Integrating COIL for Linguistic Variation in Intermediate Italian

This scholarship project explores how Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) can enhance students’ preparation for residence abroad while strengthening their understanding of linguistic and cultural diversity in contemporary Italy.

Working with a partner university in Italy, Level 2 Italian students at the University of Leeds will collaborate online with Italian students studying English who are themselves preparing for a period of study abroad in the UK. Through this reciprocal exchange, participants will explore how language varies across regions, communities and social contexts in both Italy and England, with particular attention to Northern Italian varieties and Yorkshire English.

The project will develop and pilot a series of five COIL sessions combining synchronous and asynchronous activities. Students will analyse authentic examples of language use, discuss attitudes towards accents and dialects, and reflect on their own linguistic assumptions through intercultural dialogue with their international peers. By engaging directly with students from another cultural and linguistic context, participants will gain a deeper understanding of language diversity and its role in everyday communication.

The project aims to:

• Develop students’ awareness of Italian linguistic variation, including regional dialects and accents.
• Enhance intercultural competence through meaningful international collaboration.
• Better prepare students for the linguistic realities of residence abroad.
• Encourage critical reflection on language attitudes, identity and communication.
• Create a sustainable set of COIL resources that can be embedded within future teaching.

The pilot will be evaluated through student feedback and reflective activities, with findings informing future curriculum development and contributing to wider discussions around internationalisation and virtual exchange in language education.

By connecting students before they travel, Integrating COIL for Linguistic Variation in Intermediate Italian seeks to build confidence, foster intercultural understanding, and equip students with the linguistic awareness needed to navigate the rich diversity of language they will encounter during their residence abroad.