Reducing cultural barriers via Internet courses

• Published in: Innovations in education and teaching international Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 169 - 181
• Main Authors: Xing, Minjie, Spencer, Ken
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Routledge 01.05.2008; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Academic Discourse; Asian students; China; Comparative Analysis; Control Groups; Cultural differences; Cultural Influences; Culture; Doctoral Programs; Educational Change; Educational Environment; English (Second Language); English language; Entrance examinations; Essays; Experiments; Foreign Countries; Foreign language learning; Foreign Students; Graduate Students; Host country; Information dissemination; Information Retrieval; Interaction; Internet; Knowledge; Language; Language proficiency; Learning; Learning Strategies; Multimedia; Online Courses; Online instruction; Peer Relationship; Rhetoric; School environment; Search engines; Students; Studies; Study abroad; Teaching Methods; Technological change; United Kingdom; Web Based Instruction; Websites; Writing; Writing Instruction; United Kingdom; China
• ISSN: 1470-3297; 1470-3300; 1470-3300
• DOI: 10.1080/14703290801950377

A Web-based learning environment has been developed to support students from China who are studying in the UK and are confronted by many cultural barriers, which may impede their academic studies. The electronic environment incorporates a number of approaches to support learning, ranging from a simple text-based presentation to more active methods, including opportunities to use search-based learning strategies. Experimental results demonstrate a clear advantage for these active approaches. Internet support was also provided for students in the form of an e-learning course for academic writing, which featured extensive opportunities for interactions with English peers. The experimental results demonstrated that the group with access to the e-course successfully acquired skills, resulting in their academic writing being indistinguishable from native English speakers.