Listening and Cross-cultural Understanding in Conversation ... · 13 Online Class Session- song interpretation, voicethread story interpretation 14 Student presentations on a given

Listening and Cross-cultural Understanding in Conversation

(with a Focus on American Culture)

Presenters:

Daniel Perez, University of Veliko Turnovo

Sylvia Velikova, University of Veliko Turnovo

Bulgaria

Listening and Cross-cultural Understanding in Conversation (with a Focus on American Culture)

Course description Topics covered in class

Teaching approach

Project description Goals & Background information

Data-collection – surveys & Listening Log

Results and analysis

Implications

Ideas for further research

Question and answer

5/01/2011 3:56 PM BETA-IATEFL 2011, Daniel Perez & Sylvia Velikova

Conversation class description

Practical English Conversation Level I- Two sections

Location- UVT Main Building (rectorate);

Multimedia room

Schedule- 15 sessions Thursdays 8:00am-9:15am

9:30am-10:45 am

Almost 19 contact hours

Book(s) No required text

Crossroads Level 4, 101 American English Riddles & 101 American English Idioms used as reference text

Additional resources Online material

Discussions that work: Task Centered Fluency Practice by Penny Ur


Program

Week

Topic Lead-in Discussion

1 Introduction

2 Interview activity: “What do you have in common?”

Nonverbal Cues and Body Language

3 Strip Story activity: “Teachers” Attending School

4 Introduction of guest speaker

Discussion- Question and answer session

5 Dialogue and role-play activity: “Social Life”

Building Friendships

6 Compound activity “Love Advice” Dating

7 Student Presentations on a given topic

8 Layout activity: “The Dinner Table” Celebrating Holidays


Program

Week Topic Lead-in Discussion

9 Introduction to guest speaker Question and answer session

10 Online Class session Nonverbal Cues and Body Language

11 Interview activity: “Holiday Shopping” Shopping in the U.S.

12 Online Class Session- reaction to news video, song interpretation

13 Online Class Session- song interpretation, voicethread story interpretation

14 Student presentations on a given topic

15 Introduction to guest speaker

Question and answer session Last Class session- Closing and Administrative housekeeping


Project description

Background

Pre-course survey (38 students responded)

Post-course survey (36 students responded)

Listening Log conducted through online forum: www.voicethread.com

Insufficient data to draw conclusions

Goals To find out how

attention to cross cultural competency will affect students’ ability to communicate with native English speakers.

To find out students’ perceptions on listening as a component of communication.


http://www.voicethread.com/

Pre-course survey • Q: Have you ever been to a country where English is the

official Language?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Student

responses

No visits

short visit 1-2 weeks

Prolonged stay 2-6months

5/01/2011 3:56 PM BETA-IATEFL 2011, Daniel Perez &

Sylvia Velikova

Pre-course survey • Q: Have you ever had difficulty communicating

with native English speakers?

0

5

10

15

20

Student

responses

No difficulties

Somedifficulties

A lot ofdifficulties 0

123456789

Reasons

for

difficulty

Speaker'spronunciation

Nervousness

Speakerspeaking toquickly


Sylvia Velikova

Pre-course survey • Q: What is the most important part of being able to

communicate with native English speakers?

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Student

responses

PronounceClearly

Be confident

Speakgrammaticallycorrect

To understandthe speaker

To learn fromthe speaker

Understand thespeaker'sculture


Sylvia Velikova

Pre-course survey • Q: Do you think it is important to know about the

native English Speaker’s culture?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Student

responses

Yes

No

No response

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Why is it

important

To understandbetter

To not offend

it is interesting


Sylvia Velikova

Pre-course survey • Q: What is a good listener and how do you perceive

yourself as a listener?

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Good

listener

is

Pay attentionto the speaker

Understand

not interrupt

no response0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Are you

a good

listener?

Yes

No

No Response


Sylvia Velikova

Post-course survey • Q: After taking this course do you feel more prepared to

communicate with a native English speaker?

0

5

10

15

20

25

Student

Responses

More prepared

Somewhat

more prepared

No change in

preparedness0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Reasons for

preparedness

Experience

speaking with

native English

speaker

More practice

lessons on

culture

No response


Sylvia Velikova

Post-course survey • Q: Do you feel you know more, less or the same about

American culture than you did before taking this course?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Student

Responses

More

Same

Less


Sylvia Velikova

Post-course survey • Q: Did this course help you to become a better

listener?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Student

Responses

Yes

No

Not sure or no

response 02468

101214161820

How

did it

help?

Chance to talk

to native

English

Speakers

Providing more

practice

New

knowledge of

culture

Not sure or no

response


Sylvia Velikova

Post-course survey • Q: What is the most important part of being able to

communicate with English speakers?

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Student

Responses

ProficientEnglish

Culturalcompetence

Correcting yourerrors

Confidence

Listening andunderstanding

Mutualunderstanding

No response


Sylvia Velikova

Conclusions

Understanding is key in communication

Nervousness was cited as main obstacle in communication.

More practice with live native English speaker most helpful with

communication competence

Acknowledge culture as important to communication and the

course provided sufficient material to give students confidence

on cultural competence

Most thought themselves good listeners, but felt as even better

listeners after having practice speaking with native English

speakers


Implications • Although the cultural competence components of

the course were helpful, inviting guest speakers for

students to practice their English was the most

helpful.

• Find native English speakers to visit your classroom o http://bulgaria.peacecorps.gov/director.php

o http://www.fulbright.bg/en/p-About-Fulbright-Bulgarian-American-

Commission-for-Educational-Exchange-1/

o http://bulgaria.usembassy.gov/am_corners.html

• If this is not possible, perhaps via online mediums: o www.epals.com

o http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/menu_penpals.php


Sylvia Velikova

http://bulgaria.peacecorps.gov/director.php

http://www.fulbright.bg/en/p-About-Fulbright-Bulgarian-American-Commission-for-Educational-Exchange-1/



















http://bulgaria.usembassy.gov/am_corners.html

http://www.epals.com/

http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/menu_penpals.php

Ideas for further research • It would be beneficial to see if using the electronic

medium instead of live native English speakers

would be as effective.


Sylvia Velikova

THANK YOU!

Daniel Perez, [email protected]

Sylvia Velikova, [email protected]

Documents

Listening and Cross-cultural Understanding in Conversation ... · 13 Online Class Session- song interpretation, voicethread story interpretation 14 Student presentations on a given