University Language Classes Collaborating Online A Report on the Integration of Telecollaborative Networks in European Universities

This report focuses on the findings of objective 1- a European survey and collection of case studies aimed at establishing a clear overview of the use of Online Intercultural Exchange (OIE) across European universities, at identifying practical barriers to the take-up of OIE as well as possible solutions to these barriers. The report begins by providing a brief overview of the numerous contributions which telecollaborative exchange networks can make in European university education. These include the development of students’ linguistic and intercultural and electronic competences. However, we also refer to the contribution which telecollaboration can make to supporting or complementing physical mobility programmes such as Erasmus, as well as forming an important part of a university’s internationalisation programme. Following that, the methodology behind the European survey is outlined in section 3. This is followed by a presentation and commentary on the most significant findings in the teacher survey (section 4) and the student survey (section 5). Section 6 of the report presents seven case studies which are considered to be representative of the telecollaborative activity which is currently being undertaken around European universities. These case studies describe how the online exchanges are being carried out, but also focus on the barriers and challenges which practitioners are encountering and how they are overcoming these obstacles. In the discussion in section 7, the key findings from the survey and the case studies are outlined and their consequences for educators and university management are identified.