ERIC Number: ED565127
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Aug
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Social Networking: Developing Intercultural Competence and Fostering Autonomous Learning
Vurdien, Ruby
Research-publishing.net, Paper presented at the 2014 EUROCALL Conference (Groningen, The Netherlands, Aug 20-23, 2014)
With the emergence of Web 2.0, the incorporation of internet-based social networking tools is becoming increasingly popular in the foreign language classes of today. This form of social interaction provides students with the opportunity to express and share their views with their peers, and to create profiles as well as online communities of common interests. Furthermore, through their engagement in online social networking, students develop relationships, build friendships and collaborate with others (Lomicka & Lord, 2009). Online social networking sites have enhanced the environment for language learning and have become a potential platform for internet-based cultural tasks in L2 classes. As a form of telecollaboration, social networking fosters online intercultural interaction between students of different countries with a view to developing intercultural competence. With this in mind, the present study aims to explore how students from two countries, namely, Spain and Mauritius, can develop intercultural competence through the use of the social networking platform Elgg as a telecollaborative learning context. It also discusses whether online social interaction can foster student learning autonomy. [For full proceedings, see ED565087.]
Descriptors: Social Networks, Independent Study, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Intercultural Communication, Cultural Awareness, Web 2.0 Technologies, Student Attitudes, Profiles, Friendship, Cooperative Learning, Learning Activities, Computer Mediated Communication, Foreign Countries, English (Second Language), Test Preparation, Computer Science Education, College Students, Language Tests, Language of Instruction, Program Descriptions, Asynchronous Communication, Qualitative Research, Likert Scales, Student Motivation
Research-publishing.net. La Grange des Noyes, 25110 Voillans, France. e-mail: info@research-publishing.net; Web site: http://research-publishing.net
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Mauritius; Spain
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A