Telecollaboration uses “…online communication tools to bring together language learners in different countries for the development of collaborative work and intercultural exchange” (O’Dowd & Ritter, 2006, p623). Such collaborations may also be known as Tandem Language Learning (TLL), Online Intercultural Exchange (OIE) or even Internet-mediated Intercultural Foreign Language Education (ICFLE).
In this video, Hungary-based teacher Eva Toth, shares her experience organising an online collaborative project with her students. The project is called Let’s get down to e-business! and was set up through the e-Twinning network, the community for schools in Europe.
In Part 4, Eva talks about:
- a great digital device for brainstorming (Answer Garden)
- another great digital tool for collaboration (Padlet)
- the impact of projects that are related to real-life
- one of her current projects – Sound Mind in A Sound Body
- one of her future projects about Dream Jobs
Great quotes from Part 4 of the interview about project-based learning:
It’s sad we have an internet connection problem!”
I think it’s great because it is about real life. How a project can change your life, and, what’s more teachers are involved as well.”
There is another one (project) about work, but it’s really at the beginning. We will try to see different types of work, what their dream jobs is. And it’s for last years students who will enter the labour market…to prepare them for real life.”
I’d like to give a big THANK YOU to Eva Toth for being a great interviewee!
If you are interested in participating in a Telecollaboration project with students based in China, or the UK, please do get in touch.
Friends outside of China, feel free to watch the video on YouTube here.
Reference
O’Dowd, R. & Ritter, M. (2006). Understanding and Working with ‘failed communication’ in telecollaborative exchanges. CALICO Journal, 23 (3), 623-642.