The Co-Construction of Interculturality Through an Ecological Perspective in Teletandem Activities

Rodrigo Schaefer

doi:10.1590/1984-6398202116417

Rodrigo Schaefer

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-6398202116417

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Telecollaboration involves the use of online technologies in the context of language teaching and learning (O’DOWD, 2013). This study sought to understand how the co-construction of interculturality took place in a specific telecollaborative context - teletandem (TELLES; VASSALLO, 2006; TELLES, 2015a, 2015b). For the analysis, data from a teletandem session, a mediation session, an experience report and an interview were included. From an ecological perspective (VAN LIER, 2004; KRAMSCH; STEFFENSEN, 2008), the outcomes showed that the co-construction of interculturality was a process, that is, it occurred over time and through different instances. Put differently, instances subsequent to the teletandem session, e.g. the mediation session and the experience report, were essential for this co-construction.

Highlights

Telecollaborative exchanges, made possible by the use of digital technologies, foster the contact between members of different cultures
As was explained earlier, telecollaboration provides the contact among people from different cultures, this study sought to understand the way in which the co-construction of interculturality took place in the investigated teletandem activities
The analysis showed that teletandem is a context where participants can express ideologies and their subjectivities

Summary

Introduction

Telecollaborative exchanges, made possible by the use of digital technologies, foster the contact between members of different cultures. As was explained earlier, telecollaboration provides the contact among people from different cultures, this study sought to understand the way in which the co-construction of interculturality took place in the investigated teletandem activities. Concerning the second reason, I adopted an ecological perspective (henceforward EcP) (HAUGEN, 2001; VAN LIER, 2004; KRAMSCH; STEFFENSEN, 2008), which, in a more holistic view (KRAMSCH; STEFFENSEN, 2008), can help to draw attention to different instances beyond the teletandem sessions In this way, this study seeks to bridge a gap by focusing on interculturality through an ecological view.

Sociocultural Theory

Ecological Perspective

Method

Data Analysis

R: Really?

Final remarks