Abstract:

In this contribution we will present an app, which has been designed and created with funding by the European Commission, Erasmus Key Action 2 Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education (ENACT, 2019-1-UK01-KA203-061567), that aims to engage participants in language learning through cultural activities around the world. In the app, individuals can search the database for cultural activities in any language they are interested in and then use the app to follow instructions in that language -with language support - in order to take part in cultural activities typical of speakers of that target language. Additionally, app users are encouraged to use their own language(s) to create cultural activities and language learning tasks for other potential participants in a 'pass it forward' task chain.

The principal objectives of the international team behind the app is to bring culture to life through task-based online learning and promote engagement and interactivity through both the online media to be used, and an online community. The migrant target groups include immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers and the host communities, HE (Higher Education) staff and students and NGOs.

The team aspires to contribute to international understanding and cultural awareness through the app through the provision of motivating and enjoyable ways of engaging with other languages and discovering new cultural activities. By building up both face-to-face (in local intercultural workshop) and virtual intercultural and linguistic communities, the project also hopes to foster social cohesion through a process of language and cultural awareness raising. Additionally, working with the app supports the development of digital competences. Participants create interactive digital content, and engage with other online content, all of which is exposure to digital environments that may not be readily accessible for some communities.

Teachers can profit from the app too by integrating cultural tasks into the curriculum for language learning and/or cross-cultural learning as an occasional, complementary activity offers opportunities on many levels to teachers around the world. It can be helpful in bringing the cultures and languages of countries to life and in preparing students for an overseas trip as it helps engage them with the culture and language in advance. Additionally, because the learning experience involves active engagement with authentic materials and activities, along with motivating visual experiences with 360° videos and images, the task-based learning is much more immersive.

In our presentation we will first outline the app design, highlighting several popular intercultural activities that have already been added to the app before presenting 3 case studies that draw from interview data of participants from different linguistic and intercultural backgrounds who took part in the training for language teaching materials development for the app.

Keywords:

Language App, Intercultural awareness, Language awareness, Task-based language learning, heritage languages.