ERIC Number: EJ1234111
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Oct
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1094-3501
EISSN: N/A
Developing Intercultural Competence through Study Abroad, Telecollaboration, and On-Campus Language Study
Lee, Juhee; Song, Jayoung
Language Learning & Technology, v23 n3 p178-198 Oct 2019
Although a number of studies have investigated study abroad or telecollaboration separately, none to date has included both methods with the aim of differentiating their impacts on the development of intercultural communicative competence (ICC). Using mixed methods, the current study compared foreign language learners' perceived ICC development under three different conditions over 6 weeks: 1) a study-abroad program (n = 52) in Korea, China, Japan, France, and Spain designed for American undergraduates; 2) telecollaboration (n = 54) between Korean students of English and American students of Korean; and 3) on-campus language study (n = 44) among Korean students of English and American students of Chinese who were learning languages at their home institutions. Data from 150 students were collected from pre- and post-study questionnaires measuring cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects of ICC; reflective writing; exit essays; and interviews. The results indicated that the study abroad and telecollaboration groups exhibited significant improvement in perceived cognitive, affective (engagement and confidence), and behavioral aspects of ICC over time, whereas the on-campus (control) group showed little change in any aspect of ICC. Although the study-abroad group displayed significantly higher levels of intercultural knowledge than the telecollaboration group, both groups showed similar degrees of improvement in the affective and behavioral aspects of ICC. We argue that online interactions with members of the target culture can be as beneficial as studying abroad and that it is at least more beneficial than traditional classroom language learning in the development of L2 learners' perceived ICC.
Descriptors: Cultural Awareness, Study Abroad, Intercultural Communication, Communicative Competence (Languages), Comparative Analysis, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Undergraduate Students, Korean, English (Second Language), Chinese, Student Attitudes, Essays, Reflection, Student Improvement, Teaching Methods, Foreign Countries, Computer Mediated Communication, Cooperative Learning, Spanish, French, Japanese, On Campus Students
University of Hawaii National Foreign Language Resource Center. 1859 East-West Road #106, Honolulu, HI 96822. Tel: 808-956-9424; Fax: 808-956-5983; e-mail: llt@hawaii.edu; Web site: http://llt.msu.edu
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Korea; Japan; China; Spain; France
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A