On Saturday, May 13, the Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Chapter will, inspired by our recent KOTESOL international conference and its theme, host an afternoon all about collaboration. Lindsay Herron will offer a special reprise of her KOTESOL2023 featured session about collaborating on cross-cultural learning opportunities. This will be followed by a special workshop focused on collaboratively exploring attendees' own problems.
(Note: change of topic. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL Chapter's May workshop's program has changed from a previously advertised program focused on navigating workplaces. We apologize for any inconvenience.)
Schedule
2:00-2:15 p.m. Check-in and Mingling
2:15-3:15 p.m. Presentation: Collaborating on Cross-Cultural Connections: Promise, Pitfalls, and Cosmopolitan Potential
Presenter: Lindsay Herron, Gwangju National University of Education
3:30-4:20 p.m. Workshop: "A Problem Shared..."
4:30-4:45 p.m. SwapShop: What I'm Working On Now
4:45-5:00 p.m. Announcements and Closing
Presentation: Collaborating on Cross-Cultural Connections: Promise, Pitfalls, and Cosmopolitan Potential
In an increasingly interconnected world seemingly rife with xenophobia, prejudice, and division, there is a clear need to cultivate compassionate, reflective, open-minded orientations in students. One way to do so might be via cross-cultural connections – to facilitate interaction between our students and diverse others so everyone involved can encounter a variety of perspectives and uncover “new vistas for investigation and self-discovery” (Campano, 2007, p. 19), opening up new horizons, new possibilities, and the kind of “embodied cosmopolitanism” brought about by “wonder, triggered by substantive encounters with the new” (Hansen, 2014, p. 9).
It can thus be quite beneficial for educators to team up global peers to create a cosmopolitan “third space” (Gutiérrez, 2008) where their students can interact with each other. Indeed, this kind of collaboration between classrooms can be a powerful and motivating approach to education – but it comes with potential pitfalls, as well. Having collaborated with educators around the world on online intercultural exchanges, I’ll offer in this presentation a dissection of my own experiences: the highlights, joys, and benefits, as well as the problems, drawbacks, and disappointments. The presentation will conclude with advice and suggestions for collaborating with international colleagues on online intercultural exchanges, with the ultimate aim of crafting an enjoyable, positive, uplifting experience for everyone.
Presenter: Lindsay Herron has been a visiting professor at Gwangju National University of Education in Korea since 2008; prior to that, she taught English on a Fulbright grant in Seogwipo, Jeju-do. Currently a doctoral candidate in literacy, culture, and language education at Indiana University (USA), she also has a master’s in language education; a master’s in cinema studies; bachelor’s degrees in English literature and psychology; a postgraduate certificate in learning sciences, media, and technology; a CELTA; and the CELTA Young Learner Extension. Her current research focuses on the critical cosmopolitan literacies of language learners participating in an online cross-cultural exchange. Lindsay is the current president of KOTESOL and has served in many roles at both national and chapter level, including serving as the current Gwangju-Jeonnam chapter treasurer.
Workshop: "A Problem Shared..."
"A problem shared is a problem halved." For this special workshop, attendees are encouraged to bring a problem for the group to reflect on, explore, and brainstorm ideas about. Problems may be related to conducting ELT - for example, related to classroom practice - or personal problems related to working in the field of ELT. As well as an oportunity to work through and potentially improve these problems, this workshop is an opportunity to learn more bout reflective practice cycles, including Kolb's model of experiential learning.
SwapShop: What I'm Working On Now
Have an ongoing project you'd like to share an update on, perhaps seeking some input, feedback, or participants? Feel free to share!
