Authenticity and originarity in foreign language learning in the diaspora

This paper reflects on a telecollaborative project with second-year students of German between the University of Pretoria (South Africa) and Colgate University (United States of America) in 2008. The project resulted from a critical discussion on the potential of online technology in foreign languag...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mühr, Stephan
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: Stellenbosch University 2009-12-01
Series:Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus
Subjects:
Online Access:https://spilplus.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/61
Description
Summary:This paper reflects on a telecollaborative project with second-year students of German between the University of Pretoria (South Africa) and Colgate University (United States of America) in 2008. The project resulted from a critical discussion on the potential of online technology in foreign language learning (FLL). A central concern in implementing such technology should be the all-inclusive, authentic use of all language faculties, which Peeters (2008) calls "originarity". The latter overcomes structuralist or poststructuralist reductions of language as a medium of communication. Thus, the essence of FLL can be redefined, not as the acquisition of mimicry of specific codes, but as intercultural dialogue.
ISSN:1726-541X
2224-3380