Our personal experience, and that of our colleagues teaching modern foreign languages, has been that students have certain “fears” or misconceptions about learning modern foreign languages. Areas of language such as grammar and syntax are perceived as “difficult”, “boring” or of “no relevant use” therefore students do not express any interest in learning them. This lack of interest on the mechanics of a language is even more visible in basic practical areas such as the use of bilingual dictionaries, and certainly when applied to using online translation tools.

We decided to start breaking down those barriers, we got our heads together and designed a simple structure of four modules: Grammaring, The Many Parts of Language, Bilingual Dictionaries and Online Translation Tools. Our idea was to create a series of videos followed by practical interactive activities for students and teachers to have access to. In our project and at the heart of it, students should be involved in the production materials, after all they are the ones learning the theory and putting it into practice.

Up until now we have enlisted language degree students who have prepared presentations for their language modules and have given us the necessary arguments to build our case. They are also the data on which we support our project. We have also enlisted the sponsorship of university wide initiatives such as PLanT (Partnership in Learning and Teaching) which has been an excellent opportunity to engage students and staff in work to enhance students’ learning experience and produce materials for the benefit of other students. The materials students create and share are simple, accessible tools that represent and prove that understanding the mechanism underlying any language is not difficult.

Once the structure of the modules, the explanatory or the introductory materials are available and the interactive activities created, we will have a platform where  they will be free and accessible for all.  But the project won’t stop there; we will carry on welcoming the input from students as well as teachers, their feedback and, above all, their collaboration in sharing ideas and new materials for others.