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This needs analysis study sought to identify the contextual requirements to design and implement a blended learning program in English at a Colombian public university. Data on teachers' and administrators' perceptions were gathered through a questionnaire, interviews, and focus groups and analyzed using grounded theory. Findings revealed the need to invest considerably in new personnel and e-infrastructure. Likewise, students' context should be considered to design EFL blended programs. Teachers and students should be offered ICT and methodological professional development. Finally, the program should carefully balance the integration of face-to-face and online modalities. This investigation can help the academic community of language educators and curriculum designers carry out needs analysis studies for creating contextualized blended learning programs.

This paper presents a framework forteaching English in synchronous computer-mediated environments. This research shows the components of the framework, how it materializes in the teachers' pedagogical practices, and in the students' perceptions of lessons designed using the framework. The sources of data for this investigation are a questionnaire for students, in-depth interviews with teachers, and an analysis of the transcripts of synchronous sessions that were planned and executed using the framework. This investigation presents suitable guidelines to plan, carry out, and close lessons delivered synchronously. This study shows that when the framework is used, it helps teachers plan activities, and it supports the creation of a suitable environment for learning English online. This investigation also shows that when the framework is employed, it promotes a risk-free environment. It encourages collaboration, and it fosters the linking of ideas and the comprehension of fundamental concepts.

This paper reports the experience of implementing a teacher's professional development strategy that sought to foster e-moderator competencies among language faculty at a Colombian public university. The study aimed at finding the extent to which participants understood the concepts of e-moderation and e-tivities. We analyzed the participants' performance in three different tasks to give account of the incorporation of the concepts. The results from the analysis of the tasks showed that participants understand online processes, they have some technical skills and they have many personal characteristics that will help them become e-moderators.

Combined with the overabundance of free time caused by unemployment, pachuco gangs in Chicano neighborhoods became very active during the 1940s. Houston had its own pachuco gangs that not only had feuds with each other but also clashed with Houston police. (NQ)