
Physical Language Learning Spaces in the Digital Age
Felix A. Kronenberg(Author)
Bloomsbury Academic (Publisher)
Published on 30. October 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-1-350-28741-9 (ISBN)
Description
How do we intentionally design physical environments for language learning and teaching? How can we build spaces that are inclusive, accessible, safe and equitable?
While the Covid-19 pandemic has advanced notions of online education, it has also revealed the benefits and affordances of human-to-human interaction in physical learning spaces. This book explores the design of physical spaces intended for language learning specifically.
From residential learning spaces to active classrooms, from social and experiential spaces to zoom rooms and language centers, from mobile community-based learning to hybrid makerspaces, language learners and educators have more choices than ever regarding their possible learning environments. Changing pedagogies and new technologies provide ever more alternatives to the normalized technology of the classroom. With a focus on creating new awareness of the affordances and benefits of physical spaces as active agents in the language learning and teaching processes, this book takes a practical approach to introduce readers without any prior knowledge of design or architecture to the topic. As language learning spaces need to consider stakeholders from diverse cultures, Felix Kronenberg provides examples from language centers around the world, including Asia, Europe and the United States. Readers will learn how to conceptualize and create supportive, resilient, flexible, inclusive, accessible, affordable, sustainable, and safe physical learning spaces. The book is an interdisciplinary introduction to this emerging field, drawing from research in disciplines such as architecture, learning spaces design, second language acquisition, pedagogy, history, and sociology.
While the Covid-19 pandemic has advanced notions of online education, it has also revealed the benefits and affordances of human-to-human interaction in physical learning spaces. This book explores the design of physical spaces intended for language learning specifically.
From residential learning spaces to active classrooms, from social and experiential spaces to zoom rooms and language centers, from mobile community-based learning to hybrid makerspaces, language learners and educators have more choices than ever regarding their possible learning environments. Changing pedagogies and new technologies provide ever more alternatives to the normalized technology of the classroom. With a focus on creating new awareness of the affordances and benefits of physical spaces as active agents in the language learning and teaching processes, this book takes a practical approach to introduce readers without any prior knowledge of design or architecture to the topic. As language learning spaces need to consider stakeholders from diverse cultures, Felix Kronenberg provides examples from language centers around the world, including Asia, Europe and the United States. Readers will learn how to conceptualize and create supportive, resilient, flexible, inclusive, accessible, affordable, sustainable, and safe physical learning spaces. The book is an interdisciplinary introduction to this emerging field, drawing from research in disciplines such as architecture, learning spaces design, second language acquisition, pedagogy, history, and sociology.
Reviews / Votes
This seminal work covers an incredible amount of perspectives on the design of language learning environments and raises awareness of important issues. Kronenberg's focus on physical learning environments comes exactly at a time when many universities reflect on and re-assess their 'real estate' in a post-pandemic world. -- Klaus Schwienhorst, Leibniz University Hannover, GermanyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
10 bw illus
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
322 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-28741-9 (9781350287419)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Felix A. Kronenberg
Physical Language Learning Spaces in the Digital Age
E-Book
02/2024
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Academic
€31.99
Available for download

Felix A. Kronenberg
Physical Language Learning Spaces in the Digital Age
E-Book
02/2024
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Academic
€31.99
Available for download
Person
Felix Kronenberg is Director of the Center for Language Teaching Advancement and Associate Professor of German at Michigan State University, USA.
Content
Preface
Introduction: Why a book about physical language learning spaces in this digital age?
1. From Theory to Practice: What are Language Learning Spaces?
2. From Generic to Discipline-Specific: Properties of Language Learning Spaces
3. Physical Language Learning Spaces Beyond the Classroom
4. Design and Administration of Language Learning Spaces
5. The Physicality of Hybrid Language Learning Spaces
Conclusion: The Future of Physical Language Learning Spaces
References
Index
Introduction: Why a book about physical language learning spaces in this digital age?
1. From Theory to Practice: What are Language Learning Spaces?
2. From Generic to Discipline-Specific: Properties of Language Learning Spaces
3. Physical Language Learning Spaces Beyond the Classroom
4. Design and Administration of Language Learning Spaces
5. The Physicality of Hybrid Language Learning Spaces
Conclusion: The Future of Physical Language Learning Spaces
References
Index