Call For Participants
This is a call for participants to my online collaborative exchange project. This ‘Telecollaboration‘ will be carried out as academic research for my Masters in Digital Technologies for Language Teaching at the University of Nottingham. Please read the dissertation abstract here. Or read the full dissertation proposal here.
What is Telecollaboration?
Telecollaboration has it’s roots in Tandem Language Learning. In a nutshell, Telecollaboration brings together groups of learners in different geographic locations to work together online. My idea is to partner individuals in one group with a member from another group and lead them through a series of scaffolded activities in order to facilitate collaboration, communication and cultural exchange. Take a look at this 10 slide, 10 minute video presentation to learn more:
What are the benefits?
This enjoyable online learning experience has numerous benefits including practice and improvement of:
- language skills (practice and improve communication skills in a real-life context)
- cross-cultural awareness (learn with, from and about each other to deepen cultural understanding)
- digital literacy (learn about and use digital tools to enhance the learning experience)
What are the online activities*?
My Proposed Masters Project Activities
Project structure: Five 1 hour classes per week for 4 weeks
WEEK 1: Introduction Phase
Introduction to TC>pre-activity survey>speaking test
WEEK 2: Getting to know you Phase
Information exchange tasks
WEEK 3: Compare Culture Phase
Compare and analysis tasks
WEEK 4: Production Phase
Collaborative tasks
*Please note this is a simple example of the structure and content of possible activities, and can be adapted to the groups’ schedule and abilities. Click here for more details about the tasks.
Who Can Participate?
My dissertation proposal was written while I was living in China (I am in back in the UK now) so I was originally looking for two groups of learners:
English-speaking learners of Chinese and Chinese learners of English
However, other language combinations are possible, such as:
French/Spanish learners of English and English learners of French/Spanish
and/or two groups may use English as a Lingua Franca.
In terms of age, the following groups are welcome:
Young learners under the age of 11**
Learners aged 11-18 years old
Adult learners aged 18+
** Please note it may be more difficult to find a match for a YL group.
How to Participate?
If you have a group of learners who you think would be benefit from this type of exchange please contact me directly at [email protected] with the following information: your name, your title, your school name, number of students, student ages, student language level (CEFR), hours available to dedicate to this project and any other relevant information.
If there is a big response, I may organise a webinar to answer your questions in more detail.
Thank You!
Source
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