ESP Students’ Perceptions of Participation in Intercultural Virtual Exchange

Узданица XXI II (2024) (стр. 311-324)

АУТОР(И) / AUTHOR(S): Ljiljana J. Knežević, Dragana B. Vuković Vojnović

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DOI: 10.46793/Uzdanica21.2.311K

САЖЕТАК / ABSTRACT:

: Virtual exchange programs are gaining ground in modern foreign language pedagogy especially as a valuable tool for intercultural encounters in an educational context that would otherwise be predominantly monocultural. The current study is set to examine ESP students’ views and impressions regarding their participation in a newly implemented virtual exchange activity aimed at developing students’ intercultural competence and skills. The paper presents the results of a survey conducted with 25 students immediately after their participation in the virtual exchange program. The overall results, of both quantitative and qualitative nature, point to a highly positive attitude of participants towards this innovative pedagogy and general satisfaction with intercultural learning. They also reveal some minor problems that the students were faced with during the program. Considering the fact that this is a completely new learning and teaching experience to all study participants, the findings are to serve as guidelines for improving and better implementing this activity into current ESP courses, and on a long-term basis, incorporating it into ESP course syllabi.

КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ / KEYWORDS:

virtual exchange, intercultural communication, online collaboration, ESP.

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