the majority greets it with a heavy dose of skepticism and resistance. Among the objectives of this study is to disperse some of the confusion about what is meant by web-based language instruction, how the Web will transform the teaching and learning of languages following constructivist pedagogical principles, and how the inherently interactive nature of the Web positively affects its pedagogical implementation. Teaching and learning through the Web open a whole new set of possibilities for instructors and learners alike: they both are empowered, they both are enriched, and both are maximizing their human and social potentials. Furthermore the Web will finally help the transition of our language classrooms from a teacher-centered to a truly learner-centered paradigm. Foreign-language instruction is once again at the forefront pedagogically and technologically, compared to other disciplines; today, as in the past, foreign-language instruction is ready to assume its role in preparing current and future generations to reap fully the great potentials made available by the Web revolution.
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