Abstract:

Nowadays, the number of higher education institutions engaging their students in virtual exchange projects is growing in giant steps. The purpose of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is to promote international learning with the use of innovative technologies. COIL projects involve inclusive, intercultural collaboration that bridges differences and distances promoting all the aspects of internationalization. In this particular COIL project, the role of content as a part of instruction is considered primarily from the language-teaching perspective. Content and language integration learning (CLIL) provides good learning environments for both content and the English language improvement. In total, 60 participants from Brazil and Armenia took part in this COIL project, during which Armenian students designed and conducted classes teaching English for specific purposes (ESP) assisted by Brazilian professors, who offered support before and during classes. The implementation of this mentoring approach is highlighted, as establishing a strong teacher-mentoring program in universities, as well as in collaborative programs among universities, may be seen as a way to help pre-service teachers to go for the labor market better prepared. A total of 43 students both from Brazil and Armenia took part in a survey concerning the results of the project. Survey analysis is presented in the article in detail.

Keywords:

Virtual exchange, international learning, intercultural collaboration, content and language integration, English for specific purposes, mentoring approach.