Training for Intercultural Media Competence: Multimedia Tools for Intercultural Communications in the International English Classroom

The globalization of English facilitated by telecommunications media fosters the illusion of one common world village beyond the schizms of cultural difference. This paper examines the complex web of relationships among language, culture and media variables that operate beneath the surface of intercultural communication in English. International students that come to North America to study English are in a particularly ripe moment for intercultural and media awareness training as a complement to their language studies. This paper explores how video, audio and text media can be utilized as training tools in the International English classroom to promote intercultural media awareness and competence. A theoretical survey in the fields of intercultural communications, language pedagogy and media studies is followed by a presentation of classroom research conducted with international students in Toronto, Canada and San Francisco, California. Video, audio and text media are each examined for their applications to intercultural media training by following the research stages of the experiential learning cycle. The paper\u27s conclusions focus on the design of intercultural media training courses that enable students to interpret and interact mindfully with a wide range of cultural and media contrasts. This type of training has practical relevance, not only to students of International English, but to all those planning to communicate across cultures using internationalized media channels