Jennifer Eidum
Elon University, United States
Jennifer E. Eidum, PhD, is associate professor of English at Elon University, where she leads the Peace Corps Prep and TESOL programs. She teaches writing studies and applied linguistics courses, as well as global seminars and literature in study abroad settings. Her research focuses on engaged teaching and learning practices in first-year writing, community-based learning, and study abroad. Eidum served six years as Faculty Director of Global Neighborhood, leading to her co-edited book, The Faculty Factor: Developing Faculty Engagement with Living-Learning Communities (2023). Her work appears in College Composition and Communication, Composition Studies, and Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric.
“As a veteran international educator, participating in COIL felt natural—and it has proven its worth. Interacting with students from across the world challenges my students to look beyond themselves and consider what student life might be like somewhere else. Even small things, like differences in time zones, became meaningful learning opportunities. Most powerful were the informal exchanges between US and Ukrainian students: while they noticed differences, they found a surprising amount of commonality in their lives—and that connection proved deeply meaningful. COIL is a clear framework for developing the intercultural communication skills students will need in an increasingly globalized and multicultural world. Introducing them to that experience in a low-stakes way is, I hope, one of the best gifts I can give them.”
Project Information
Project Name: Intercultural Communication & Global Storytelling
Partner: Dr. Antonina Devitska, Uzhhorod National University (Ukraine)
Project Length: 4 weeks
Modality: Synchronous & Asynchronous
Technology Tools Utilized: Zoom, Padlet, WhatsApp, Google Apps (Docs, Slides), Canva
UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Project Summary:
This COIL project paired my first-year writing students at Elon University with Ukrainian university students studying and academic English and applied linguistics. It was a natural fit. Over four weeks, students met three times on Zoom: first to get to know each other in breakout rooms, then to form collaborative project teams with representation from both universities, and finally to present their work to the whole group. In between, teams connected asynchronously and in small group meetings. Students explored topics like food culture, video game culture, national stereotypes, and public transportation across multiple countries. While they found specific cultural differences, they also found meaningful common threads. One thing my collaborating professor shared has really stuck with me: because of the Russian invasion, young Ukrainian men cannot leave the country for study abroad. For them, this COIL project was their study abroad experience. That says everything about why this work matters.
Learning Outcomes:
- Students demonstrated intercultural competence by identifying differences and meaningful commonalities through direct engagement with peers from another culture.
- Students gained practical experience in international teamwork and intercultural communication by collaborating across time zones to produce and present shared work.