ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL THE USE OF ELEARNING

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL THE USE OF E-LEARNING IN INTERCULTURAL LANGUAGE TRAINING Vienna 7 -11 October

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL The use of e-learning in intercultural language training Web-based technologies Multicultural students

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Teaching culture for linguistic purposes § Factual knowledge § Cross-cultural contrastive approach § Communicative approach

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Intercultural competence Learn your own culture to understand another culture!

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL C. A. L. L. & CULTURE Synchronous online communication (e. g. Chat, Web conference) Intimate atmosphere

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL What is E-Learning? Network (local area network or the Internet) Distributed learning Distance learning Computer Based Training Web-Based Training synchronous (real time) asynchronous (self-paced) instructor-led computer-based Combination 1996: first Web courses

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Teaching of culture Factual knowledge: Highbrow info (e. g. , literature and the arts) Lowbrow info (e. g. , customs, habits, folklore) Factual knowledge shortcomings (Huebener 1959): - It downplays the meaning of culture - The target group's identity is not fully understood

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Cross-cultural contrastive approach cross-cultural psychology and anthropology: compare and contrast the similarities and differences between your own and the target cultures

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Shortcomings: Cross-cultural contrastive approach. . . . Reduces culture to a few salient principles. . . Fossilizes stereotypes. . . Hyper-sensitizes language learners to cross-cultural differences. . . Fails to notice individual variations within each culture

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Communicative approach Learners take on the role of foreigners Target: gain insight into the values and meanings of the foreign culture

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Communicative approach shortcomings: § Enculturalization: (Learners acquire new cultural frames of reference and a new world view) § Contrast between monolithic portrayal of target culture and the reality of English as an international language

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Intercultural competence § Be aware of the meeting of cultures taking place in foreign language communication § Achieve intellectual objectivity by becoming familiar with your own culture § Foreign language teachers should promote cultural curiosity

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Outdated approaches: Language-learning : books and verbs Multi-media courses : learn a language in days, with no effort

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Information Technology and culture teaching CALL is about language and language is a cultural issue par excellence (Cameron, 1998)

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Synchronous communication technologies § Lack of training programs for language teachers § Lack of teaching methods

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL E-learning asynchronous and synchronous tools - Web conferencing environment - Chat/Forums - Instant messaging - Voice over IP - E-mail The trainer must be aware of and choose the appropriate tools for the respective teaching method

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Priorities in online teaching methods § Develop a training program for online language trainers § Enable them to interrelate objectives and methods § Integrate hands-on experience with theoretical knowledge § Use well-established methods with new technology

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Language trainers should. . . Transfer face-to-face teaching methods to the virtual classroom . . . Become familiar with the new tools and learn how to adapt them for their own purposes

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Distance in E-Learning § Learners may be situated in different regions all over the world § Communication partners appear to be only a few centimetres away § Synchronous online communication produces an intimate situation

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Expectations in hot culture § Involvement of all communication partners § Opportunity to actively participate People not used to hot culture may come to misunderstandings and insults

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL New hardware and software. . . Have a deep impact on language training. . . Abolish distance between people. . . Make intercultural learning a goal within reach

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL E-Learning as a tool to deliver intercultural learning: § Can satisfy the high demand of native speakers in language teaching § People from different cultures can meet in online courses Intercultural aspects: - Classroom communication follows different cultural patterns - Students from different cultures expect different teaching styles

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL New teacher's role: Instructor Facilitator New Student's role: Active knowledge Recipient constructor

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Traditional strategies perfectly suitable for the online classroom §Group work §Group building §Providing tasks for groups §Allocate different roles in a group They should be adapted to synchronous online communication tools

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Assessment materials to attract students - Use of tests and quizzes in a formative way - Feedback on quizzes and discussion about mistakes ?

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Instant feedback. . . Is rewarding. . . Enables students to appreciate the progress they make. . . Eliminates the element of doubt about right and wrong. . . Is personal and private and eliminates embarrassment

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Variety in approaches to learning -Lack of variety brings boredom - Online tools may help some students overcome barriers

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Multi-cultural quiz on behavioural norms Students are required to think about how others liv The acquisition of information is enjoyable and memorable

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL True/False exercise Example: Finding your way around the city Street names could raise awareness and stimulate intellectual curiosity

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Development of teaching materials View them critically Detect weaknesses and strengths Implement monitoring, evaluation, and modification

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Students' feedback on our materials They are amusing They enhance their knowledge of the target language country Our e-learning platform is useful and user-friendly Students complained about time schedules

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Students' feedback on Web-based learning • • faced some initial difficulties in using technology soon got used to using the platform features were interested in sharing of opinions understood the possibilities offered by the Internet concerning cultural issues Conclusion: E-learning has an important part to play in fostering intercultural competence!

ITALIAN ARMY LANGUAGE SCHOOL Question & Answers