“Increasing Learning Opportunities in Language and Culture Education: Blended and Online Approaches Revisited”
Virtual Engagement:
Strengthening Intercultural Skills and Awareness through Remote Internships
Bruno Grazioli, PhD – Resident Director and Faculty
Italian Studies Program, Dickinson College in Bologna
1. Why an online Intercultural Seminar?
2. Pedagogical approach and remote internships
3. Students’ perspectives and personal takeaways
1. Why an online Intercultural Seminar?
Keep students’ motivation to study abroad alive
Keep them connected with the Dickinson center in Bologna
Engage them in contextual learning (theory > practice)
Stimulate self-reflection and skill development
Offer an experience students could “advertize” in their CVs
2. Pedagogical approach and remote internships
Guided self-directed learning
Selection of topics and structured reflections
Types of internships
Evaluation v Self-evaluation
3. Students’ Perspectives and personal takeaways
Experiences are meaningful when designed with a before/after in mind
Students learn best when when self-directed and highly motivated
Self-evaluation empowers students
(Jake’s experience)