Virtual exchanges for intercultural communication development: Using can-do statements for ICC self-assessment

ABSTRACT

In a 6-week synchronous virtual exchange, 106 participants self-assessed themselves on proficiency benchmarks and performance indicators before and after the exchange by answering open-ended questions and utilizing Can-Do Statements for Intercultural Communication (NCSSFL-ACTFL. 2017a. NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do statements proficiency benchmarks. https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/CanDos/Intercultural%20Can-Do_Statements.pdf ). This study laid groundwork for the NCSSFL-ACTFL (2017a. NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do statements proficiency benchmarks. https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/CanDos/Intercultural%20Can-Do_Statements.pdf ) Can-Do Statements as this was the first study to utilize them for intercultural communication. Qualitative data showed how this exchange promoted twenty-first-century Skills for today’s learner (Partnership for 21st Century Skills. 2011. 21st century skills map. Washington, DC. https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/21stCenturySkillsMap/p21_worldlanguagesmap.pdf ) while quantitative results showed significant average differences between pre- and post-surveys for 7 of the 10 Can-Do categories.

KEYWORDS:

• Virtual exchange
• can-do statements
• intercultural communication
• internationalization of curriculum
• higher education

Acknowledgments

In carrying out this study, the author received assistance from the following research assistance, who deserves her thanks: Kayla Roumeliotis.

Statement on data

The data for this study can be accessed by emailing the author.

Notes

1 Prior to a name change due to marriage, the author used her maiden name, Bohinski, for publications.

2 For more information of who made up this group, visit https://www.actfl.org/publications/all/world-readiness-standards-learning-languages.