Developing intercultural competence through an eTwinning project about legends

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Razvijanje interkulturalne kompetencije kroz eTwinning projekte o legendama
• Author: Elena Babić
• Mentor: Ivana Milković (mentor)
• Committee member: Alenka Mikulec (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Ana Šenjug Krleža (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Ivana Milković (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Teacher Education; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-09-11, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Pedagogy; School Pedagogy

Abstract

In an increasingly globalized and diverse world, it is essential to provide students with the essential skills and mindsets necessary to engage with other cultures. Learning English as a universal language does not only facilitate communication but also promotes openness and understanding of other cultures. For that reason, it is important to work on developing intercultural competence of students as it fosters a sense of inclusion, empathy and mutual understanding. Recognizing its significance, the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education has made intercultural competence a priority by incorporating it into the curriculum. Although intercultural competence is spread across various subjects, this study will focus on its development within the context of learning English.
The eTwinning platform, which facilitates connections between both teachers and students across Europe, plays an important role in developing intercultural competence. Moreover, it is an excellent opportunity to enhance ICT (Information and Communication Technology) skills among participants.
The aim of this thesis is to present findings of a research conducted through the eTwinning project named Legends & Culture, designed to assess the levels of intercultural competence among participating students before and after its implementation. The project involved fifth-grade students from Karlovac (Croatia) and Tbilisi (Georgia), who were given the task of creating comic books representing their national legends. The project included four meetings with Croatian students, two of which were Zoom sessions with their Georgian counterparts. The thesis argues that engaging in a project of this kind can lead to a development of students' intercultural competences.

Abstract (croatian)

U svijetu koji je sve više globaliziran i u kojem se sve više ističe raznolikost, ključno je osigurati učenicima osnovne vještine i potaknuti načine razmišljanja potrebne za interakciju s drugim kulturama. Učenje engleskog kao univerzalnog jezika ne samo da olakšava komunikaciju, već potiče otvorenost i razumijevanje drugih kultura. Iz tog je razloga važno uključiti razvijanje međukulturne kompetencije u poučavanje jer ona potiče osjećaj pripadnosti, empatije i međusobnog razumijevanja. Prepoznavši njenu kvalitetu, Ministarstvo znanosti i obrazovanja Republike Hrvatske pridalo joj je prioritetnu važnost uključivanjem u kurikul. Iako je ona rasprostranjena kroz različite predmete, ovaj rad fokusirat će se na njen razvitak u kontekstu učenja engleskog jezika.
eTwinning platforma, koja olakšava povezivanje između učitelja i učenika diljem Europe, ima važnu ulogu u razvijanju međukulturne kompetencije. Osim toga, pruža izvrsnu priliku za unaprjeđivanje vještina informacijsko-komunikacijske tehnologije.
Cilj ovoga rada je predstaviti rezultate istraživanja razvijanja međukuturne kompetencije u učenika putem eTwinning projekta pod nazivom Legends & Culture. Projekt je osmišljen s ciljem istraživanja razvoja međukulturne kompetencije među sudjelujućim učenicima putem eTwinninga. Projekt je uključio učenike petih razreda iz Karlovca (Hrvatska) i Tbilisija (Gruzija). Učenici su imali zadatak stvoriti stripove iz njihove kulture, tj. iz narodnih legendi. Tijekom projekta održana su četiri susreta s hrvatskim učenicima, od kojih su dva bila Zoom sastanci s gruzijskim učenicima. Rezultati istraživanja su pokazali da sudjelovanje u ovakvoj vrsti projekta može dovesti do razvoja međukulturne kompetencije u učenika.

• Keywords: students’ intercultural competence; ICT; curriculum; legends; eTwinning project; English as a foreign language (EFL)
• Keywords (english): međukulturna kompetencija učenika; informacijsko-komunikacijska tehnologija; kurikulum; legende; eTwinning projekt; engleski kao strani jezik
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:147:303734
• Study programme: Title: Integrated undergraduated university study with english language and german language; specializations in: English language, Deutsche sprache; Course: English language; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja (magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-01-12 11:13:33