Autonomy and Community in Learning Languages Online: A Critical Autoethnography of Teaching and Learning in COVID-19 Confinement During 2020

During COVID-19 confinement in 2020, there has been a massive increase learning languages online via variety of apps, short courses, and as part higher education on-campus degrees converted to learning. This study argues that attention the balance autonomy community is vital successful language online. An initial exploration recent scholarship on validates this approach evaluating situation. The specific phenomenon teaching during 2020 at University Melbourne then presented an autoethnographic case analyzed context research. In author participated experiences from several different perspectives. As Head Languages, she led development new undergraduate certificate response Australian Federal Government initiative offer significant subsidies for certificates 2020. keen learner, enrolled one these Italian. French lecturer, Matters Taste—French Eating Cultures, highly interactive sensory oriented subject advanced students, delivery. work undertaken article aims examine critically author’s assessing advantages disadvantages positions both teacher learner. These are triangulated with academic administrative leadership coordination required produce schema relates intentions outcomes particularly challenging context. intended insights may help educators reflect their various roles confinement. conclusion, demonstrates negotiating between (still) key