Question: How does using technology in a foreign langauge classroom impact students' cultural perceptions, or cultural awareness, and motivation?
Setting: The majority of my research will take place in my middle school Spanish class at John Chavis Middle in Cherryville, Gaston County, North Carolina. I have almost 60 seventh and eighth grade students this semester. Twenty-six are female and thirty-two are male, all between the ages of 12 and 16. Out of my fifty-eight students, fifty-two are Caucasian, 3 are African-American, and 3 are of other ethnicity.
Participants: I don't have specifics in mind yet on which students will be participating. I do, however, think I will be interviewing 8 total students, 2 male and 2 female in seventh grade and 2 male and 2 female in eighth grade.
Kristen Clark
Comments (9)
Hi Kristen,
I like your idea of studying the use of technology in a foreign language class. I keep thinking of the Spanish teacher at my own school and all the fun, creative technology lessons that she does. The Internet has such a wealth of information on countries, their people and their cultures. Education-based websites (like Discovery's United Streaming) are invaluable tools for showing kids what life is really like in these far away places; they can make the abstract idea of this distant location come to life! Using the Internet seems like the most obvious tool for teaching in a foreign language classroom, and I am interested in hearing about what other types of teachnology you will be researching.
Amy Galloway
Posted by Amy Galloway | January 31, 2009 10:37 PM
Posted on January 31, 2009 22:37
Hello Kristen,
I would love to hear more detail from you about your students issues with spanish speaking cultures. Since we don't ever meet in person, cicumstances may not allow for this. For now I will just go with me assupmtion of the basic situation and go from there.
I says a lot about that the school population is predominately white. In situations such as these it is often the case that the teaching of tolerance and multiculturalism is needed. However, I understand your primary approach is technological. I really like Amy's suggested sites to use. It does seem to me that before the students can make a significant improvement on their spanish language skill, they need to have a postive breakthrough about their prejudice.
Perhaps they can discover a lot about other cultures through some educational web sites. If the focus is on tolerance for a while, perhaps an improvement on their language skills will be the natural next step.
It seems like a big mountain to climb. Kudos for taking it on. Good luck.
Lyme
Posted by Lyme Kedic | February 1, 2009 2:40 PM
Posted on February 1, 2009 14:40
Kristen,
I agree with Lyme--it is VERY important that issues of multiculturalism are addressed in predominantly white classrooms to preempt any racism or intolerance in the future. I know that this can be hard to accomplish in situations with little diversity, which is why I think your idea to use different technologies is excellent. There are so many useful websites and resources for sharing cultures and teaching tolerance. Would you consider some kind of e-correspondence with a classroom in a Spanish-speaking country? I think it may be useful for your students to identify with other cultures on a personal level as well as an educational one.
Posted by Tara Smith | February 1, 2009 8:07 PM
Posted on February 1, 2009 20:07
Kristen,
I think any time we use technology in our classrooms our students benefit. I also see the internet playing a huge part in your study....Oh the places you can go! I am not sure what is available at your school or what you have in your classroom already in the form of technology but if you need to borrow anything for your study and I have it at the High School you are more than welcome to use it. Good luck can't wait to see what you put together.
Scott Heavner
Posted by Scott Heavner | February 1, 2009 9:01 PM
Posted on February 1, 2009 21:01
Kristen,
I can't imagine a better idea to look at! There are so many things that technology can do to help students learn a foreign language. I know there are sites that do translations, and I know Microsoft has some ability to translate. I would be interested to see which types of technology would impact the most! Have you used that Cinco De Mayo website we created? If so, has it helped with that lesson?
Posted by Matt Maurer | February 2, 2009 9:06 PM
Posted on February 2, 2009 21:06
Kristen,
I am excited about this project. For your research question, I recommend that you limit it a bit more. Cultural perceptions/awareness and motivation are two very distinct phenomena, and I'm worried that you'll feel as if you are doing two studies at once!
Also, think carefully about your participants. Are you choosing "average" participants as far as cultural awareness, or students whom you have noticed carry some fairly strong cultural prejudices? Or are you choosing a diverse group in terms of their levels of cultural awareness? It will be important to be purposeful about your choice of participants *AND* give a rationale for doing so.
Posted by Alecia Jackson | February 3, 2009 10:01 PM
Posted on February 3, 2009 22:01
I meant to add that I think it would be a more interesting study if you researched cultural awareness rather than motivation.
Posted by Alecia Jackson | February 3, 2009 10:02 PM
Posted on February 3, 2009 22:02
Rewritten question: How does using technology in a foreign langauge classroom impact students' cultural awarness?
Posted by Kristen Clark | February 4, 2009 6:08 PM
Posted on February 4, 2009 18:08
That's it!
Posted by Alecia Jackson | February 4, 2009 7:34 PM
Posted on February 4, 2009 19:34