Abstract:
This paper describes an exploratory study of the creation of individual routines to learn Spanish from a CD-ROM multimedia program in a self-directed learning environment. The participants are highly educated working adults in a university environment. The routines involve using the CD-ROM program in one or more of the modes presented as choices by the program. The routines may also include the use of the workbooks that came with the program, the suggestions and information about language learning in a typed handout created by the researcher, as well as any other resources selected by the participant. Data about the routines were collected from email messages to the researcher and two open-ended semi-structured interviews. Demographic data were collected about the participants using two questionnaires.

The study investigates how the design of the program, time constraints, accessibility to a computer, personal characteristics and learning modalities, goals and beliefs, and social isolation all influenced the creation of the routine. The participants' rate of learning was self-paced and varying degrees of progress were made by the participants in this 12-week study.

Discussions of the findings are presented in different ways: as individual cases, and summarized according to the rate of progress, to the degree of completeness and development of the routine, and according to the functions involved in becoming a self-directed learner.

The participants made suggestions for improvement of the learning environment from their perspective as learners. The observations drawn from the two interviews and an analysis of the routine also led to suggestions for the improvement of the environment and software. These ideas for improvement are the basis for a model of a similar but improved learning environment as an object of study for future research.