This book examines a wide range of innovations in language learning and teaching in Japan. Each of the chapters describes the impetus for a change or new development in a particular context, from early childhood to adult learning, details its implementation and provides an evaluation of its success. In doing so, they provide a comprehensive overview of best practice in innovating language education from teaching practice in formal classroom settings, to self-directed learning beyond the classroom, and offer recommendations to enhance language education in Japan and beyond. The book will be of interest to scholars of applied linguistics and language development, and in particular to those involved in managing change in language education that attempts to mediate between global trends and local needs.

This volume collects selected papers from the 2017 Innovative Language Teaching and Learning at University conference, which took place on the 16th of June at The Open University. The theme of the conference was Integrating informal learning into formal language education. The aim of the conference was to engage in productive collaboration between language professionals to further equip students to succeed in our ever-growing landscape of formal and informal learning. This is the third volume in a series of books compiling papers from the InnoConf conferences. It follows from the first two volumes in 2015 and 2016 respectively: Enhancing participation and collaboration (Goria, Speicher, & Stollhans, 2016) and Enhancing employability (Álvarez-Mayo, Gallagher-Brett, & Michel, 2017).

Modern languages have always been about transition – as practitioners, we challenge our students constantly to move between their own cultural and linguistic reference points and those of others. Our dynamic, interactive teaching methodologies have had to adapt to the pandemic context, necessitating the interrogation of past practice and transition to new approaches. This volume presents case studies showcasing practical initiatives to promote creative, dialogic learning in the fluid contexts that modern foreign language students are currently experiencing as they transition to higher education post-Covid and to residence abroad post-Brexit, between online and face-to-face learning spaces and between machine- and person-centred learning.

The present volume collects papers from InnoConf19, which took place at the University of Southampton on the 28th of June 2019. The theme of the conference was ‘Treasuring languages: innovative and creative approaches in HE’. The contributions collected in this peer-reviewed volume aim to reflect on best practice in higher education. They showcase innovative approaches to support the multiple skills needed in our society whilst fighting a decline in students wanting to learn languages. The short papers selected for this volume display examples of innovative curriculum design; enhancement of critical thinking, creative skills, and intercultural awareness; the use of digital tools and technology-enhanced learning, employability, innovative assessment, and collaborative and independent learning. We believe this volume will be of use to language teachers and practitioners in higher education and beyond.

The present volume collects papers from InnoConf18, which took place at the University of Liverpool in June 2018. The theme of the conference was ‘New trends in language teaching and learning at university’. The contributions collected here aim to reflect on best practice in the sector while at the same time capturing state-of-the-art language teaching and learning methodologies. The short papers in this peer-reviewed selection display examples of active learning and student empowerment across all levels of learning and demonstrate the benefits of maximising engagement through a creative and inspiring learning environment. We believe this volume will be of use to language teachers and practitioners in higher education and beyond.

The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies at the University of Nottingham hosted the fifth annual conference in the “Innovative Language Teaching at University” series. Under the heading “Enhancing participation and collaboration” the conference, organised by Cecilia Goria, Oranna Speicher and Sascha Stollhans, took place on 19 June 2015, and was attended by over 120 linguists, language teachers and language acquisition researchers from all over the world. This edited volume contains 15 selected short papers based on presentations from the conference as well as Dr Jan Hardman’s keynote address and a foreword by Prof. Zoltán Dörnyei.

The second volume in this series of papers dedicated to innovative language teaching and learning at university focuses on enhancing employability. Throughout the book, which includes a selection of 14 peer-reviewed and edited short papers, authors share good practices drawing on research; reflect on their experience to promote student engagement, inclusivity, and collaboration; and foster a successful learning environment while developing employability skills. Whatever the language – or the subject we teach – there are a number of skills, behaviours, attributes and attitudes which staff and students should be aware of in order to enhance teaching and learning so as to maximise student potential and their employability prospects.

This reader provides both theoretical perspectives and practical tools for analysing and understanding how ELT classroom curricula can be analysed, developed and evaluated. The commissioned and classic texts place curriculum change in a philosophical framework and also explore the political and institutional considerations. A series of case studies are provided to highlight both the role of the teacher in curriculum innovation and various processes of planning and implementation. The final section deals with evaluating curriculum and syllabus change.

This book explores the importance of evaluation in relation to language projects and programmes, the management of change and innovation, and in improving language teacher development.