Intercultural Learning through Reflective Blogs & Ethnographic Interviews

1. The Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Baltimore, MD April 2, 2011 Intercultural Learning through Reflective Blogs & Ethnographic Interviews Lina Lee University of New Hampshire llee@unh.edu

2. Intercultural Learning -ICC According to Byram (1997), intercultural communicative competence (ICC) is “A constantly evolving process of developing cultural knowledge, skills of discovery and interaction with others, open attitudes and critical awareness”

3. How to develop ICC? • Formal instruction is not sufficient • Big C vs. small c; 3 Ps – products, practices, perspectives in the 5 Cs • Contact with native speakers through cross-cultural exchanges • Computer-mediated communication (CMC) through telecollaboration • Study abroad (SA) opportunities But: How to maximize SA experience and engage students in meaningful intercultural exchanges?

4. Intercultural Learning • Asynchronous CMC • Face-to-face ethnographic interviews

5. Welcome to the 21st Century Learning

6. Part 1: Blogs

9. What is a ? • Weblog (website) – online diary/journal • Single or multiple authors • Postings in a reverse chronological order • Read postings and make comments • Link to other sources • Instant publishing • Social networking

11. Why ? • Learner autonomy • Decision-making; accountability; transparency • Critical thinking • Personal reflection and social interaction • Community building • Sense of belonging; affective support • High motivation/collective feedback • Multiple readers; not just the instructor

12. Blog Project: Intercultural Learning • Participants • 16 American students in two study abroad programs in Granada, Spain in the fall of 2009 • Sophomores and juniors • Reflective blogs • Personal/social space • Critical reflection on cross-cultural issues • Ethnographic interviews • Real-time intercultural conversations with native speakers • 26 native speakers from local communities and the University of Granada

13. Prior to the Blog Project • Training of how to use Blogger • Three types of blogs • PERSONAL blog (September 2nd to October 29th) • CLASS blog (September 3rd to November 24th) • PROJECT blog (November 10th to December 8th) • Ethnographic interviews • Audio/video recordings • Upload them to the class blog for viewing • Topics and tasks selections • Student-chosen or teacher-assigned topics iMovie

14. Two most popular tools

15. Blogs in Plain English

16. Blogger http://www.blogger.com

19. 3

20. Write an entry here!

21. Dress up • Custom colors and fonts • Use drag-and-drop page elements • Add images, photos and videos and more …

22. More than just text • FREE and no HTML required • Add multimedia • Images from • Videos from • Presentations from • Add your own voice to a blog • Audacity, iMovie, Movie Maker

24. UNH Blackboard

25. Topics for Each Blog Type Personal Blog/Student-chosen Topics • Schedule, meals and nap • Streets, garbage and recycling • Family life and school • Social behavior and manners • Mediterranean diet, finger food and tip Class Blog/Teacher selected Topics • Animal rights (e.g., bullfighting) • Mass communication, TV programs and press • Immigration, ethnic groups and racism • Life style and expressions (e.g., “no pasa nada”) • Food and thoughts Project Blog/Topics of interest • University system and scholarships • Healthcare system and flue • Economic and political issues • Immigration in Spain and in the U.S. • Living environment and recycling

26. Personal Blog Personal Blog

30. Class Blog

31. Spain: Immigrantes

32. Interviewing the Housing Director in Granada La Inmigración Y los Inmigrnates en España

35. Ethnographic Interview: Food/Cooking

37. Ethnographic Interview: Holidays Free Free topic

39. Students’ Reactions to the Blog Project Statements of the Survey Mean SD 1. Blogging was an effective way to gain 4.07 0.59 cultural knowledge and awareness. 2. I liked how each type of blog was implemented 4.13 0.52 in the project. 3. I benefited from writing reflective entries and 3.87 0.35 reading my peers‘ entries and comments. 4. I preferred writing blog entries to the paper 3.47 0.64 format writing. 5. Tasks for the blog assignments were interesting 4.33 0.49 and stimulating.

40. Students’ Reactions to the Blog Project Statements of the Survey Mean SD 6. I enjoyed conducting oral interviews with 4.20 0.56 native speakers. 7. I found ethnographic interviews engaging 4.13 0.52 and informative. 8. Ethnographic interviews allowed me to gain 4.27 0.59 valuable insights into the host culture. 9. Reflecting upon the informants‘ responses 4.07 0.46 comments helped me better understand my own culture. 10. Overall, I had a positive experience with 4.20 0.68 the project.

41. General Comments “For me, the project opened doors to all kinds of learning from observing people‘s behaviors and attitudes toward others to exchanging cross cultural perspectives with native speakers. This project helped me to gain a better understanding of the Spanish culture and learned to appreciate it.”

42. Comments on Blogs “Blogging is the best way to keep track of your thoughts over time. It‘s like writing a personal online journal that gives you freedom to express yourself and reflect upon everyday experiences. Looking back what I wrote early, I now realize how much my perceptions of stereotypes have changed. I think every study abroad student should keep a personal blog.”

43. Comments on Class Blog “The discussion about the immigration issues in Spain, especially in the southern region of Andalusia was very informative. Blogs gave everyone a voice to express opinions and concerns. I’ve learned so much from reading others’ comments about this debatable topic.”

44. Autonomous Learning “Although blogging gave me a personal space to write about different cultural topics, I must admit that at times it was challenging for me to put my thoughts in order. I wasn’t exactly sure what I should focus on. I guess I needed more directions.”

45. Accessibility of Internet “I wish I had an option to use paper like a notebook to write journal entries. There was no Internet in my host house so I had to either go to an Internet café or stay in school to do my homework. In school, there were not enough computers so I often had to wait to use one. I couldn‘t really participate in blog discussions because I had limited access to Internet.”

46. Ethnographic Interviews “It was so interesting to learn about the host culture from personal views shared by real people not from a textbook. I became more aware of how I feel about my own culture by listening to and analyzing the information that emerged from the interviews. For me, it is the best way to get to know people from other cultures.”

47. Ethnographic Interviews “In my view, interviews created optimal conditions for me to interact socially with native speakers from whom I learned about their everyday lives, words and expressions that I would never have learned from sitting in a regular class.”

48. Ethnographic Interviews “I would not have gained a deeper understanding of certain aspects of the Spanish culture had I not had the opportunity to interviewing my host father. It was interesting to learn about the host culture from personal views shared by real people not from a textbook. I became more aware of how I feel about my own culture by listening to and analyzing the information that emerged from the interviews. For me, it is the best way to get to know people from other cultures.”

49. Compare/Contrast Two Cultures #1 - It is weird that my host mom often gives me cookies for breakfast and we eat a fresh piece of fruit or yogurt after lunch. In the United States we would have pies or cakes for dessert. I do miss fresh baked bagels and donuts in Dunkin Donuts. #2 - I‘m surprised that here in Spain it‘s perfectly fine not to leave tips in restaurants or tip taxi drivers. I still don‘t like the idea of not tipping people for the service. I work as a waitress in the US and I would want people to tip me.

50. (1) Cultural Perspectives/Stereotypes NS: The truth is that not everyone watches or goes to bullfighting shows. I have never seen one and I am against the idea of killing animals. The same thing can be said about flamenco. Some Spaniards cannot stand flamenco music. I grew up listening to Paco de Lucia and Moraito. I am passionate about flamenco. In fact, my friends and I play in a small bar near the Elvira street. You are welcome to come …