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Telecommunication, Intercultural Competence, and Language Development: A Review of Educational Telecollaboration Between the U.S. and Japan

Tiffany Laiyin Lao

Saitama, 2014–2018

Multimodal approaches to language learning and teaching has been evolving along with developments in technology. Telecommunication is one of the multimodal strategies that is becoming more prevalent in the field of English as a Second Language, or ESL. The purpose of this article is to provide a literature review of recent developments in telecollaboration between Japan and the United States, specifically focusing on how it promotes intercultural competence, civic competence, and language development among educators and students. It will also address the limitations and potential directions for telecollaboration in education.

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About the Author

Tiffany Laiyin Lao has taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in community colleges and foreign language centers in California and New York. She has also taught English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Japan for four years in the JET program. Currently. Tiffany is working as an ESL instructor in Irvine Valley College, Golden West College, and San Bernardino Valley College in Southern California. Tiffany has a BA in Sociology and East Asian Studies and an MA in Applied Linguistics from Teachers College, Columbia University. Tiffany loves learning new languages and meeting new people from around the world. She is interested in students’ motivation to study English as a second language, corpus linguistics, and using innovative applications for English learning.

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About the JETs on Japan Forum

The JETs on Japan Forum is a partnership between USJETAA and Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA (Sasakawa USA) that features selected articles of JET alumni perspectives on U.S.-Japan relations. The series aims to elevate the awareness and visibility of JET alumni working across diverse sectors and provides a platform for JET alumni to contribute to deeper understanding of U.S.-Japan relations from their fields. The articles will be posted on USJETAA’s website to serve as resource to the wider JET alumni and U.S.-Japan communities on how alumni of this exchange program are continuing to serve as informal ambassadors in U.S.-Japan relations.

Submissions are encouraged from mid-to-senior level professionals who are established in the current fields OR current/recent graduate degree students in both masters and doctoral programs. Click here for more information on how to submit a proposal for consideration.