Key Themes in Intercultural Communication Pedagogy
British Association of Applied Linguistics/Cambridge University Press seminar, University of Sheffield, 9th – 10th July, 2009
LTE’s Richard presented a paper (see below for details) at this event.
Note that the British Association of Applied Linguistics (BAAL) – http://www.baal.org.uk/ -
is now in the process of establishing an ‘intercultural communication’ special interest group.
For a more detailed presentation of works from the day, see: http://www.cup.es/elt/resources/appliedlinguistics/intercultural.htm
Keynote speakers
· Prof. Mike Byram, University of Durham
· Prof. Helen Spencer-Oatey, University of Warwick
Seminar objectives
To bring together researchers working in the field of intercultural communication pedagogy, particularly – but not exclusively – in higher education, so as to develop a dialogue around the following kinds of questions:
· What contribution can a discourse approach make to the learning/teaching of intercultural communication?
· How far is intercultural communication necessarily interdisciplinary in nature? And what are the implications for teaching/learning?
· How can intercultural communication pedagogy address the mismatch between textbook accounts of intercultural encounters and the reality of such encounters?
· Within SLA, how easily does an intercultural approach sit with syllabi whose main focus is on language learning?
The discussion will help identify research issues in intercultural communication and SLA and thus lay a basis for future projects.
Programme of speakers
· Adam Brandt, Newcastle University – “Culture in interaction: What micro-analysis of real-life interactions can contribute to the study of intercultural communication”
· Mike Byram, University of Durham – “Intercultural communication pedagogy as training and education”
· Richard Fay, University of Manchester – “Developing IC courses in a vacuum: Some emergent pedagogical issues”
· Sonia Gallucci, University of Birmingham – “What does it mean to be prepared for the Year Abroad? And who can really benefit from this experience?”
· Carmen Lucas, University of Aveiro – “Some pedagogy tools for early communication in a foreign language (3–5 years old)”
· Helen Spencer-Oatey, University of Warwick – “Developing ‘Global People’: Insights from international partnerships”
· Celia Thompson, University of Melbourne – “Exploring a dialogic approach to intercultural communication pedagogy”
· Jane Woodin, University of Sheffield – “Native / intercultural speaker: Evidence from tandem learner conversations”
· Tony Young, Newcastle University – “Intercultural communicative competence and the teaching of English: Exploring teachers’ beliefs and practices”
