“Think before you type”: the effectiveness of implementing an anti-cyberbullying project in an EFL classroom

ABSTRACT

Cyberbullying takes place when the Internet is used purposefully to cause harm or discomfort to a specific person or group of persons. Because of the fast growth of digital technologies, cyberbullying is replacing physical bullying and becoming a prevalent social problem around the world. This study outlines the author’s efforts of integrating David Kolb's experiential learning theory, project-based learning, and a critical approach to language education to engage a group of Taiwanese college English-as-a-foreign-language students about the issues related to cyberbullying and the importance of healthy Internet behaviors. The results indicated that the 9-week project work heightened students’ awareness of cyberbullying and other social issues and enhanced their language skills. Students also held an overall positive attitude toward the project work. To conclude the article, several research directions are suggested to continue this line of inquiry.

KEYWORDS:

• Cyberbullying
• experiential learning theory
• project-based learning
• critical pedagogy
• English-as-a-foreign-language

Acknowledgments

My gratitude goes to the reviewers and the editorial team whose constructive comments help to improve the quality of earlier versions of this article. I also want to thank my participants for sharing their learning journeys with me. I would like to thank Dr Hung-chun Wang for helping to refine the research direction of this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Cheryl Wei-yu Chen

Cheryl Wei-yu Chen is an associate professor who teaches at Department of Applied Foreign Languages in National Taipei University of Business, Taiwan. Her current research focuses on engaging learners in conversations around issues of social and cultural importance. She believes that language education should move beyond the improvement of four skills and individual well-being to incorporate a heightened awareness of social justice and a sense of responsibility for the global community.