SPOC and flexible language learning with Moodle: the experience at the University for Foreigners of Perugia

Engaging learners with targeted pathways in a language course can present many challenges in both selecting learning contents and assessing student skills. In this context, Learning Management Systems (LMSs) represents a big opportunity, by offering solutions capable of reaching a wide range of needs and characteristics. This paper describes some examples in creating a Small Private Online Course (SPOC) of Italian language for academic purposes at the University for Foreigners of Perugia, focusing on the tools available on the Moodle platform to help students to achieve their goals and to support teachers in gathering information on the learning dynamics and interventions to be implemented. The aim is to disclose perspectives on the developments of language education and on the potential of the Moodle LMS as a flexible learning environment, outlining some future lines of research.