Breaking barriers: uniting Turkish and Greek students through eTwinning collaboration for empathy, understanding, and language anxiety relief

Gümüş N. B., KAYAOĞLU M. N.

Language and Intercultural Communication, 2024 (AHCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/14708477.2024.2389827
  • Journal Name: Language and Intercultural Communication
  • Journal Indexes: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Educational research abstracts (ERA), ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Linguistic Bibliography, Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts, MLA - Modern Language Association Database
  • Keywords: EFL, Etwinning Turkey-Greece, FLA, intercultural awareness, telecollaboration
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study explores the results of an eTwinning project involving four countries, with a focus on collaboration between students from historically distant backgrounds: Turkey and Greece. It primarily aims to foster empathy and understanding, alleviate language anxiety, and enhance foreign language competence among the participants. Using a mixed-method case study approach, data were collected primarily from 7th grade Turkish and 9th grade Greek students. The findings demonstrate notable outcomes, such as significant improvements in English language skills, effective use of ICT tools, enhanced intercultural communicative competence, and a discernible reduction in language anxiety.