The Impact of Online Collaborative International Learning Projects on Enhancing Public Speaking Skills and Intercultural Awareness among Students at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah

This research draws on the experience of an English language teacher participating in a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project in the field of education. A virtual collaboration took place between two higher education institutions located on opposite sides of the world: the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Asynchronous teaching methods were used to engage English language learners in collaborative work with students from other countries in a public speaking course. Students worked both individually and in groups to complete the public speaking project. To achieve the research objectives, the researcher collected both quantitative and qualitative data at the end of the project to understand the perceptions of American University of Ras Al Khaimah students about the activities they participated in. The results revealed positive student perceptions of the benefits they gained from the project. Based on these findings, the researcher recommends continuing the use of COIL projects at universities because of their effective role in developing language and learning skills, as well as enhancing intercultural awareness. He also recommends training professors on how to prepare and use these projects effectively in teaching English.