Promoting Intercultural and Visual Media Competence in the Foreign Language Classroom with the Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters Through Visual Media

Abstract

Communicative approaches to foreign language education have a history of using visual aids in the classroom. However, the chapter proposes that teachers might exploit the use of visuals much more to support the development of visual media literacy generally and intercultural and visual media competence in particular. Specifically, the authors of this chapter report on insights for teaching gained from using the Council of Europe’s Images of Others: An Autobiography of Intercultural Encounters Through Visual Media (AIEVM) (Barrett M, Byram M, Ipgrav, J, Seurrat A: Images of others: an autobiography of intercultural encounters through visual media. Council of Europe Publishing, Strasbourg. Retrieved from http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/autobiography/default_en.asp, 2013a) in an online intercultural exchange (OIE) that was conducted between preservice teachers of English at Dortmund University (Germany) and Jaen University (Spain). In this exchange, the AIEVM served as the central instrument around which activities were developed to help students reflect on the way cultural “otherness” is represented in and interpreted through images. An analysis of students’ work during the exchange and post-exchange feedback suggests that the OIE learning environment enriched the experience of working with the AIEVM and helped in particular to heighten critical cultural awareness of visual media.