Lomonosov Moscow State University (LMSU), Russia
2013-2018
My work with online virtual exchanges extends beyond Spanish and Portuguese. In 2014, I collaborated on a teletandem project with VCU Assistant Professor of Russian Natalia Boykova and world-renowned linguistics scholar Alla Nazarenko, Professor of Linguistics at the Lomonosov Moscow State University. We jointly explored the various options for synergizing live online meetings between EFL learners at MSU and Russian language students at VCU.
The options for teletandem diminish when there is a time difference greater than 3 hours between the cooperating schools. Moscow is 7 hours ahead of EST. The limitations forced us to think differently about teletandem, and we customized a feasible and rich program with interactive project-based learning.
Profesor Nazarenko is a Doctor of Philology, Professor of Linguistics, Fulbright Scholar, and former Dean and Chair of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Area Studies at Lomonosov Moscow State University. She was also the Head Director of the Distance Learning Center at MSU when we coordinated the exchanges.
Our collaborations with the VCU Russian program director prompted a site visit to the MSU campus, where we presented a paper on the project, which we would later publish in the MSU Press.
My collaborations with Professors Boykova and Nazarenko demonstrate the wide range of my work with international online language exchanges.
I am profoundly fascinated with the Russian language, culture, and civilization. Visiting Moscow was an enlightening experience. Moscow is the most beautiful city I have ever seen. It is rich in history, culture, art, science, and technology. Its metro system is truly a sight to behold. Moscow's treasures and architecture are breathtaking. The Russian teachers I met were among the most welcoming, friendly, and collegial I have ever known.
I look forward to returning soon.
Activities (2014-present)
2014 Conducted Russian-English Teletandem activities for 300-level Russian language courses
Conducted online paired group activities, presentations delivered jointly via videoconferencing.
2015 Collaborated on an action research project to strengthen cooperation, work toward a joint scholarly venture.
2016 I presented at the 7th International Scientific and Methodological Conference, Information and Communication Technologies in Linguistics, ELT and Cross-cultural Communication. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia. This presentation would later evolve into a joint scholarly venture in which a МГУ linguist and VCU professor of Russian explored ways to connect their teaching together through Teletandem. The tandem exchanges between VCU and LMSU have since flourished.
Nazarenko, A., Boykova, N., Brinckwirth, A. (2017). Connecting Cultures, Languages and Students through Teletandem: Building Bridges to Enhance Learning and Understanding. Moscow State University Scientific Journal, Series 19. Linguistics and Intercultural Communication, 2017(2) [LINK].
1 site visit(2016)
