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8. Conclusion<br />

Ivana Cechova et al.<br />

This paper has documented the experience of a group of distance students. The findings demonstrate<br />

that the majority of students in this study are able to use technology to meet their own <strong>learning</strong> needs.<br />

The distance students assessing their <strong>learning</strong> opportunities often mention quality, speed, diversity,<br />

timeliness, clarity, transparency, efficiency, openness, frequency to achieve their <strong>learning</strong> and<br />

professional goals.<br />

It is clear that the teaching of foreign languages presents special instructional challenges. The<br />

teachers and researchers at the LTC of the UoD continue to address such issues as the development<br />

of communicative competence, as well as participation and interaction in the distance <strong>learning</strong><br />

environment. However, current trends within the distance <strong>learning</strong> may affect many decisions,<br />

processes and emphasis within the distance <strong>learning</strong> environment.<br />

For further development of the monitored area it is recommended to carry out an additional research<br />

to prove the above mentioned findings and to find out if the achieved information is also valid outside<br />

the sample of the UoD respondents. The teachers at the LTC of the UoD are fully aware of this<br />

issue´s complexity and are trying to implement distance <strong>learning</strong> strategies sensitively, bearing in<br />

mind Plato’s quotation: “Someday, in the distant future, our grandchildren’s grandchildren will develop<br />

a new equivalent of our classrooms. They will spend many hours in front of boxes with fires glowing<br />

within. May they have the wisdom to know the difference between light and knowledge.”<br />

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