Cross-Cultural Understanding Through ePals

If I were teaching English abroad in China, I would use global communication tools, like ePals, to connect my students with Chinese language learners of the same age in English-speaking countries. I like how ePals provides students from different cultures and parts of the word with opportunities to engage in authentic cross-cultural communication and collaborate on discovery-based learning projects. Global communication tools not only facilitate the language development of all of the parties involved, but they also cultivate a sense of cultural awareness and tolerance that, in turn, promotes both academic and personal growth. I like how global communication tools allow students from different cultural backgrounds to relate to one another, as well as develop a sense of empathy for one another during the language-learning process. In a world where globalization and technology are bringing different cultures closer together, it is fundamental that younger generations learn to appreciate the unique cultural differences that make the world such a dynamic place in which to live.