Cross-cultural Factors Shaping Student Participation in International Asynchronous Discussions
Abstract: This paper explores the factors, shaping participation of university English learners from Japan, Mexico, and Russia in international computer mediated communication. Based on the interview analysis, I classified the findings within the four dimensions: geopolitical structures, institutional settings, situated online activity, and agency. The study found the following shaping factors: culture and language valuation, discourses of the positioned subjects, Internet access, project integration, as well as affordances and constraints of the WebCT bulletin board. Most importantly, the study found that those shaping factors differed across cultures. I conclude with the discussion of the findings and implications.
Presider: Rebecca Reese, University of South Alabama