The Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
Baltimore, MD
April 2, 2011
Intercultural Learning
through Reflective Blogs &
Ethnographic Interviews
Lina Lee
University of New Hampshire
llee@unh.edu
Intercultural Learning -ICC
According to Byram (1997), intercultural
communicative competence (ICC) is
“A constantly evolving process of
developing cultural knowledge, skills of
discovery and interaction with others,
open attitudes and critical awareness”
How to develop ICC?
 Formal instruction is not sufficient
 Big C vs. small c; 3 Ps – products, practices,
perspectives in the 5 Cs
 Contact with native speakers through crosscultural exchanges
 Computer-mediated communication (CMC) through
telecollaboration
 Study abroad (SA) opportunities
But: How to maximize SA experience and engage
students in meaningful intercultural exchanges?
Intercultural Learning
 Asynchronous CMC
 Face-to-face ethnographic interviews
Welcome to the
21st Century
Learning
Part 1: Blogs
What is a
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




?
Weblog (website) – online diary/journal
Single or multiple authors
Postings in a reverse chronological order
Read postings and make comments
Link to other sources
Instant publishing
Social networking
Why
?
 Learner autonomy
 Decision-making; accountability; transparency
 Critical thinking
 Personal reflection and social interaction
 Community building
 Sense of belonging; affective support
 High motivation/collective feedback
 Multiple readers; not just the instructor
Blog Project: Intercultural Learning
 Participants
 16 American students in two study abroad programs in
Granada, Spain in the fall of 2009
 Sophomores and juniors
 Reflective blogs
 Personal/social space
 Critical reflection on cross-cultural issues
 Ethnographic interviews
 Real-time intercultural conversations with native speakers
 26 native speakers from local communities and the
University of Granada
Prior to the Blog Project
 Training of how to use Blogger
 Three types of blogs
 PERSONAL blog (September 2nd to October 29th)
 CLASS blog (September 3rd to November 24th)
 PROJECT blog (November 10th to December 8th)
 Ethnographic interviews
 Audio/video recordings
 Upload them to the class blog for viewing
 Topics and tasks selections
 Student-chosen or teacher-assigned topics
iMovie
Two most popular tools
Blogs in Plain English
Blogger
http://www.blogger.com
3
Write an entry here!
Dress up
 Custom colors and fonts
 Use drag-and-drop page elements
 Add images, photos and videos
and more …
More than just text
 FREE and no HTML required
 Add multimedia
– Images from
– Videos from
– Presentations from
 Add your own voice to a blog
– Audacity, iMovie, Movie Maker
UNH Blackboard
Topics for Each Blog Type
Personal Blog/Student-chosen Topics
•
•
•
•
•
Schedule, meals and nap
Streets, garbage and recycling
Family life and school
Social behavior and manners
Mediterranean diet, finger food and tip
Class Blog/Teacher selected Topics
• Animal rights (e.g., bullfighting)
• Mass communication, TV programs and
press
• Immigration, ethnic groups and racism
• Life style and expressions (e.g., “no pasa
nada”)
• Food and thoughts
Project Blog/Topics of
interest
• University system and
scholarships
• Healthcare system and flue
• Economic and political issues
• Immigration in Spain and in
the U.S.
• Living environment and
recycling
Personal
Blog
Personal
Blog
Class Blog
Spain:
Immigrantes
La Inmigración
Y los Inmigrnates en
España
Interviewing the
Housing Director
in Granada
Ethnographic
Interview:
Food/Cooking
Ethnographic
Interview: Holidays
FreeFree
topic
Students’ Reactions to the Blog Project
Statements of the Survey
Mean SD
4.07 0.59
1. Blogging was an effective way to gain
cultural knowledge and awareness.
2. I liked how each type of blog was implemented 4.13 0.52
in the project.
3. I benefited from writing reflective entries and 3.87 0.35
reading my peers‘ entries and comments.
4. I preferred writing blog entries to the paper
3.47 0.64
format writing.
5. Tasks for the blog assignments were interesting 4.33 0.49
and stimulating.
Students’ Reactions to the Blog Project
Statements of the Survey
6. I enjoyed conducting oral interviews with
Mean SD
4.20
0.56
native speakers.
7. I found ethnographic interviews engaging
4.13 0.52
and informative.
8. Ethnographic interviews allowed me to gain 4.27 0.59
valuable insights into the host culture.
9. Reflecting upon the informants‘ responses
4.07 0.46
comments helped me better understand my own culture.
10. Overall, I had a positive experience with
4.20 0.68
the project.
General Comments
“For me, the project opened doors to all kinds
of learning from observing people‘s behaviors
and attitudes toward others to exchanging
cross cultural perspectives with native
speakers. This project helped me to gain a
better understanding of the Spanish culture
and learned to appreciate it.”
Comments on Blogs
“Blogging is the best way to keep track of your
thoughts over time. It‘s like writing a personal
online journal that gives you freedom to express
yourself and reflect upon everyday experiences.
Looking back what I wrote early, I now realize
how much my perceptions of stereotypes have
changed. I think every study abroad student
should keep a personal blog.”
Comments on Class Blog
“The discussion about the immigration
issues in Spain, especially in the southern
region of Andalusia was very informative.
Blogs gave everyone a voice to express
opinions and concerns. I’ve learned so
much from reading others’ comments
about this debatable topic.”
Autonomous Learning
“Although blogging gave me a personal
space to write about different cultural
topics, I must admit that at times it was
challenging for me to put my thoughts
in order. I wasn’t exactly sure what I
should focus on. I guess I needed more
directions.”
Accessibility of Internet
“I wish I had an option to use paper like a
notebook to write journal entries. There was no
Internet in my host house so I had to either go
to an Internet café or stay in school to do my
homework. In school, there were not enough
computers so I often had to wait to use one. I
couldn‘t really participate in blog discussions
because I had limited access to Internet.”
Ethnographic Interviews
“It was so interesting to learn about the host
culture from personal views shared by real
people not from a textbook. I became more
aware of how I feel about my own culture
by listening to and analyzing the information
that emerged from the interviews. For me, it
is the best way to get to know people from
other cultures.”
Ethnographic Interviews
“In my view, interviews created optimal
conditions for me to interact socially with
native speakers from whom I learned about
their everyday lives, words and expressions
that I would never have learned from sitting
in a regular class.”
Ethnographic Interviews
“I would not have gained a deeper understanding of
certain aspects of the Spanish culture had I not had the
opportunity to interviewing my host father. It was
interesting to learn about the host culture from personal
views shared by real people not from a textbook. I
became more aware of how I feel about my own culture
by listening to and analyzing the information that
emerged from the interviews. For me, it is the best way
to get to know people from other cultures.”
Compare/Contrast Two Cultures
#1 - It is weird that my host mom often gives me cookies
for breakfast and we eat a fresh piece of fruit or yogurt
after lunch. In the United States we would have pies or
cakes for dessert. I do miss fresh baked bagels and donuts
in Dunkin Donuts.
#2 - I‘m surprised that here in Spain it‘s perfectly fine not
to leave tips in restaurants or tip taxi drivers. I still don‘t
like the idea of not tipping people for the service. I work
as a waitress in the US and I would want people to tip
me.
(1) Cultural Perspectives/Stereotypes
NS: The truth is that not everyone watches or
goes to bullfighting shows. I have never seen one
and I am against the idea of killing animals. The
same thing can be said about flamenco. Some
Spaniards cannot stand flamenco music. I grew
up listening to Paco de Lucia and Moraito. I am
passionate about flamenco. In fact, my friends
and I play in a small bar near the Elvira street. You
are welcome to come …
Cultural Perspectives/Stereotypes
NNS: Thank you for the invitation. I would like
to come. It is interesting to hear what you have
just said. I thought all Spaniards were passionate
about this sport. It seems to be an important
tradition and central to the cultural identify.
Now I see that what I think as an American
about bullfighting is just an example of many
stereotypes.
(2) Small c Perspective
“Una de mis frases favoritas es ‘no pasa nada’ Es una
expresión muy interesante que me explicó mi
compañero de entrevista. El me dijo que en España la
gente trata disfrutar la vida lo mas posible. No
preocupa mucho para la vida. Me gusta esta actitud
mucho. Obseciono mucho para vivir ‘perfectamente’
que he perdido cosas que me hacen alegres y
saludables, como amigos, comida y diversion – y tapas
en Granada, por supuerto. España me ha enseñado
relajarse más.”
(3) Formality- You (Tú vs. Usted)
“Today I interviewed my political science asked
me to address him using tú. I really did not feel
comfortable doing that. In my Spanish classes, I
learned that the informal tú is used when speaking
to family members or close acquaintances. I got
confused. He jokingly said to me that it would
make him feel younger … and of course we
laughed. I guess it all depends on the person not the
rule.”
(4) Listening Skills
“I had a similar experience. Although it was
amazing to hear my host mom talk about what
she believed about Catholicism, she spoke very
fast with a heavy Andalusian accent. In many
words final consonants were dropped. It was
quite challenging for me. I felt embarrassed
when I had to ask her to repeat herself several
times. Overall it was a good listening practice
for me.”
Pedagogical Implications
• Technology itself does not guarantee the
success of learning outcomes.
• Task-based learning fosters active engagement
and critical reflection.
• CMC blogs and FTF interviews prove to be
effective for intercultural communication and
awareness.
• Accessibility to Internet on a regular basis is
essential (study abroad).
For more information
Lina Lee
llee@unh.edu
PowerPoint: Look for NECTFL 2011
http://lleeunh.wordpress.com/my-blogs/