Language and culture in real-time Brazil and the United States

Icone Project

Abstract

Learning a foreign language is much more than learning words and structure. Cultural awareness that grows from intra and inter cultural processes is mandatory if one wishes to be proficient. Making use of affordances is part of this process. Aiming at involving students in real life communication practices as well as in awareness about others and proper culture, three professors from two different parts of the world started ICONE Project a few years ago. This text briefly explains the history of the project, anchoring it on present day theoretical views such as inter and intracultural learning, ecological approach, and a dynamic understanding of motivation. Results show that the goals of the project were thoroughly met with American and Brazilian students learning from their peers in many different ways. In a brief evaluation conducted by both professors, students pointed out that they not only learned a great deal about the other students’ culture, but also came to appreciate their own culture. They also mentioned that being able to choose the topics of the conversations motivated them to keep on talking, even after ICONE sessions were over.