Implementing Online Collaborative Learning Practices in the Process of Mastering a Foreign Language (English, Spanish)

The purpose of the article is to present a general review of research literature from the field of interactive collaborative learning to highlight productive interaction between learners and educators as facilitators of the foreign language acquisition process.This writing is mainly aimed at pointing out key learning mechanisms, summarizing core features of collaborative practices, which are supposed to promote and enhance interaction among learners and present group awareness tools and collaboration scripts as two complementary approaches to support groups during collaborative interaction.The methodological basis of the study was a critical review of gathered information concerning collaborative learning by using qualitative research methods.Specifically, this writing details how collaborative practices can be enhanced to provide foreign language learners with opportunities for interaction that fosters their acquiring new domain-specific knowledge, collaboration skills as well as develop critical thinking and personal responsibility.By introducing practices experienced at Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman we provide an overview on the topic of collaborative learning and how meaningful interaction between learners can be fostered.To allow educators to design and incorporate collaborative learning activities into their own online teaching experience, the authors provide a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanisms behind effective collaborative learning as well as examples and practical considerations.