Promoting intercultural sensitivity
through telecollaboration: A practical
experience between a Polish and a
Spanish university.
León, February 2014
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
PROJECT PHASES
INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY
PRELIMINARY STUDY
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
WHAT IS AN ONLINE
INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGE?
 An online intercultural exchange refers to the activity
of engaging language learners in interaction and
collaborative project work with partners from other
cultures through the use of online communication
tools (O’Dowd, 2007)
 Telecollaboration involves internationally dispersed
students of language who use internet
communication to support academic interaction and
intercultural exchange (Belz, 2003)
 It is a cost-effective way to develop intercultural
awareness and linguistic proficiency (Kern, 2006)
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
MAIN AIMS
Set up a cost-effective exchange for
developing intercultural awareness
Facilitate learner autonomy
Enhance interaction via computer-mediated
learning
Promote mobility across Europe (Erasmus)
Give learners more opportunities to improve
linguistic proficiency in two-way
communication
Develop new online literacies
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
 A moodle platform was used to structure the
telecollaborative exchange
 E-tandem style asynchronous communication was
chosen as a main source of interaction
 10 weeks between October and January 2012/2013
 25 students from the Faculty of Education (University
of Vic) 23 students from the Institute of English
(University of Opole) and 2 teachers were involved
 http://opolevic.gnomio.com
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
PROJECT PHASES AND TASKS
TASKS ARE ASYNCHRONOUS, FOCUSSED ON MEANING AND CLOSELY
RELATED TO THE SYLLABUS CONTENT
1. Familiarisation (2 weeks) Establishing contact
(Müller)
 MOODLE PLATFORM TRAINING
 INTRODUCTION: Students write an introductory
message (200-400 words) about themselves and their
main interests
 GETTING TO KNOW MY INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS:
Students post 2 messages with information about
their housing arrangements, and a typical day in
their lives
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
2. Cultural exchange:(6 weeks) discussing traditions and
comparing life styles Establishing Dialogue/Critical
Reflection
 CULTURAL AWARENESS: Present either any cultural
artifact from your culture (a music band, a book or a
piece of art, a tradition...) to your international
partners.
 VIDEO UPLOADING: Present your city to your
partners. (groups) Record a short video presenting
different aspects of your city
 CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS: Talk about some of your
Christmas Traditions. You may illustrate them with
pictures.
3. Evaluation: topic presentation(2 weeks)
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
BENEFITS
 Positive students’ response (meaningful and
stimulating project)
 Increased confidence in their use of the language
(writing)
 Opportunity to use the target language authentically
 Fluent communication with non native-speakers and
more willingness to correspond
 Balanced partnership
 Heightened sensitivity to cultural
similarities and differences within Europe
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
CHALLENGES
 The role of the teacher
 Project timeframe
 Error correction
 Task design
 Digital literacy skills
 Deadlines
 Assessment criteria
 Integration of synchronous communication
 Follow-up
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
PRELIMINARY STUDY
Research Question: How has the online intercultural exchange
impacted on the students’ intercultural sensitivity?
 25 Third year Spanish undergraduates majoring in Education
and English
 23 Third year Polish undergraduates majoring in English
 Qualitative approach and interpretative perspective
 Data instrument: Likert Scale by Chen and Starosta, 2000. (24 item
questionnaire). Categories:
•
•
•
•
•
Interaction Engagement
Respect for Cultural Differences
Interaction Confidence
Interaction Enjoyment
Interaction Attentiveness
 Data collected before and after the project
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
Interaction Engagement
………………….
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
Respect for cultural
differences
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
Interaction Confidence
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
Interaction enjoyment
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
Interaction Attentiveness
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
CONCLUSIONS
HIGH STARTING POINT OF RESPECT FOR
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
IMPROVEMENT OF INTERACTION
CONFIDENCE
SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN INTERACTION
ENJOYMENT
SLIGHT RISE IN INTERACTION ATTENTIVENESS
FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED
Angel Raluy Alonso. University of Vic
THANKS FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
angel.raluy@uvic.cat