5th graders' intercultural awareness after a telecollaborative pedagogical experience in a private school in Cali, Colombia

Online technologies have increased the possibilities of contact amongst people of diverse cultural, social, and linguistic origins. The use of digital technology gives students opportunities to get in touch with people from other cultures and foster intercultural skills through virtually-mediated environments. Telecollaborative alternatives such as COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) and intercultural language teaching pose opportunities to enhance students’ intercultural awareness. The objective of this research is to determine the impact of a COIL experience focused on environmental issues on the development of intercultural awareness of a group of fifth graders from a private school in Cali. This mixed-methods action research reports a ten-week experience carried out between 20 Colombian elementary school learners and 8 American students. Data were gathered through pre and post questionnaires, interviews, field journals, and students’ artifacts. Results suggest that by the end of the COIL experience students were able to explore their own and other’s realities, examining values, behaviors, and beliefs from other cultures. Participants recognized the similarities and differences between their communities which allowed them to see themselves as agents of change. This understanding contributed to enhance students’ intercultural awareness promoting cooperative work and critical views in language learning.