{"id":{"repo_id":"minho-thes","oai_identifier":"oai:repositorium.uminho.pt:1822/97310"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/minho-thes/oai:repositorium.uminho.pt:1822/97310","repository":{"repo_id":"minho-thes","name":"Universidade do Minho","base_url":"http://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Educational technology in new methods for foreign language learning and the development of intercultural competences","abstract":"Digital technologies are used across numerous domains of life, by individuals from a diverse range of social and professional backgrounds. While these technologies, manifested through the internet and digital devices, can have detrimental effects, including distraction, addiction and cyberbullying, they also present novel opportunities in private, educational, and professional settings. Globalisation is intensifying the interconnectivity and interdependencies between disparate nations and cultures across the globe. This is evidenced by the increasing prevalence of global trade, migration and tourism. The capacity to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries is becoming a crucial skill. This thesis examines the potential of digital media for developing intercultural and foreign language skills. An ethnographic approach was employed in conjunction with case studies to conduct research in diverse learning contexts, encompassing both institutional and non-institutional settings. The research involved collaboration with teachers and learners from different countries and also entailed an investigation of the potential of social networks and self-directed learning approaches. The results show that learners differ significantly from one another in terms of their needs and motivations. The advent of digital technologies presents the opportunity to provide each learner with tailored pathways to fulfil their needs and achieve their learning objectives. The findings of this research indicate that digital technologies present a significant opportunity for the acquisition of foreign language skills and the development of intercultural competences. Both learners and teachers can engage in the production of content through the utilisation of digital resources, including online tools, which can facilitate the acquisition of these skills. Furthermore, the current generation of learners is already adept at using digital communication tools, which can be integrated into their learning process to foster connections with other cultures. These new methods require not only a shift in the technical infrastructure of educational institutions but also a change in the student-teacher and student-student relationship, as well as fostering a culture of autonomous work among individuals. This dissertation aims to contribute to the discourse on equipping both current and future generations with the skills to navigate these evolving challenges.","abstract_html":"Digital technologies are used across numerous domains of life, by individuals from a diverse range of social and professional backgrounds. While these technologies, manifested through the internet and digital devices, can have detrimental effects, including distraction, addiction and cyberbullying, they also present novel opportunities in private, educational, and professional settings. Globalisation is intensifying the interconnectivity and interdependencies between disparate nations and cultures across the globe. This is evidenced by the increasing prevalence of global trade, migration and tourism. The capacity to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries is becoming a crucial skill. This thesis examines the potential of digital media for developing intercultural and foreign language skills. An ethnographic approach was employed in conjunction with case studies to conduct research in diverse learning contexts, encompassing both institutional and non-institutional settings. The research involved collaboration with teachers and learners from different countries and also entailed an investigation of the potential of social networks and self-directed learning approaches. The results show that learners differ significantly from one another in terms of their needs and motivations. The advent of digital technologies presents the opportunity to provide each learner with tailored pathways to fulfil their needs and achieve their learning objectives. The findings of this research indicate that digital technologies present a significant opportunity for the acquisition of foreign language skills and the development of intercultural competences. Both learners and teachers can engage in the production of content through the utilisation of digital resources, including online tools, which can facilitate the acquisition of these skills. Furthermore, the current generation of learners is already adept at using digital communication tools, which can be integrated into their learning process to foster connections with other cultures. These new methods require not only a shift in the technical infrastructure of educational institutions but also a change in the student-teacher and student-student relationship, as well as fostering a culture of autonomous work among individuals. This dissertation aims to contribute to the discourse on equipping both current and future generations with the skills to navigate these evolving challenges.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Peil, Sigrun Corinna"],"institution":"Universidade do Minho","degree_name":"Doutoramento em Ciências da Educação (especialidade em Tecnologia Educativa)","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Osório, António José"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-06-12","date_published":"2025-06-12","updated_at":"2026-08-21T16:46:39Z","subjects":["Digital Tools","Educational Technology","Individualisation of Learning","Intercultural Communication","Language Learning","Aprendizagem de Línguas","Comunicação Intercultural","Ferramentas Digitais","Individualização da Aprendizagem","Tecnologia Educativa"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["openAccess"],"rights_urls":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1822/97310","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"source_record":{"url":"http://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Arepositorium.uminho.pt%3A1822%2F97310","prefix":"dim"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Osório, António José"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Peil, Sigrun Corinna"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-10-08T15:15:21Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-06-12"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["doctoralThesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doutoramento em Ciências da Educação (especialidade em Tecnologia Educativa)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Universidade do Minho"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Digital Tools","Educational Technology","Individualisation of Learning","Intercultural Communication","Language Learning","Aprendizagem de Línguas","Comunicação Intercultural","Ferramentas Digitais","Individualização da Aprendizagem","Tecnologia Educativa"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["openAccess"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1822/97310"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Digital technologies are used across numerous domains of life, by individuals from a diverse range of social and professional backgrounds. While these technologies, manifested through the internet and digital devices, can have detrimental effects, including distraction, addiction and cyberbullying, they also present novel opportunities in private, educational, and professional settings. Globalisation is intensifying the interconnectivity and interdependencies between disparate nations and cultures across the globe. This is evidenced by the increasing prevalence of global trade, migration and tourism. The capacity to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries is becoming a crucial skill. This thesis examines the potential of digital media for developing intercultural and foreign language skills. An ethnographic approach was employed in conjunction with case studies to conduct research in diverse learning contexts, encompassing both institutional and non-institutional settings. The research involved collaboration with teachers and learners from different countries and also entailed an investigation of the potential of social networks and self-directed learning approaches. The results show that learners differ significantly from one another in terms of their needs and motivations. The advent of digital technologies presents the opportunity to provide each learner with tailored pathways to fulfil their needs and achieve their learning objectives. The findings of this research indicate that digital technologies present a significant opportunity for the acquisition of foreign language skills and the development of intercultural competences. Both learners and teachers can engage in the production of content through the utilisation of digital resources, including online tools, which can facilitate the acquisition of these skills. Furthermore, the current generation of learners is already adept at using digital communication tools, which can be integrated into their learning process to foster connections with other cultures. These new methods require not only a shift in the technical infrastructure of educational institutions but also a change in the student-teacher and student-student relationship, as well as fostering a culture of autonomous work among individuals. This dissertation aims to contribute to the discourse on equipping both current and future generations with the skills to navigate these evolving challenges.","As tecnologias digitais são utilizadas em numerosos domínios da vida, por indivíduos de uma vasta gama de contextos sociais e profissionais. Embora estas tecnologias, manifestadas através da Internet e de dispositivos digitais, possam ter efeitos prejudiciais, incluindo distração, dependência e cyberbullying, também apresentam novas oportunidades em contextos privados, educativos e profissionais. A globalização está a intensificar a interconectividade e as interdependências entre nações e culturas diferentes em todo o mundo. Esta realidade é evidenciada pela crescente prevalência do comércio mundial, da migração e do turismo. A capacidade de comunicar eficazmente para além das fronteiras culturais está a tornar-se uma competência crucial. Esta tese examina o potencial dos media digitais para o desenvolvimento de competências linguísticas e interculturais. Utilizei uma abordagem etnográfica, em conjunto com estudos de caso, para conduzir a investigação em diversos contextos de aprendizagem, tanto institucionais como não institucionais. A minha investigação envolveu a colaboração com professores e alunos de diferentes países, bem como uma análise do potencial das redes sociais e das abordagens de aprendizagem autónoma. Os resultados mostram que os aprendentes diferem significativamente uns dos outros em termos das suas necessidades e motivações. O advento das tecnologias digitais oferece a oportunidade de proporcionar a cada aluno percursos adaptados para responder às suas necessidades e atingir os seus objetivos de aprendizagem. Os resultados também indicam que as tecnologias digitais representam uma oportunidade significativa para a aquisição de competências em línguas estrangeiras e para o desenvolvimento de competências interculturais. Tanto os alunos como os professores podem participar na produção de conteúdos através da utilização de recursos digitais, incluindo ferramentas em linha, que podem facilitar a aquisição destas competências. Além disso, a atual geração de aprendentes já é adepta da utilização de ferramentas de comunicação digital, que podem ser integradas no seu processo de aprendizagem para promover ligações com outras culturas. Estes novos métodos exigem não só uma mudança na infraestrutura técnica das instituições de ensino, mas também uma mudança nas relações aluno-professor e aluno-aluno, bem como a promoção de uma cultura de trabalho autónomo entre os indivíduos. Esta dissertação pretende contribuir para o discurso sobre como equipar as gerações atuais e futuras com as competências necessárias para enfrentar estes desafios."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Educational technology in new methods for foreign language learning and the development of intercultural competences"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Osório, António José"],"dc:creator":["Peil, Sigrun Corinna"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-10-08T15:15:21Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-06-12"],"dc:description.abstract":["Digital technologies are used across numerous domains of life, by individuals from a diverse range of social and professional backgrounds. While these technologies, manifested through the internet and digital devices, can have detrimental effects, including distraction, addiction and cyberbullying, they also present novel opportunities in private, educational, and professional settings. Globalisation is intensifying the interconnectivity and interdependencies between disparate nations and cultures across the globe. This is evidenced by the increasing prevalence of global trade, migration and tourism. The capacity to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries is becoming a crucial skill. This thesis examines the potential of digital media for developing intercultural and foreign language skills. An ethnographic approach was employed in conjunction with case studies to conduct research in diverse learning contexts, encompassing both institutional and non-institutional settings. The research involved collaboration with teachers and learners from different countries and also entailed an investigation of the potential of social networks and self-directed learning approaches. The results show that learners differ significantly from one another in terms of their needs and motivations. The advent of digital technologies presents the opportunity to provide each learner with tailored pathways to fulfil their needs and achieve their learning objectives. The findings of this research indicate that digital technologies present a significant opportunity for the acquisition of foreign language skills and the development of intercultural competences. Both learners and teachers can engage in the production of content through the utilisation of digital resources, including online tools, which can facilitate the acquisition of these skills. Furthermore, the current generation of learners is already adept at using digital communication tools, which can be integrated into their learning process to foster connections with other cultures. These new methods require not only a shift in the technical infrastructure of educational institutions but also a change in the student-teacher and student-student relationship, as well as fostering a culture of autonomous work among individuals. This dissertation aims to contribute to the discourse on equipping both current and future generations with the skills to navigate these evolving challenges.","As tecnologias digitais são utilizadas em numerosos domínios da vida, por indivíduos de uma vasta gama de contextos sociais e profissionais. Embora estas tecnologias, manifestadas através da Internet e de dispositivos digitais, possam ter efeitos prejudiciais, incluindo distração, dependência e cyberbullying, também apresentam novas oportunidades em contextos privados, educativos e profissionais. A globalização está a intensificar a interconectividade e as interdependências entre nações e culturas diferentes em todo o mundo. Esta realidade é evidenciada pela crescente prevalência do comércio mundial, da migração e do turismo. A capacidade de comunicar eficazmente para além das fronteiras culturais está a tornar-se uma competência crucial. Esta tese examina o potencial dos media digitais para o desenvolvimento de competências linguísticas e interculturais. Utilizei uma abordagem etnográfica, em conjunto com estudos de caso, para conduzir a investigação em diversos contextos de aprendizagem, tanto institucionais como não institucionais. A minha investigação envolveu a colaboração com professores e alunos de diferentes países, bem como uma análise do potencial das redes sociais e das abordagens de aprendizagem autónoma. Os resultados mostram que os aprendentes diferem significativamente uns dos outros em termos das suas necessidades e motivações. O advento das tecnologias digitais oferece a oportunidade de proporcionar a cada aluno percursos adaptados para responder às suas necessidades e atingir os seus objetivos de aprendizagem. Os resultados também indicam que as tecnologias digitais representam uma oportunidade significativa para a aquisição de competências em línguas estrangeiras e para o desenvolvimento de competências interculturais. Tanto os alunos como os professores podem participar na produção de conteúdos através da utilização de recursos digitais, incluindo ferramentas em linha, que podem facilitar a aquisição destas competências. Além disso, a atual geração de aprendentes já é adepta da utilização de ferramentas de comunicação digital, que podem ser integradas no seu processo de aprendizagem para promover ligações com outras culturas. Estes novos métodos exigem não só uma mudança na infraestrutura técnica das instituições de ensino, mas também uma mudança nas relações aluno-professor e aluno-aluno, bem como a promoção de uma cultura de trabalho autónomo entre os indivíduos. Esta dissertação pretende contribuir para o discurso sobre como equipar as gerações atuais e futuras com as competências necessárias para enfrentar estes desafios."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1822/97310"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:rights":["openAccess"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"],"dc:subject":["Digital Tools","Educational Technology","Individualisation of Learning","Intercultural Communication","Language Learning","Aprendizagem de Línguas","Comunicação Intercultural","Ferramentas Digitais","Individualização da Aprendizagem","Tecnologia Educativa"],"dc:title":["Educational technology in new methods for foreign language learning and the development of intercultural competences"],"dc:type":["doctoralThesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doutoramento em Ciências da Educação (especialidade em Tecnologia Educativa)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Universidade do Minho"]},"updated_at":"2026-08-21T16:46:39Z"}