Students' Perception on Teaching L2 Culture Online
Subject Area
Foreign Language Pedagogy
Abstract
Mainstream advertising of language companies guarantees that anyone can learn a language online. “Learn a language in 4 weeks,” “Do it from the comfort of your home,” “Learn at your own pace.” Is it feasible, however, to learn all skills of a language online? Can culture be taught online? Second language (L2) Learners can visit virtual museums, science exhibits, can chat and hold videoconferencing sessions with native speakers, they can learn how to cook, dance, and sing, all from home! This paper discusses current research on teaching and learning culture online. It analyzes existing online resources to make culture readily available to language learners. It also presents an ongoing study of an online program that pairs students virtually face-to-face with native speakers. Qualitative data about students’ self-reported perspective of cultural learning is presented, along with quantitative data about cultural gains from a comparative study between treatment and non-treatment. In addition, it explains the results obtained from questionnaires and what cultural aspect/s students think they are learning online.
Brief Bio Note
Mariche Bayonas is associate professor of Spanish Applied Linguistics at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Her current research focuses on various aspects of learning/teaching L2 languages online. She is also interested in SLA, Phonetics, and Sociolinguistics.
Keywords
SLA, L2 Online Learning, Spanish
Location
Afternoon Session 1 (PARB 114/115)
Presentation Year
2019
Start Date
4-12-2019 2:15 PM
Embargo
11-9-2018
Recommended Citation
Bayonas, Mariche G., "Students' Perception on Teaching L2 Culture Online" (2019). South East Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures (SECCLL). 43.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/seccll/2019/2019/43
Students' Perception on Teaching L2 Culture Online
Afternoon Session 1 (PARB 114/115)
Mainstream advertising of language companies guarantees that anyone can learn a language online. “Learn a language in 4 weeks,” “Do it from the comfort of your home,” “Learn at your own pace.” Is it feasible, however, to learn all skills of a language online? Can culture be taught online? Second language (L2) Learners can visit virtual museums, science exhibits, can chat and hold videoconferencing sessions with native speakers, they can learn how to cook, dance, and sing, all from home! This paper discusses current research on teaching and learning culture online. It analyzes existing online resources to make culture readily available to language learners. It also presents an ongoing study of an online program that pairs students virtually face-to-face with native speakers. Qualitative data about students’ self-reported perspective of cultural learning is presented, along with quantitative data about cultural gains from a comparative study between treatment and non-treatment. In addition, it explains the results obtained from questionnaires and what cultural aspect/s students think they are learning online.
