My dear fellow Esperantists, (karaj samideanoj),
I'm researching how online language learning affects overall language acquisition. I thought there to be no better way than by researching my favorite Esperanto-learning site. This is for a linguistics subject at my university called "CMC - Computer Mediated Communication".
Here are some questions I'm considering (please answer as many as you like):

1/ What part of your language learning have you focused on while learning through Lernu
2/ Do you think you've improved in that area?
3/ Why did you focus on that part? & Why did you decide to learn Esperanto online?
4/To what extent has being part of the online language-learning community at Lernu helped you to improve your language skills? How?
5/ Which parts of the lernu online language-learning experience are most helpful (and why) and which are not? (i.e. chatting-function, library, courses etc.)

6/ Feel free to share any background info about yourself, and any other information you feel is relevant.

-Andruo

Yay! Survey! (let me know if you'd rather this copied and transferred to a private message, but perhaps this information may help others too if they're doing similar stuff).

1/ What part of your language learning have you focused on while learning through Lernu
The definition of individual words, and how they relate to English equivalents.

2/ Do you think you've improved in that area?
Definitely. I can remember the various "stages" I've gone through, starting with mixing up "ke" and "kiu/kio" (introducing a noun clause vs. introducing a relative clause), all the way up to now where my main "focus" in EO is nutting out the intricacies of many less complicated words.

3/ Why did you focus on that part? & Why did you decide to learn Esperanto online?
Because I figured that I have trouble focussing on the whole picture when I've already got current studies which involve that with other languages, so I decided it'd be fun to look into why certain words mean certain things so I can at least get a good foundation and attempt to help others. Online: because there are people to discuss with/get into arguments with, and approve/disapprove of my opinions about certain aspects of the language which gives a more holistic viewpoint.

4/To what extent has being part of the online language-learning community at Lernu helped you to improve your language skills? How?
A lot, because I've been able to understand by reading the posts of others how various things in languages work which I may not have found out about so easily had I only relied on my previous limited knowledge. Because everyone else has their own unique knowledge or viewpoints about something you get a better grasp of the whole picture.

5/ Which parts of the lernu online language-learning experience are most helpful (and why) and which are not? (i.e. chatting-function, library, courses etc.)
These fora, being able to communicate with others (public communication in general), all because you have something to test out your growing skills with, and know where flaws in your learning/knowledge are, what areas are doing well and how to continue learning. Otherwise you can go astray in your learning direction and waste time in something that ends up being wrong/misunderstood.

6/ Feel free to share any background info about yourself, and any other information you feel is relevant.
South Australian university student, undergraduate, 2nd year of study, male.

Might I humbly suggest that the answer to the question 'Why did you decide to learn Esperanto on-line' perhaps should be that the question is not actually sensible.

It is much more likely that learners at Lernu did not take a decision to learn Esperanto and then seek out on-line facilities.

Obviously though, in the case of the natural languages the decision to learn may well precede the decision as to which resources to use.

I would guess that most vistors at Lernu were directed to Esperanto by another Esperantist keen to recruit to the movement, or by stumbling on a link whilst browsing.

The Lernu site would be made more or less use of, depending on the level of interest aroused. Many will have registered (it costs nothing) and then lost interest.

Those bewitched by the concept of a easy to learn artifical language might follow some of the course material, but could be later expected to purchase printed material.

The Lernu site probably functions as a Springboard to further studies - also, of course, as a Recruitment Centre

The enormous value of a site like Lernu to the movement is that it enables the Esperantists to inform others in detail about the language without requiring from them any financial sacrifice.

In thinking about your questions for your CMC study it might be advisable to recognize the difference between Esperanto and the natural languages.

The student who has already learnt some Esperanto elsewhere and then decides to pursue his studies on-line is probably a rarity.

A pattern that applies to students of French, German, etc. may be inapplicable in the case of Esperanto.