Technologies in Intercultural Language Teaching and Learning

This chapter examines the roles and uses of technologies such as information technologies and social technologies, in intercultural language teaching and learning. It shows that technologies, whether used for information or social purposes, have the capacity to contribute to intercultural learning for language students. The chapter also argues that technologies alone will not achieve such learning. Different ways in which technologies can be integrated into language learning need to be considered. The five identified ways of using technology to promote learning are: information resource, content contextualization, communication tool, construction kit, and visualization and manipulation. Each of these approaches presents a different perspective of the place and role of technologies in developing intercultural learning.