Towards a New Dimension of Collaborative Language Learning: Assessing Multi-cultural Cyber Learning via Video-conferencing in the Pacific Rim Countries

The role of networking technologies has become increasingly more important with the employment of broadband networks which can facilitate cross-cultural understanding anywhere around the globe. This network technology has enabled us to realize multipoint connections on the Internet using videoconferencing systems that are blended with classroom activities in multicultural cyber learning. (Nishinaga et al., 2008) This development of IP networks is of great importance for language teaching in the Pacific Rim countries, since it can be effectively utilized in the field of TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) (Nishihori, 2007) . This paper is based on the data collected in our research project over a period of five years on crosscultural language learning using videoconferencing systems among Pacific Rim universities in differing time zones such as (1)Japan and the US, and (2) Japan, China, Korea and Thailand. The results of our project with the cooperation of these Pacific Rim countries lead us to the conclusion that interactive collaborative activities in this region can be successful, since they have impacted students’ understanding of the meaningfulness of multicultural language learning. This success will advance current knowledge and elicit protocols required to support effective multicultural language learning in the future.