Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM) has become very trendy in the field of
language learning; however, while there are many studies that include
WhatsApp, used here to connect cultures and/or widen participation, very few
articulate how students view it or its impact in acquiring and developing
linguistic, cultural, and intercultural competencies. This paper reports on
ClerKing, a Franco-Jamaican telecollaborative project, which occurred in two
phases between Applied Foreign Languages (AFL) students from University
Clermont Auvergne (UCA), France, and Modern Languages students of French
from Shortwood Teachers’ College (STC), Jamaica. WhatsApp was used in both
phases. Using the exploratory approach, this study seeks to provide insight
into students’ perception of the use of WhatsApp in the project, as well as
possible moments of knowledge acquisition. Preliminary findings show that
WhatsApp is considered to be practical, popular, and preferable. Students
acquired knowledge about religion and homosexuality, improved on
expressions, and strengthened their grammar.
Connecting cultures and participation through WhatsApp: assessing
students’ perception in the ClerKing telecollaborative project
