A Review of Research on Intercultural Learning through Computer-Based Digital Technologies

2016-04-01
Intercultural communication is now a crucial part of our globalizing lives; however, not everyone has an opportunity to engage in an intercultural interaction with people from different cultures. Computer-based technologies are promising in creating environments for people to communicate with people from diverse cultures. This qualitative synthesis of quantitative and qualitative research therefore aimed to investigate the literature in respect to intercultural learning through technology use. Besides reporting research descriptives in the literature, this review brought eight main points to the light: (1) an overall satisfaction with digital tools and intercultural learning, (2) increased knowledge toward both own and target culture, (3) superficial and fact based exchange between similar cultures and profiles, (4) varied levels of intercultural communicative competence development, (5) lack of in-depth analysis and of detailed reports, (6) necessity for training, guidance, and good communication skills, (7) need for stimulating contexts, and (8) technical and institutional challenges. The current study is timely to help researchers and practitioners to both comprehend the existing literature and to find new research and practice directions in the field.
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY

Suggestions

The role of telecollaboration in language and intercultural learning: A synthesis of studies published between 2010 and 2015
Çiftçi, Emrullah Yasin; Savaş, Perihan (2018-09-01)
In today's globalized world, learning languages and developing intercultural skills are of paramount importance due to dynamic and complex global interdependencies. However, not every language student around the world has a chance to engage in face-to-face intercultural communication with people from different backgrounds. Telecollaboration offers a worthwhile opportunity by creating digital environments for language learners to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds. This qualitative meta-synthes...
Integrating intercultural communicative competence in teacher education for young learners.
Çopur, Deniz (2021-12-01)
Interaction, communication, and cooperation among different cultures are no longer optional skills but must competencies for professional contexts all around the globe in the 21st century. As English is the medium of professional encounters in today’s world, foreign language teaching is responsible for developing these competencies from the early years of education. This results in culture being an important component of foreign language classes, which puts a heavy responsibility on teachers’ shoulders. Alt...
An Investigation of Intercultural Miscommunication Experiences
Çağatay, Sibel (2013-12-01)
Communication, which has always been one of the basic elements of life, is becoming more and more intercultural in today’s world. People are not only transferring goods and technology among nations; they are also transferring their thoughts, ideas, and cultures. As this flow of communication among nations becomes common, intercultural communication problems, which can be called intercultural miscommunication, is becoming common as well. This paper investigates possible reasons for miscommunication among peo...
'No one is superior to another': tracing intercultural development in a year-long study abroad programme
Çiftçi, Emrullah Yasin; Karaman, Abdullah Cendel; Daloğlu, Ayşegül (2020-08-01)
Due to its essential role in communication among diverse individuals and human communities, the cultivation of interculturality is among the foremost aims of educational domains. Short-term study abroad can be one way to help students develop interculturality. However, there is a lack of a clear picture regarding the multidimensional impact of short-term study abroad on individuals' intercultural development. There also seems to be no clear consensus on the adequacy of influential intercultural competence m...
Intercultural Language Teaching and Learning: Teachers’ Perspectives and Practices
Bal, Nur Gedik; Savaş, Perihan (2022-9-06)
All rights reserved.Thanks to technological advances, migration, and globalization, English has become the language of internationalization. Therefore, many schools prioritized learning English to ensure and sustain international communication. However, in order to communicate well with individuals all around the world, bestowing English language learners with intercultural competence is also required in the teaching and learning of English. In Türkiye, one of the countries that host many immigrants, the ex...
Citation Formats
E. Y. Çiftçi, “A Review of Research on Intercultural Learning through Computer-Based Digital Technologies,” EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY, pp. 313–327, 2016, Accessed: 00, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11511/52894.