Global Simulation of a Global Understanding Course: Developing language competence and raising cultural awareness

Global Simulation of a Global Understanding Course: Developing language competence and raising cultural awareness

Trajanoska , Ivana
Jovancevska-Milenkovska , Jovanka
Klisarovska, Elena

This paper aims at presenting how a Global Understanding course syllabus can be used in an EFL classroom using the Global Simulation Method. The Global Understanding course has been offered to students from different faculties at the University American College Skopje, Macedonia in collaboration with the East Carolina University, USA and other partner Universities from countries all around the world. The course fosters global understanding and intercultural communication through direct contact with students from different Universities from various countries. Students communicate with their colleagues through chat session and conference links, and discuss previously assigned topics dealing with college and family life, educational system in their country, personal plans for their future, traditions, customs, food, holidays, celebrations, religion, the meaning of life. Students write diary entries on their sessions, create joint papers on a chosen subject matter with their partner student, give Power Point presentations, and do quizzes on the partner country facts. The objective is becoming more intercultural, being able to collaborate with people from different culture than your own, shattering prejudice and stereotypes, and diminishing ethnocentrism. In this paper we would like to suggest ways how to adapt the GU course syllabus for TEFL purposes through the Global Simulation Method developing language skills in an interactive and playful atmosphere. The Global Simulation Method is a communicative approach to language learning which has not been exhaustively explored in the EFL classroom compared to its popularity in the FLE classroom. However, it enables the students to develop language competences in a motivating, true-to-life atmosphere, where they become active participants of the learning process. The global simulation of the GU course gives the students the opportunity to work on their speaking, writing, and listening skills, learn language in context and through practical usage, become more independent learners, and raise their cultural awareness.

Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed

2012-05

869