An International Learner-Made Video Project as a Tool to Develop EFL Students’ Intercultural Competence: Students’ Perceptions

Abstract

The aim of this small-scale pilot study was to identify students’ perceptions of an international learner-made video project as an EFL educational tool, and its effect on improving the learners’ intercultural communicative competence (ICC). In addition, the authors tried to ascertain students’ views of the effect of their participation in such a project on improving their language and digital skills. The authors also aimed to clarify whether the students experienced the sense of L2 enjoyment through the project. The sample of this study consisted of 81 undergraduate students from eighteen countries who took part in the yearly International Competition of Student-Made Videos in Foreign Languages “University is my Universe” in the Southern Federal University (SFedU), Russia. To assess the students’ perceptions, the authors adapted a 14-item quantitative Likert scale questionnaire originally created by Freiermuth and Huang to evaluate students’ ICC development through cultural exchanges. The results showed that the use of learner-made video projects in teaching and learning English as a foreign language motivates students and helps them not only to develop their ICC but also to improve their language and digital skills. These two points, however, need further research.

Keywords

• efl
• intercultural competence
• intercultural communication
• learner-made video
• information technologies
• l2 enjoyment
• digital skills