ReDICIN Seminar at UCM: Joining Efforts for an Intercultural Approach to English Teaching

The first International Seminar of the Research Network on the Development of Intercultural Competence in the Teaching and Learning of English as an International Language – ReDiCiN, was held at the Catholic University of Maule.

On March 25th, the first international seminar of the Research Network on the Development of Intercultural Competence in the Teaching and Learning of English as an International Language (ReDICIN) took place. This event was led by Dr. Valeria Sumonte Rojas, an academic at the Catholic University of Maule (UCM) and principal investigator of the FOVI240012 project, funded by the National Agency for Research and Development - ANID. During the event, Dr. Sumonte gave the formal presentation of the project and presented the state of the art, both nationally and internationally, that underpins this line of research. The activity was attended by Dr. Ranjeeva Ranjan, Director of Research at the UCM, and Dr. Rodrigo Vargas Vitoria, Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences, who offered welcome remarks and highlighted the formation of this collaborative network, driven by academics from the Catholic University of Maule together with researchers from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the University of Concepción, the Federal University of Espírito Santo (Brazil), and the University of Auckland (New Zealand). The seminar brought together English teachers from the communes of Talca and Pencahue, representatives from the Department of Municipal Education Administration (DAEM) of Talca, as well as academics and students from the English Pedagogy program at the UCM. It is relevant to highlight the active participation in the research group of the fourth-year student of said program, Esteban Ayala Herrera, which fosters research from the undergraduate level and underscores the network's commitment to the comprehensive training of future professionals. On the occasion, Dr. Valeria Sumonte Rojas presented the paper entitled “Research Network Project: Intercultural Competence in the Teaching-Learning of English as an International Language,” in which the theoretical foundations and central objectives of this research proposal were addressed. It emphasized that the intercultural approach facilitates the development of skills in the language learner to interact effectively with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, preparing them for their role as global citizens (Byram, 1992). In accordance with this perspective, the Ministry of Education of Chile (MINEDUC) establishes that the learning of English should promote the integration of students into a multicultural global context, promoting the use of the language as a vehicle for cultural exchange. Additionally, the updated curricular bases define English as a language of international communication, underscoring its importance as a tool for understanding among non-native speakers. Next, Dr. Carmen Gaete Mella presented “State of the Teaching-Learning of English in the Metropolitan, Maule, and Biobío regions”; Dr. Lidia Andrea Fuentealba, director of the School of English Pedagogy at the UCM and co-investigator of the project, presented “Challenges of the Intercultural Approach in the Initial Teacher Training of Teachers of English,” along with a reflection on the predominant methodological trends in English teaching over the last two decades. Her presentation addressed the coexistence of traditional pedagogical approaches with those that conceive of English as an international language.

Development of the Second Seminar of the ReDICIN Project

It is relevant to note that, following this first seminar, the second seminar of the project was held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC). On this occasion, Dr. Andrea Lizasoain (national associate researcher) and Dr. Kyria Finardi (international associate researcher) participated, who also coordinated various activities with the FOVI team at the UCM. The fundamental purpose of the ReDICIN project is the creation of a research network focused on the development of intercultural competence in the teaching of English as an international language, in line with the guidelines of MINEDUC that promote the transversal inclusion of interculturality in the educational curriculum.

Credits: Faculty of Educational Sciences