Presentation Building Confidence in English Communication: The Role of Asynchronous COIL for Japanese Students more

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) has been widely applied since the early 2000s, connecting students across countries to collaborate on projects. This study examines two key questions: (1) How can COIL help Japanese students build confidence in speaking and communicating in English? (2) How can COIL address the difficulties Japanese students perceive in learning English? A pilot program using asynchronous interaction to accommodate time zone differences was implimented. Convience sampling was used with both researchers teaching one class of 32 first-year Japanese students and one class of 10 first-year Norwegian students (CEFR A2–B1). Both classes collaborated in an online exchange via LINE OpenChats where they shared video presentations, peer feedback, and work revisions. The project aimed to simulate real-world global communication by encouraging students to engage in thoughtful, self-paced discussions rather than immediate exchanges. Mulitple surveys and twice-weekly reflections provided data that revealed student’s positive experience by self-reporting increased confidence, engagement, and motivation. Many found asynchronous interaction less intimidating than live discussions. Findings suggest that COIL fosters meaningful international collaboration, enhances learner autonomy, and mitigates language learning challenges in diverse educational settings. Asynchronous formats may offer an effective alternative to synchronous exchanges, particularly for learners with lower confidence levels.