Mini-project #2

Intercultural communication

I think that intercultural communication is an excellent tool for language learning. It can be useful for many things from simply practicing language in an authentic context to really providing students with insight into another culture. However, I agree with all of the readings from last week that the cultural benifits that students recieve from intercultural communication can vary greatly.

I think it is extremely important for teachers to scaffold their students into a third space where they can reflect on both their native culture and the one in which they are communicating with. Only then can the students really practice recul and begin to understand a new culture.

Also, it is important for the intercultural communication to be well structured and monitored. By setting clear guidelines for students on both sides of the communication it is more likely that students will maintain similar expectations about their exchange and therefore feel more comfortable to communicate freely and openly with a person from anothe culture.

Video activities

I am having a hard time thinking of what to do for my video project. I would like to do something that I could use in an elementary classroom, but what? I considered just filming a bunch of random items that fit into a specific theme and then just having students say aloud what they see on the film. But, then I could just use flashcards for that. So...Maybe I could do like a video of a restaurant scene at Montereys and have the students whatch me order a meal in the TL. Then we could go on a field trip to the same restaurant. (I actually am about to go on a field trip to San Joses w my kindergarteners) I dont know..any ideas from my peers would be appreciated!

Citeulike

I think Citeulike is an excellent tool for research. It is so easy to see what other people have found that might be helpful to you. Also, its great so that other people can see what youve found. I am looking forward to using this site for all of my research papers this spring. It is a great organizational tool for people like myself that can't quite keep all of their different research papers separate and organized. I'll be interested to see just how much time I can save reviewing research that others have found. Ill keep you posted...

My MiniProject #1

Here is my first miniproject.

CMC in the classroom

I think computer mediated communication can be an excellent tool in a foreign language classroom, sometimes. I think that both asynchronous and sychronous communication can be valuable, but it all depends on how the activites are set up and the way the technology is managed.

I think that setting up an intercultural chat is a great way to get students using language for a reason. In these situations I think that the focus should be on the cultural aspect of the communication rather than form. If a chat is taking place between NNS then maybe form could become more important. Mostly, I like the idea of using jigsaw activities or information gaps to get students communicating for a purpose. These kinds of activities are fun and educational.

I think when using asynchronous types of CMC it is easier to place an emphasis on form. In the case of email or blogging, students have more time to think about what they want to say and therefore, to think about how they are using the langauge.

Overall, I think we have been introduced to lots of great forms of CMC this semester. However, I am having a hard time making connections between what we discuss and do in class and how it could be implemented in an elementary classroom. So far, video/audio CMC is the only type I can think of with practical uses for young learners. But, with these I am having trouble justifying how they are any different than just face-to-face communication. Maybe I am just scared of the classroom management issues that teaching technology to kindergarteners would create.

Bingo

My document