Learning Language and Culture Via Public Internet Discussion Forums

Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 8
List of Tables......Page 12
Acknowledgements......Page 13
Note on Quotations from Internet Forums......Page 14
Public Internet forums: A neglected genre?......Page 16
Public discussion sites......Page 18
Public discussion sites and advanced learners......Page 21
Approach and design of study......Page 22
Preview of chapters......Page 26
Wider applications of this study......Page 29
Part I: Cultural Differences Online......Page 32
Intercultural CMC: A nascent field of research......Page 34
The role of culture in Internet communication: Conflicting views......Page 35
Genre and the evolution of cultural practices......Page 51
Conclusion......Page 53
The rise of discussion forums on media websites......Page 65
The case study......Page 67
Cultural models and online behaviour......Page 78
Implications......Page 86
Cultural change......Page 88
Continuity of cultural differences?......Page 89
An evolving genre: Plus ça change…......Page 95
Pedagogical implications......Page 96
Part II: Language Learners and Intercultural Internet Discussion......Page 98
Online language learning: An overview......Page 100
Public Internet discussion: Pedagogical possibilities and constraints......Page 104
Public forums: A neglected genre of online language exchange......Page 118
An introductory tale (with apologies to Beatrix Potter)......Page 119
The case study......Page 120
Four exchanges......Page 122
How to practise your French without really trying......Page 130
Introduction: From genre to identity......Page 134
Facelessness and the power of the face......Page 135
Identity on Internet discussion forums......Page 138
Consequences for language learners......Page 147
Introduction......Page 150
Border patrol in the \'borderless world\'......Page 151
Dedicated learner sites......Page 153
Case study: The \'Indy\'......Page 158
Conditions for successful participation......Page 162
Implications for language learners......Page 164
Conclusion......Page 167
The context......Page 170
Preparatory work......Page 173
The exchanges: Student postings......Page 180
The exchanges: Feedback from other forum participants......Page 183
Lessons for future use......Page 192
Forums for a variety of language learning contexts......Page 197
Conclusion: Language, culture and identity......Page 201
Notes......Page 205
References......Page 214
C......Page 229
E......Page 230
G......Page 231
I......Page 232
L......Page 233
R......Page 234
T......Page 235
Z......Page 236