The Use of Asynchronous Telecollaborations to Foster Intercultural Competence in Secondary-Level Foreign Language Students

Identifier:  TFM:1514

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFM1514

Authors:  Robinson, Lindy

Abstract:
Intercultural competence (IC) has been widely recognized as a key learning objective in foreign language instruction. With the proliferation of computer-mediated communication tools, researchers have investigated telecollaborations as a means of promoting IC development in language learners. To date, most studies have focused on students at the tertiary-level of education. The present study examined whether a short-term asynchronous telecollaboration has the potential to similarly foster IC in secondary-level students. Additionally, this study assessed whether students within this age group (ages 12 to 18 years old) find exclusively asynchronous telecollaborations beneficial to their learning, engaging, and recommendable to other language learners.