Presentation Exploring the lived COIL experiences of university students in Japan with partners in Southeast Asia more

During the COVID-19 pandemic, collaborative online international learning (COIL) emerged as an alternative to overseas sojourns; however, few studies have explored the role and impact of COIL in the current post-pandemic era and how it may influence intent to study abroad. In this session, the presenter will report on a government-funded study involving 13 university students in Japan and COIL partners in Thailand and Indonesia, which took place from September to December 2024. The presenter employed interpretive phenomenological analysis, drawing on data from pre- and post-intervention surveys, journaling, and reflective interviews. In attempting to identify the Japanese participants’ essence of experience during COIL, analysis yielded clusters of meaning related to comfort, authenticity, intercultural competences, and an increased desire to study overseas. COIL provided students with international education experience, which is valuable not only for those with intent to study abroad, but also those facing financial or academic constraints. Educators and administrators attending this presentation will gain insights into developing more effective intercultural curriculum through COIL, which may increase autonomy in pursuing authentic second-language learning opportunities in Japan, Asia, and beyond.