#3241

College and University Research-based Short Session (20 minutes)

Designing an Extensive Reading Website to Enhance Intercultural Communication Abilities and Global Competence

Sat, Aug 6, 08:00-Sat, Aug 6, 08:20 Asia/Tokyo

Location: Saturday

This study will report how an extensive reading (ER) website (https://lchineseer.sites.pomona.edu) was designed and constructed for learners of Chinese as a foreign language. A complete review of existing ER websites was first conducted to draw insights on website features and functions. A needs-analysis was conducted among a group of L2 Chinese learners to examine their reading needs. Based on the reading needs, over 300 reading passages on different aspects of Chinese culture were adapted or adopted. The reading passages were categorized based on number of words, readability levels, and topics. How to use the website to improve intercultural communication abilities will also be discussed.