Rationalities of collaboration for languagelearning in a wiki

For language learning, online environments allowing for user generated content are becomingincreasingly important since they offer possibilities for learners to elaborate on assignmentsand projects. This study investigates what wikis can do as a means to enhance group interaction,when students are encouraged to participate in constructing text and exchanging peerresponse. The research focus is on exploring what interaction unfolds in the wiki and how itpromotes language learning, from a sociocultural perspective. This interaction is framed bothby affordances in the wiki but also by what is expected from students as language learners inan English for Specific Purposes class environment. The analysis has a multilevel approach,focusing on patterns of interaction and the nature of feedback. The study shows that collaborationbecomes specifically interesting from a language learning perspective. In the findings,on the student wiki pages there are numerous contributions relating to both local languageand global content. Revising co-constructed text opens up possibilities for the students toevaluate existing contributions and it also provides opportunities for them to suggest constructivechanges. In addition, with the environment being web based, we discuss certainbenefits arising from the fact that it allows for user-generated content