COIL 2024 - Cross Cultural Learning with Chile
In Spring 2024, I participated in the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program between IU Indianapolis and DUOC UC in Chile. This experience brought together students from two countries to learn about each other’s cultures, communication styles, daily life, and perspectives. We met consistently through Zoom, maintained ongoing communication through WhatsApp, and shared personal experiences that helped us better understand one another.
Throughout several virtual exchanges, we explored differences and surprising similarities in traditions, values, food, transportation, and everyday routines. As part of our final task, I partnered with another IU student to create a Canva brochure showcasing key aspects of Chilean culture, including idioms, daily customs, popular locations, and favorite foods shared by our peers. Our partner group in Chile created a similar brochure about life in Indianapolis. We combined the brochures and both groups presented to the full cohort of U.S. and Chilean students.
This project was meaningful not only because it allowed me to collaborate internationally, but also because it gave me a deeper appreciation for the richness of cultures outside my own. It was a powerful reminder of how valuable global communication skills are in both personal and professional settings.
One of the core outcomes of this Honors experience was the development of very specific, practical, and culturally aware skills that go beyond everyday classroom learning
Career Readiness Competencies Strengthened
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Intercultural Fluency - communicating across cultures with awareness and respect
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Collaboration & Teamwork - working with peers from two institutions
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Digital Literacy - using Canva, Zoom, WhatsApp, and visual design strategies
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Professional Communication - presenting to a large audience in an organized, confident way
These skills demonstrate precision, adaptability, and professionalism, qualities that will continue to be valuable in business, global communication, and any career requiring cross‑cultural awareness.
Cross‑Cultural Communication Skills
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Communicating effectively with students in another country using Zoom, WhatsApp, and visual media
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Adjusting language, tone, and explanations to avoid misunderstandings
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Learning to interpret context, translation differences, and cultural nuances
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Practicing active listening across accents and conversation styles
Professional Collaboration & Project Development
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Coordinating across time zones and working with international peers
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Sharing responsibilities with another IU student to meet project deadlines
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Using Canva to design a clean, informative, and visually engaging brochure
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Organizing cultural information into categories
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Preparing and delivering a group presentation to a binational audience
Research & Cultural Inquiry Skills
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Asking meaningful questions about daily life, traditions, and values
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Taking notes during conversations and synthesizing them into cultural categories
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Identifying what cultural details are most relevant for an audience unfamiliar with the location
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Evaluating how cultural similarities and differences shape experiences
Reflection
This project significantly shaped the way I view cultural learning and human connection. Before COIL, most of my understanding of other cultures came from textbooks or media. Through direct conversations with Chilean students, I gained a more authentic awareness of how people abroad live, think, and communicate. This experience helped me appreciate how culture influences everything from daily routines to values, humor, and social expectations.
Engaging with real people brought this idea to life. Instead of relying on assumptions, I learned to ask questions, clarify meaning, and reflect on my own habits and cultural norms.
Professionally, this project strengthened my confidence in communication, presentation, and collaboration. It also gave me early experience working in an international context, something that is increasingly valuable in today’s globalized workforce. As a future professional, I hope to continue building skills that allow me to work respectfully and effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
This experience helped shape who I am becoming as an Honors College student: someone who is adaptable, globally aware, open‑minded, and eager to connect with others beyond borders. Lastly, I made friends, and while they may be far away, I will never forget them.
This is the homepage we used to learn about the project and introduce ourselves!