Publicação
Educational technology in new methods for foreign language learning and the development of intercultural competences
| Resumo: | Digital technologies are used across numerous domains of life, by individuals from a diverse range of social and professional backgrounds. While these technologies, manifested through the internet and digital devices, can have detrimental effects, including distraction, addiction and cyberbullying, they also present novel opportunities in private, educational, and professional settings. Globalisation is intensifying the interconnectivity and interdependencies between disparate nations and cultures across the globe. This is evidenced by the increasing prevalence of global trade, migration and tourism. The capacity to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries is becoming a crucial skill. This thesis examines the potential of digital media for developing intercultural and foreign language skills. An ethnographic approach was employed in conjunction with case studies to conduct research in diverse learning contexts, encompassing both institutional and non-institutional settings. The research involved collaboration with teachers and learners from different countries and also entailed an investigation of the potential of social networks and self-directed learning approaches. The results show that learners differ significantly from one another in terms of their needs and motivations. The advent of digital technologies presents the opportunity to provide each learner with tailored pathways to fulfil their needs and achieve their learning objectives. The findings of this research indicate that digital technologies present a significant opportunity for the acquisition of foreign language skills and the development of intercultural competences. Both learners and teachers can engage in the production of content through the utilisation of digital resources, including online tools, which can facilitate the acquisition of these skills. Furthermore, the current generation of learners is already adept at using digital communication tools, which can be integrated into their learning process to foster connections with other cultures. These new methods require not only a shift in the technical infrastructure of educational institutions but also a change in the student-teacher and student-student relationship, as well as fostering a culture of autonomous work among individuals. This dissertation aims to contribute to the discourse on equipping both current and future generations with the skills to navigate these evolving challenges. |
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| Autores principais: | Peil, Sigrun Corinna |
| Assunto: | Digital Tools Educational Technology Individualisation of Learning Intercultural Communication Language Learning Aprendizagem de Línguas Comunicação Intercultural Ferramentas Digitais Individualização da Aprendizagem Tecnologia Educativa Ciências Sociais::Ciências da Educação |
| Ano: | 2025 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | tese de doutoramento |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade do Minho |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho |
| Resumo: | Digital technologies are used across numerous domains of life, by individuals from a diverse range of social and professional backgrounds. While these technologies, manifested through the internet and digital devices, can have detrimental effects, including distraction, addiction and cyberbullying, they also present novel opportunities in private, educational, and professional settings. Globalisation is intensifying the interconnectivity and interdependencies between disparate nations and cultures across the globe. This is evidenced by the increasing prevalence of global trade, migration and tourism. The capacity to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries is becoming a crucial skill. This thesis examines the potential of digital media for developing intercultural and foreign language skills. An ethnographic approach was employed in conjunction with case studies to conduct research in diverse learning contexts, encompassing both institutional and non-institutional settings. The research involved collaboration with teachers and learners from different countries and also entailed an investigation of the potential of social networks and self-directed learning approaches. The results show that learners differ significantly from one another in terms of their needs and motivations. The advent of digital technologies presents the opportunity to provide each learner with tailored pathways to fulfil their needs and achieve their learning objectives. The findings of this research indicate that digital technologies present a significant opportunity for the acquisition of foreign language skills and the development of intercultural competences. Both learners and teachers can engage in the production of content through the utilisation of digital resources, including online tools, which can facilitate the acquisition of these skills. Furthermore, the current generation of learners is already adept at using digital communication tools, which can be integrated into their learning process to foster connections with other cultures. These new methods require not only a shift in the technical infrastructure of educational institutions but also a change in the student-teacher and student-student relationship, as well as fostering a culture of autonomous work among individuals. This dissertation aims to contribute to the discourse on equipping both current and future generations with the skills to navigate these evolving challenges. |
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