Teaching cultural diversity through multimedia projects
Teaching cultural diversity through multimedia projects

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this research paper is to analyse the mass media as being more than an agglomeration of images passively consumed by the students. The latest studies conducted in this domain have illustrated that the viewer is actively involved in decoding these programmes, generating different interpretations. The context of this research has been provided by the Cultural Studies lessons taught at “Petru Rares” National College from Suceava. The teachers who work with students involved in the bilingual programme frequently use multimedia resources when teaching as well as assessing the students’ projects. During these activities, I have noticed an increased openness on the students’ behalf when sensitive issues, such as those referring to interculturality, are approached and analysed using media texts. The projects included in this paper are 2 video presentations and a news bulletin produced by 10th grade students. Participating in media production activities provided an educational context in which students have developed creative, conceptual, critical, analytical and organizational skills that have also contributed to obtaining an extremely enjoyable environment for practising English. In view of this experience, all the students and teachers who have used such innovative strategies during their lessons have agreed that when teaching communication skills we should aim to ensure that pupils develop the ability to use different opportunities to obtain information. In this manner, they acquire knowledge of the language functions of the media in addition to developing their ability to interpret, critically examine and evaluate different sources and their contents.

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