Analysis of a “successful” intercultural conversation Example from a Cultura online discussion forum based on the responses to the word “family” (from the word association questionnaire) Online Cafés for Heritage Learners NFLRC Workshop – University of Hawai‘i June 19, 2008

The data and the subsequent discussion forum The data analyzed: answers to the word family from the word association questionnaire family  The forum based on the responses to that wordforum  Features that make for a “successful” intercultural conversation --->

Sharing observations and knowledge about one’s own culture  Alicia: One big difference that I noticed..  Gabrielle: It does look indeed as if..  Gaelle: I too noticed…  Alicia: I think that in America, there is a strong emphasis placed on cultivating a "loving, caring, supportive family environment" which is why "love” is one of the first words…

Making hypotheses/wondering  From a French student [translation]  Gabrielle: It does look indeed as if the French use the word “amour” in their responses. Perhaps it is because one doesn’t worry about being unloved and therefore it is not a concern. That being said, this is only a theory: I don’t really know why we don’t use that word.

Agreeing and offering another hypothesis  Gaelle: I too noticed the strong concentration of the word “love” in your responses. Perhaps in France, it is more implicit, hidden, but it does not mean that love is not there.

Wondering about the language/offering one’s own personal experience  Howard: Is it possible that love has a different connotation in France and other words related to love are being used to describe family on the French side? Words such as entraide, bonheur, soutien, etc. [..] From my experience, I know that Americans sometimes tend to overuse the word love and the exact meaning really depends on the context.

Reacting to comments/adding information  Alicia: I think Gaelle touched on something very interesting about love being a more implicit emotion in France than it is in America. Definitely in America, the word "love" is thrown around a lot. It is used a lot as a way of parting, like people will say "I love you" before ending a phone conversation with their boyfriend/girlfriend, parents or siblings, even sometimes with very good friends. This is something that happens very often and we don't think very much of it. I was wondering, what is the case in France? Are the words "amour" or "s'aimer" spoken very often?

Providing an opinion and a concrete illustration/raising a question  Gaelle: This question is really interesting. The French are, I believe, perhaps more modest, more discreet about expressing their feelings of love. I just made a little survey in the class to know how many of us occasionally said “I love you” to their parents. Well, no one, including me, does it. In spite of that, it is certain that this love exists. Now to go back to you, doesn’t this habit of saying “I love you” rather frequently (which is actually quite good) partially devalue the word? Revealing a slight level of skepticism on the part the French and raising yet another question of semantics. Are there words even stronger than “love”?

Agreeing and disagreeing with someone of the same culture  Gabrielle: I completely agree with Gaëlle about the different values of the word “je t'aime". As far as I am concerned, I do indeed think it is a shame to “banaliser” such precious words. In France, […] saying "je t'aime" to someone is already felt as a commitment. Regarding the issue of us not saying “je t'aime” to parents, however, I totally disagree! I often say it to my parents, but to them only!

Trying to figure things out/asking for clarification  Kezia: Interesting comment, Gaelle. I always thought that the French were more open about their emotions. The French always seem to be kissing and hugging each other. Whereas in America, people tend to touch less when they're in public. Some people even frown upon couples kissing in front of others and mothers breast-feeding their babies. Why do you say the French are more discreet?

Clarifying a misunderstanding/raising a broader issue  Gaelle: The French are more modest when it comes to expressing their feelings loud and clear, but it is indeed common to see couples on the street kissing each other. This discussion is really interesting [..] And she goes on saying: Now what about you? [..] I have seen on TV people touching lips without seeming to be very close…Is this reality or is this an image you see in media? Does this happen to you and under what circumstances?

To summarize the features of a “successful” intercultural discussion  There is a real dialogue.  Students constantly share knowledge of their own culture with each other  They ask questions and respond to each other’s questions  They raise what they see as paradoxes  The topic gets explored further in depth as the conversation moves forward, and students learn something from each other -->

In this instance  American students learn that there are different cultural ways of expressing emotions:  in the US: tendency to verbalize them (saying “I love you”)  in France: tendency to show and display emotions (kissing and hugging in public)  French students also learn that the public displays of affection so common in France are perhaps best shown in private in the States (cf in America, people tend to touch less when they're in public. Some people even frown upon couples kissing in front of others and mothers breast-feeding their babies)

This is an illustration of… … constructivism in action: students building together an understanding of each other ’ s culture. It provides a good example of the way in which students need to move “ from knowledge sharing to knowledge building ” - the central and most challenging element, in my opinion, of a successful intercultural dialogue Sara Kol and Miriam Schcolnik of Tel Aviv University in the June issue of LLT

A failed forum (on the same topic)  Forum Spring 07: Not a single French student participated in that forum….Spring 07  Sometimes:  many questions are left unanswered  few questions on the part of the French students  some students are more interested in joking around

Characteristics of the Cultura online discussion forums: a summary They are at the heart of the process.  They are asynchronous  They are open to all participants  They unfold like a collective conversation  They are led by the student themselves.  Even though they are anchored on a specific topic (based on the materials analyzed), the students take the conversations in whatever direction they want.  They are completely integrated in the course (not an adjunct) Important considerations:  Students need to be told clearly what the function of those forums is and be given clear guidelinesfunction  Communication needs to be continuous and reciprocal  Students need to learn about the other culture

The key to a successful intercultural forum… perhaps…  … Participants communicate not to talk directly about themselves and each other but to talk about a third object (= the materials) through which they will reveal themselves and their culture.