In this blog post, I’ll share our Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) experience with teacher Kihyun Park and his students at Pungsaeng Middle School in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea in creating a borderless classroom.
This is our second time collaborating with the class of teacher Kihyun. The COIL session is part of the Student Pen Pals project he started. The project allows students to develop global competencies such as empathy, intercultural communication, and critical thinking. Our students were able to learn about different cultures, broaden their perspectives, and establish connections with their counterparts from the other side of the world.
Session Highlights
The session started with a self-introduction activity. My students introduced themselves to their Korean counterparts, sharing their names, hobbies, and interests. The Pungsaeng Middle School students then did the same. This activity helped the students break the ice and feel more comfortable with each other.
The next activity was the language guessing game, a fun and engaging way to practice communication skills. The students took turns asking questions, and their counterparts had to think which language it was.
After the language guessing game, the students moved on to the “Getting to Know Each Country” activity. The Korean students shared about the Korean War and how Philippine soldiers like Condrado Dumlao Yap, helped the Koreans to victory. My students promoted the tourist destinations of the Philippines.
This COIL session with Pungsaeng Middle School was victorious. It showed that technology could be a powerful tool for connecting people and breaking down barriers. The students had the opportunity to learn about different cultures, develop their communication skills, and broaden their perspectives.
The borderless classroom is an excellent way to prepare students for the globalized world. It allows them to understand and appreciate different cultures, essential in today’s interconnected world.
If you want to connect with me and my students, don’t hesitate to contact me or post in reply.
