Virtual Exchange for Intercultural Language Learning and Teaching: Fostering Communication for the Digital Age

This book explores new virtual intercultural practices for language learning from primary to tertiary education, highlighting the transversality of these practices throughout the language curriculum. It deploys diverse educational exchanges within technological tools and approaches, creating emerging communities of practice. It appeals to researchers, scholars, post-graduate students, and teachers in applied linguistics, language learning and teaching, education, information studies, cultural studies, and intercultural communication.

Format: Hardback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 19 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book explores innovative virtual intercultural practices for language learning across primary, secondary, and tertiary education, emphasizing their transversal significance throughout the language curriculum. The current English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) perspective establishes a framework for cultural exchanges in diverse contexts, from which various authors from Europe and around the world present their studies. The book employs a range of educational exchanges facilitated by various technological tools and approaches to the intercultural dimension in language learning. These virtual exchanges bring together languages and educational cultures to form emerging communities of practice, co-constructed within the limited time and space of collaborative projects.

This volume initiates a dialogue between researchers from diverse backgrounds, encompassing theoretical and methodological perspectives. It recognizes that technology cannot be understood solely in terms of its technological aspects, nor can human and semiotic meanings be grasped without considering Information and Communication Technology (ICT). By adopting a nuanced and interconnected stance, this book appeals to scholars, researchers, post-graduate students, and teachers in applied linguistics, language learning and teaching, education, information studies, cultural studies, and intercultural communication.

The book's chapters delve into various aspects of virtual intercultural practices, including online collaboration, cultural awareness, language proficiency, and intercultural communication skills. It provides practical examples and case studies from real-world scenarios, showcasing the effectiveness of these practices in enhancing language learning outcomes and promoting cross-cultural understanding. The authors emphasize the importance of integrating technology, pedagogy, and cultural perspectives to create inclusive and engaging learning environments that foster global citizenship and prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century.

In conclusion, this book offers a valuable resource for educators, researchers, and practitioners seeking to enhance language learning and promote intercultural competence in the digital age. By highlighting the transversal nature of virtual intercultural practices and fostering dialogue between diverse perspectives, it contributes to the ongoing development of language education and prepares learners for the globalized world of the 21st century.

Weight: 585g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367456610