Fostering Global Skills in the EFL Classroom through Forms of Online Collaborative International Learning

Conference: The Paris Conference on Education (PCE2022)
Title: Fostering Global Skills in the EFL Classroom through Forms of Online Collaborative International Learning
Stream: Foreign Languages Education & Applied Linguistics (including ESL/TESL/TEFL)
Presentation Type: Live-Stream Presentation
Authors:
Anabela Simões, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Chittima Sangiamchit, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thailand

Abstract:

In a fast-changing world, characterised by technological advances, physical and virtual mobility for education, training and work, as well as interdependence and global cooperation among linguistically and culturally diverse nations, High Education Institutions are continuously challenged to find ways to better equip students with not only the skills, competences and qualifications required to succeed in an ever more demanding labour market, but also to prepare them to be active citizens, able to deal with change and uncertainty, develop on a personal level, build successful interpersonal relations, and learn how to learn.
Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) aims precisely at fostering the development of this broader skillset. Commonly defined as ‘virtual mobility’ experiences, COIL projects offer students an opportunity to interact with peers from other geographies, allowing for the development of intercultural competences while working together on subject-specific assignments.
The aim of this paper is to present a project concluded in 2022, involving university students from Portugal and Thailand. In addition to consolidating students’ intercultural awareness and multilingual competences, this learner-centred approach also aimed to foster personal, social and learning to learn competences - as defined in the EU Recommendation on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning, a framework of the competences individuals need in ever more diverse, mobile, digital, and global societies. A detailed description of the project as well as students’ perceptions of the process shall be presented. The data obtained indicates that this perception is generally positive and that both cognitive and personal/interpersonal competencies were successfully addressed.

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