DIGITAL LIBRARY
EXPLORING ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PEER ACTIVITY, GENDER, L2 PROFICIENCY AND LOW ENGAGEMENT IN L2 VIRTUAL EXCHANGES
Future University Hakodate (JAPAN)
About this paper:
Appears in: ICERI2024 Proceedings
Publication year: 2024
Pages: 9391-9398
ISBN: 978-84-09-63010-3
ISSN: 2340-1095
doi: 10.21125/iceri.2024.2381
Conference name: 17th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
Dates: 11-13 November, 2024
Location: Seville, Spain
Abstract:
Virtual Exchanges (VEs), as a pedagogical tool, can enhance the development of soft skills and transversal competencies at scale through online intercultural dialogue. However, these outcomes cannot be achieved if engagement is low. It is therefore important to identify learners who might be vulnerable to low engagement as early as possible in the VE. The aim of this observational study was to determine the association between peer activity, gender, L2 proficiency and low engagement during the first 3 weeks of an eight-week second-language (L2) VE program. Participants were 169 native Japanese first-year students (119 males; 50 females), aged between 18 and 21 years. Data were based on learning management system (LMS) activity logs, a language proficiency test, and university records. The variables studied were all associated with low behavioral engagement (p < 0.05). However L2 proficiency was not significantly associated with low engagement when other variables were controlled for. Based on the results, the order of importance of these variables is suggested.
Keywords:
Virtual exchanges, language, gender, peer activity, low engagement.