International Virtual Exchange: Promoting Effective Cross-cultural Communication among Pre-service English as an International Language Teachers

Conference: The European Conference on Language Learning (ECLL2022)
Title: International Virtual Exchange: Promoting Effective Cross-cultural Communication among Pre-service English as an International Language Teachers
Stream: Culture and Language
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Authors:
Beverley Topaz, Kibbutzim College of Education, Israel
Tina Waldman, Kibbutzim College of Education, Israel
Gotz Schwab, University of Ludwigsburg, Germany

Abstract:

This presentation reports on several virtual exchanges between pre-service English as an international language (EIL) teachers studying in diverse countries to increase their cross-cultural communication skills. It will focus on multiple ways that the participants benefited from the international online collaborations which also served in their development of a more inclusive pedagogy. In a globalized world where language teachers in particular need to develop cross-cultural communication skills and intercultural competences, intercultural- collaborative online learning can provide substantial preparation as well as professional development. This presentation is the result of several intercultural online collaborations between two teacher training institutions in Israel and Germany during 2019 - 2021, where future EIL teachers participated in virtual exchanges on issues such as digitalization, intercultural learning, and teaching methodology during the Covid pandemic. Based on a comprehensive set of data comprising students' written reflections, recordings of break-out room sessions and collaborative online-products, we provide insights into students’ development of cross-cultural communication skills, intercultural competences, and professional identity and beliefs. In depth data analysis reveals that despite challenges, students fostered a professional language teacher identity and engaged in authentic collaboration. Moreover, they embraced a more inclusive, cross-cultural pedagogy. Our findings enable us to present a comprehensive picture of how international virtual exchange can be designed to develop students’ inter-cultural competencies and promote their cross-cultural communication skills.

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