Videoconferencing in intercultural communication teaching Synchronous and Video-oriented communication Christophe Bouyssi Leibniz Universität Hannover.

Videoconferencing in intercultural communication teaching

Synchronous and Video-oriented communication

Christophe BouyssiLeibniz Universität Hannover

CALL, Antwerpen 2008

Cross-cultural (communication) competence

(in the French-German exchange view & research)

• Cross-cultural communication in FLE means

cross-cultural exchange

a group meets another group

• It is necessary to prepare an exchange,

to include it in the curricula,

to evaluate it

to include it in the formation of foreign language teachers.

ICT

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Exchange

The use of room-based videoconferencing

The number of sessions (4) every two weeks

The sessions take place only in one language because one group

attends a cross-cultural communication course in his language

A invidual-oriented and socio-constructivism methodology

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Short, Williams, Christie (1976) Social Psychology of Telecommunications

Even a full-colour life-size three-dimensional motion-picture transmission of

the complete body of the distant person by some futuristic television system,

although a complete replication of the face-to-face situation in its

reproduction of non-verbal and verbal cues, would not, according to the

Social Presence approach, be exactly the same as face-to-face contact as

long as the interactors were aware that they were separated. (p. 158-9)

The effectiveness of a teleconference as compared with a face-to-face

meeting seems to depend upon how ‘visual’ the meeting is. (p. 152)

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Exchange in the ICT environment

Computer-, Internet-, Web-based

Communication

instead of

Computer-adapted

communication

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Setting

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Cultura

• Goals of Cultura (…) One approach that seemed to us full of promise is to start with

the idea of cultural comparisons. As is well-known, comparing and contrasting similar documents from two cultures - through the simple process of juxtaposition - makes it possible to see differences and similarities that would not otherwise be visible. It allows users to start "seeing", for instance, the different values given to words, the negative or positive connotations, the various attitudes toward events or situations, etc. It constitutes the first step toward deciphering and understanding what these differences may reveal and signify.

(Teacher’s guide, II The core guide, Introduction; http://web.mit.edu/French/culturaNEH/guide/index.html)

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Methodology

Introduction to Cultura Approach and preliminary activities. (Barnga, …)

First part 

(Step 1-3)

Questionnaires and discussions

“The sheer process of juxtaposition allows students to immediately "see" similarities and differences between the materials.”

Second part

(step 4 & 5)

“Students are then encouraged to broaden their scope of inquiry“

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Methodology: AdaptationOriginal Cultura

Internet-based

Cultura with visioconferencing

(every 2 weeks)

Introduction

Approach and preliminary activities. (Barnga, …)

VC 1 : tower out of sugar cubes

Visuel-oriented

First part

Questionnaires and discussions

Forum

Asynchronous

VC 2 : Questionnaires, discussions

Distance

Oral

Synchronous

Second part scope of inquiry

VC 3 and 4 : Simulation (Visuel-oriented)

Reflexion

Evaluation

9

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Course WiSe

Dates Contenus

18.10 Préparation / Questionnaires Cultura

25.10 VC 1 : Tour de sucre

01.11 Evaluation de VC 1 ; Préparation de VC 2

08.11 VC 2 : Interaction autour des questionnaires

15.11 Evaluation de VC 2 ; Préparation de VC 3

22.11 VC 3 : Jeu de rôle

29.11 Evaluation de VC 3 ; Préparation de VC 4

06.11 VC 4 : Evaluation

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Observation sheet

Visioconférence n°__ - Thème : __________

Grille d‘analyse/observation

1. Comportement individuel

2. Comportement du groupe

3. Interactions verbales

4. Interactions non-verbales

5. Étapes de l‘activité

6. Résultat final

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

In France

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

In Germany

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Results

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Skills

1. Stereotypes, Prejudices, Tensions

2. Language acquisition, Interactions

3. Cross-cultural communication

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

1. Stereotypes, Prejudices, Tensions

• Utterances in the videoconferencing are shorter than in face-to face communication.

• Interactions are direct, open and frank.

• Good understanding?

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

2. Language acquisition, Interactions

1. The group’s voice

2. Recast reformulation of the G1 question in L2

3. Negotiating the meaning of the G2 question in L1 and L2 as well as the answer

4. Interactions between G1 and G2 with L2 and silence.

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

3. Cross-cultural communication

• Communication ethos:

How French people have a collective use of the French language

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

Conclusion

• Students• Other collaborations• Deutsch-französiches Jugendwerk/ Office-franco-allemand pour la

jeunesse• Research project in Communication and Education Sciences

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi

See you...

CALL, Antwerpen 2008 – Christophe Bouyssi