A professor from the University of South Carolina who encouraged her students to use Twitter in their French class will be receiving an honorary knighthood from the French government.

Dr. Lara Lomicka Anderson, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at USC, will be awarded the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Academiques (Order of Academic Palms) for advancing the French language. It’s quite a big deal – the original deceleration was established by Napolean Bonaparte.

Dr. Anderson, who is also the author of The Next Generation: Social Networking and Online Collaboration in Foreign Language Learning, a book about how social networking can be used to advance foreign language instruction and improve online study, and alongside colleague Dr. Lara Ducate has actively promoted the use of new technology in foreign language teaching.

Dr. Anderson says the use of Twitter has helped to foster conversation and built a greater sense of community in and out of the classroom. She received funding for her research from the American Council on Education and AT&T.

This isn’t the first time Dr. Anderson has been the recipient of a major award. In 2008 she was bestowed with the National Excellence in Technology award by The American Council.

Dr. Anderson will be knighted and honoured by the French consul this fall.