Project+-+Email+Collaboration

advantages
 * authentic, (potentially) relevant
 * learner autonomy

disadvantages
 * teacher has no control over learning process -> need for reflection

how to establish contact?
 * teacher contacts school
 * needs to convince foreign class - what's the gain for them? sociology, talking about own culture
 * partner school? email project before visit!
 * students find partners themselves (via facebook etc)

how to make it work language feedback - checking mails before they're sent
 * topic: give them something to talk about! (interesting, relevant, concrete not abstract, intercultural dimension, personal opinion) but leave open to discuss questions of personal interests
 * topic preparation: before establishing contact, motivate the topic (film, develop questions like "is it true that all Americans wear school uniforms?"), make students experts in the topic
 * language preparation: netiquette, phrases, ...
 * write emails (support each other in pairs)
 * send to teacher for checking language/comprehensibility
 * to ensure project success (avoid communicative catastrophe)
 * individual/ group feedback on errors  how to improve
 * reflection ~ share your experiences in class
 * present

teacher role
 * supporter, not censor!