In this term paper I am going to describe the expansion of digital media and why digital media are suitable for learning and teaching in the foreign language classroom in general. Afterwards I am going to specify this extensive subject of digital media and to focus on weblogs; I am going to define and examine weblogs concerning their potential and skills that the foreign language learners may acquire by using this kind of communication platform. Finally, I am going to implement these competencies into practice and introduce a teaching unit which I created with my fellow students within the seminar “Digital Media in the EFLC” at Justus-Liebig-University. This teaching unit focusses on countering stereotypical thinking by using weblogs. Thus, it is necessary to examine why weblogs can be a helpful tool to confront foreign language learners with stereotypical thinking.
Over the past decades, the personal computer has become an integral part of modern life in Western society and has entered various sectors of life. Even the rise of the internet and online communication technologies has undoubtedly impacted the way people work and communicate and has become an essential tool for improving the learning process in various fields. Furthermore, Web 2.0 applications such as weblogs are rapidly achieving mainstream adoption in our media culture and have become source of information and reference.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Why Teaching with Digital Media in the Foreign Language Classroom?
3. Why Teaching with Weblogs?
3.1 A General Overview of the Features of Weblogs
3.2 Skills That Foreign Language Learners May Acquire by Using Weblogs
3.2.1 Communicative Skills
3.2.2 Text Competence and Media Literacy
3.2.3 Language Awareness
3.2.4 Cultural Awareness through Weblogs
4. Practical Implementation
4.1 Presentation of the Weblog „My Life as a Canadian”
4.2 Stereotypes as the Main Topic of This Teaching Unit
4.3 A Teaching Unit with the Weblog „My Life as a Canadian”
4.3.1 First Teaching Unit
4.3.2 Second Teaching Lesson
4.3.3 Learning Targets
5. Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Topics
The main objective of this paper is to examine the potential of weblogs as a tool for intercultural learning in the English foreign language classroom. The research explores how digital media, specifically weblogs, can facilitate the development of various language-related skills and help students confront and overcome stereotypical thinking through authentic communication and exposure to other cultures.
- Integration of digital media and Web 2.0 applications in language education.
- Development of communicative, media, and intercultural competence through weblogging.
- Practical implementation of weblog-based teaching units in high school settings.
- Strategies for countering stereotypes and promoting critical perspective-taking.
- Reflection on personal values and national identity through authentic digital content.
Excerpt from the Book
Stereotypes as the Main Topic of This Teaching Unit
Volkmann explains the term „stereotypes” as follows: “Stereotypes are […] schematic ways of interpreting reality. They shape and govern human perception and as such diminish the pressure of unexpected and unknown situations and events. […] Stereotypes help organise and simplify the social environment and they represent and preserve social values.” (2011: 26). Volkmann also describes the possibilities of how a teacher can support the process of countering stereotypes (2011: 30): It is necessary to present authentic, individual people from another culture and scenarios aimed at creating empathy concerning the target culture. Another possibility to counteract stereotypes is to present similarities in everyday life between cultures: students shall explore on their own what connects people from different cultures.
“What should be avoided is stressing exotic aspects of the foreign land” (Volkmann 2011: 30). One of the most challenging goals, as Volkmann claims, is to sensitise foreign language learners towards other perspectives and “to go beyond ethnocentric modes of thinking” (Volkmann 2011: 30). It is necessary to recognise that one´s own perspectives may differ from other people´s and that both perspectives can be “equally valid” (Volkmann 2011: 30). Other cultures have different ways of perception and dealing with life and this is what the students need to be sensitised for. Thus, to see the world through the eyes of the Other´s and to reflect on this change of perspective is an appropriate way for intercultural learning.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the rising importance of digital media and Web 2.0 in the educational sector and sets the goal to explore weblogs as a tool for intercultural learning and countering stereotypes.
2. Why Teaching with Digital Media in the Foreign Language Classroom?: This chapter discusses the role of digital media in supporting independent learning, student interaction, and the acquisition of fluency within the framework of modern language education.
3. Why Teaching with Weblogs?: This chapter defines weblogs as social media tools and examines the specific skills, such as communicative and media literacy, that learners can acquire through their use.
4. Practical Implementation: This chapter provides a concrete teaching unit design for high school students, focusing on utilizing a specific blog to analyze stereotypes and explore Canadian values compared to personal ones.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes how integrating weblogs into the classroom fosters intercultural dialogue and responsible technology use, advocating for a combination of traditional and web-based pedagogy.
Keywords
Weblogs, Digital Media, Intercultural Competence, Foreign Language Classroom, Stereotypes, Language Awareness, Media Literacy, Communicative Skills, Personal Identity, Cultural Awareness, Online Exchange, Teaching Unit, Web 2.0, Pedagogical Innovation, Learner Autonomy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the potential of using weblogs as a pedagogical tool in the foreign language classroom to foster intercultural competence and help students move beyond stereotypical thinking.
What are the central themes of the research?
The core themes include the integration of digital media in language teaching, the definition and benefits of weblogging, the development of specific learner skills, and the practical application of these tools to address complex topics like identity and stereotypes.
What is the main goal regarding the target audience?
The goal is to provide language teachers with a framework and a practical teaching unit designed for high school learners to encourage empathy, perspective-taking, and critical reflection on their own and foreign cultures.
Which scientific methodology is primarily applied?
The paper utilizes a literature-based analysis of digital media in education combined with a practical pedagogical implementation in the form of a sample teaching unit developed during a university seminar.
What does the main part of the paper cover?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations of teaching with digital media and weblogs, details on essential skills like communicative competence and media literacy, and a practical guide for implementing a blog-based lesson plan.
Which keywords best describe the work?
Key terms include weblogs, intercultural competence, foreign language classroom, stereotypes, media literacy, and learner autonomy.
How does the author define stereotypes in the context of the lesson?
Drawing on Volkmann, the author defines them as schematic ways of interpreting reality that simplify the social environment, while emphasizing the need to move beyond ethnocentric modes of thinking.
What role does the blog "My Life as a Canadian" play?
It serves as the authentic source material that allows students to interact with personal narratives, explore Canadian identity, and compare these experiences with their own lives to foster cultural awareness.
How is the concept of Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) applied?
The author uses Michael Byram's model of ICC to explain how students can develop attitudes and skills necessary to detach from prejudices and engage meaningfully with people from other cultures.
- Citation du texte
- Olesja Yaniv (Auteur), 2016, What Potential Do Weblogs Have and What Skills May Foreign Language Learners Acquire in the EFLC?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/354485
