Digital Citizenship and Language Learning

    As Spanish language teachers, we not only teach linguistic skills but also shape the global citizens of the future. Digital literacy should be considered as crucial as language proficiency. (Use the link to read more about digital literacy.) Our students are in a unique position of being “digital natives”, we must not only teach them Spanish, but also how to function appropriately and professionally in the digital world they have grown up in. For many students they view this online world as a playground. We must teach them how to foster their digital presence for the betterment of their future. Here are some reasons why it is essential and a few ideas of how we can incorporate it into our classrooms. 

Why does it matter?

Responsible Digital Citizen

    We must cultivate responsible digital citizens. (Use the link to review ITSE's standards for digital citizenship.) We must teach students to respect others' privacy, avoid plagiarism, avoid online piracy and engage in positive interactions to foster a respectful and safe online community. In a Spanish classroom this becomes even more crucial as we explore other cultures and cultural practices. Foreign Language students are asked to explore beyond their bubbles. Cultivating responsible digital citizens is a must for this exploration.

Protecting Personal and Professional reputations

    Our online actions can have long-lasting effects on our reputations. Educating students about their digital footprints and the permanence of their actions could help them make better choices about how they behave online and what they share. The actions that they take as young adults can have long-term effects. This awareness is essential for their future careers and personal relationships, ensuring they present themselves positively online for their future is vital.

Navigating Digital Communication

    Digital communication is nuanced and often lacks the contextual cues present in face-to-face interactions. We must teach our students about netiquette—appropriate and respectful behavior online— to help them navigate digital conversations effectively. (Use the link to read 10 rules for student netiquette.) They can begin practicing at the high school level, or even younger, proper digital communications to help them in their future. Digital communication has become a vital part of everyday communication both professionally and personally. Helping students understand the difference between both manners of communication will aid their future.

How can I incorporate it into my lessons?

Discuss Real-Life Scenarios

   Use authentic resources as case studies and real-life examples to highlight the importance of digital ethics. For example, discuss the consequences of cyberbullying or the impact of sharing false information. Relate these scenarios using the target language by using news articles or social media posts in Spanish. Be sure to focus on comprehension or making the information comprehensible to your students' levels. For example with beginning Spanish levels read the articles in Spanish, but share your reflections over the articles in English to check for understanding. Your upper levels should be able to express their opinions in Spanish, given the proper resources. 

Create a Digital Code of Conduct

   Collaborate with your students to create a digital code of conduct for your classroom. This can include guidelines on respectful communication, privacy, and ethical content sharing. Share and review authentic resources in the target language regarding these topics to begin with. Then as a class write this code in Spanish. It can serve as both a language exercise and a practical lesson in digital ethics. This could be especially prudent with your upper levels when covering the imperative/command forms. 

Analyze Social Media in Spanish

   Social media is a treasure trove of authentic language content. Analyze Spanish-language posts, tweets, or comments to discuss what constitutes respectful and ethical behavior online. Make sure to adjust the material to your students levels to ensure comprehensibility. This exercise helps students understand the cultural nuances of digital communication in the Spanish-speaking world. It will expose them to unique textual expressions for the target language and allow them to explore these cultural practices. If your students are unable to have classroom discussions, break them into smaller groups and allow them to write down their reflections. For beginning language students, allow this to be an interpretive activity, where they relay their reflections in English. 

    Integrating digital ethics and online reputations into our Spanish curriculum is a necessity. When we teach our students to navigate the digital world responsibly, we prepare them to be thoughtful, ethical global citizens. They are already native digital citizens. It is our opportunity to help guide them to be ethical native digital citizens . We have the opportunity to combine language learning with these crucial life skills, enriching our students' educational journey and equipping them for the future.

Would you like to read more about digital citizenship? Check out ITSE's blog. Or read this Edutopia post.