Readings week 9

Online learning, key pal connection and intercultural learning were the topics for this week. The later ones were more interesting than the former, and the key pal topic didn't provide much new information, and didn't convince me of incorporating key pal projects in my classes.

Online learning seems to be growing fast in America, nevertheless it is not the same in other countries, or at least in South America. People still don't trust technology (besides not having easy access to it), and are used to the old ways of teaching.

The key pal connection article confirmed it is easier to find classrooms inside the same territory, in order to exchange letters. It also proved that its success depends on how close the teacher is looking at the activity, which does not encourage me to add to my load. Therefore I don't think I can use those projects in my classes, I rather have students write blogs or journals, and I would answer back, or have them write back among themselves.

Finally, the long article about intercultural learning through e-mail exchange brought the importance for teachers to develop intercultural communicative competence, as well as for students to look at their culture, and sub cultures, to reinforce, confirm or negate stereotypes, bias, etc. I don't necessarily see the use of e-mail in doing so (as I explained before), instead the teacher could use a video, a movie, a tv program or even a song to teach students about their and other cultures.