* * * Virtual Exchange Euromed Ecole de Management Marseille University of Michigan Ann Arbor *

Can you hear me now? Est-ce que vous mentendez? Student perception of learning from virtual Skype exchange

Background Information Euromed Ecole de Management, Marseille University of Michigan, Ann Arbor One hour/week Skype voice chat Structured tasks 30 min English - 30 min French Pairs or small groups

voice/video chat list contacts conference call text chat send file

Student Profiles International Management Bachelor, CESEMED Planning study in USA Enrolled Civilization and Culture - Business English class Volunteers 2nd year Undergraduates Ross School of Business BBA Liberal Arts Bachelor Half studied abroad Some planning international internship Enrolled Business French Mix 2nd 3rd 4th year

Exposure Native Speakers MICHIGAN: classes in French, weekly conversation group, work/study abroad, tourism. EUROMED: Classes in English, work/study abroad, tourism. International school with strong English language component. Frequent contact with anglophones.

Project Goals Enhance target language skills Increase cultural awareness target culture Familiarity with business practices EUROMED: Increased familiarity American campus life, university system

Structured Activities Ice breaker Comparison education systems, college life CV and cover letter peer critiques Current event discussions (elections) Daily life and customs Cross-cultural advertising

Survey: What did we want to learn? Culture and language: What do the students think they learned? What are student attitudes? Feelings on collaborative learning? Impact of group dynamics? Motivation for contact outside class?

Online Survey Students from 3 semesters Responses 18/28 Michigan (64%) 17/35 Euromed (48%) Majority open-ended questions Also: focus group and personal communication

Attitudes: 5 adjectives sympatique innovant ennuyeux curieuse tolerant contraignant ludique partage marrant amicale dissipé inutile genial fatigué comprehensive dubitative reticente motivation apprentissage convivialité ouvert desprit tardif Positive Negative

Attitudes: 5 adjectives informative interesting frustrating curious educational awkward entertaining riveting enjoyable realistic disappointed positive nervous interactive boring cautious engaged exciting fun modern confusing mellowenticing enriching Positive Negative

Attitudes: 5 adjectives 68 (83%) 14 (17%) Positive 53 (76%) Negative 16 (23%)

Recurrent Themes Positive: relationship (13), engagement (12), enjoyment (7), newness (3) Negative: logistics (5), dissatisfaction (5) Postive: enjoyment (25), meaningful (17), engagement (15), relaxing environment (5), newness (5) Negative: discomfort-risk (6), disengagement/dissatisfaction (4)

Commitment / Engagement Envie de partager Intéressé Motivation Ouvert desprit Tolérante Enthousiasmée Découverte Interested Interactive Riveting Engaged Curious Enticing Exploratory

Enjoyment - Pleasure Agréable Cool Divertissant Genial Ludique Marrant Fun Excited, exciting Cool Enjoyable Entertaining

Relationship Amical Convivialité Gentille Sympathique Patiente Content de pratiquer la langue de manière plus utile qu'avec un francophone Meaningful Educational Informative Cultural Enriching Beneficial Helpful Superb Useful Worthwhile

Logistics Contraignant Dissipé Tardif Fatigué Discomfort Risk Cautious Awkward Frustrating Nervous Nerve-wracking Confusing

(3) Q: What did you learn? Business content; educational system, tidbits, very general topic Language expressions, language skill Cultural value observation, perspective Dont remember, rien Communication skills, intercultural communication (elsewhere) Découverte dune personne (elsewhere)

Q: Target language improve? Actual French people Comfortable speaking, conversation, improvisation Constructive criticism encouraging partners (overt) Listen, compare accent, identify gaps (noticing) Technical problems, frequent contact anglophones Yes Yes/No No

Best aspects Speaking (conversation) native student Making connections, friends Intercultural communication (2) What international employers want (1) Vie de campus, système univérsitaire Casser des stéréotypes Apprentissage de la langue Echange de culture Interactivité

Least useful aspect Fewer French than American students (pairs) Not same person every week Worksheets (structured activities) Staying on task Questions obligatoires, planning de discussion (everyone)

Learning from peers Positive 7 5 Pos/Neg 4 2 POSITIVE: general language, more professional, sound more French, better position myself in market, on apprend sans sen rendre compte, charmante-brillante, bénéfique dans les deux sens DUBIOUS: too general, accuracy?

Learning from peers Ils ont une manière de nous parler qui fait que nous comprenons mieux, car ils ont notre âge, on sait ce quils vivent comme nous. You learn an actual French opinion and reaction through interacting with them which is impossible to learn through a lecture…

Group Dynamics PAIRS build relationship des affinités se sont créés more speaking time, focus on task, typical internet chat build relationship des affinités se sont créés more speaking time, focus on task, typical internet chat Time getting to know new partner takes time away from task. Time getting to know new partner takes time away from task. New partner Large group Large group videoconference might make first meeting less akward Large group videoconference might make first meeting less akward

Q: Videoconferencing? Yes Maybe No Video body language, gestures nice to see them, plus aisé ça nous force à être concentré distraction Audio hone comprehension less anxiety, nervous less worried appearance Hes cute!

Teachers perception Trust (teacher vs peer) Authentic hands on, almost like being there Were not so different Timid student can participate Keen to come, disappointed to finish Organization (come prepared)

Ease, confidence of communication w native speaker Vocab and cultural info Bureaucratic side French business (vs Nike Cowboy) Just like us - age, similar experiences Authentic transfer, corroboration knowledge (practice vs theory) Teachers perception

Contact outside class Once or twice (16), regularly (3) via and Skype with the same person for classwork and general conversation

Once or twice (16), regularly (3) via and Skype with the same person for classwork and general conversation Contact outside class TIDBITS: One pair holiday gifts Two meet up in France Romance Continue contact Summer in Marseille And beyond … TIDBITS: One pair holiday gifts Two meet up in France Romance Continue contact Summer in Marseille And beyond …

What are students telling us? Worksheet/guides too constraining, not conducive to communication Communicate and focus better in pairs - relationship is important, same age Enjoyable overall experience Positive cultural exchange information Videoconferencing not important

Contact Info Terri Jordan Rachael Criso Philomena Meechan

Novelty - Newness Curieuse Découverte Innovant Intéressant Curious Cool Enticing Exploratory Modern Surprised