Teacher training perspectives for virtual exchange: Initial actions from the E-LIVE European project

Abstract

[EN] The E-LIVE project (Engaging Languages in Intercultural Virtual Exchange) is a three-year project funded by Erasmus+ Cooperation partnerships in school education (KA220-SCH). In this short paper, we report on two of the project’s initial teacher training actions. Firstly, a training needs analysis conducted via questionnaire and focus groups with 39 in-service L2 teachers from associate partner schools (nine primary and 30 secondary). We report on felt needs and anticipated training needs and three key project actions that the needs analysis informed: teacher voices workshops, expert webinars, and virtual exchange coaching. Secondly, we describe a virtual exchange conducted between trainee teachers enrolled in French, Dutch, and Colombian teacher training institutions. The pedagogical design of the virtual exchange is detailed and two of the final task productions showcased. Post-virtual exchange questionnaire and focus group data allow us to report on the trainee teachers’ perceptions of the virtual exchange activities. The paper concludes with a discussion of how to ensure the success of future virtual exchange initiatives based on the analysis of the questionnaire and focus group data.