An Erasmus+ Experience at Tallinn University: Exploring Intercultural Communication and AI through Telecollaboration with the University of Louisiana Monroe

I distinctly remember sitting in the classroom during our first meeting, astonished by the variety of cultural backgrounds among my classmates. In contrast to my courses back home, which were generally not very culturally diverse, this was a refreshing experience. I was genuinely excited about our initial group interactions.

The collaborative aspect of this course, involving an American university, piqued my interest further. As someone fascinated by American culture, I was eager to work with students from Louisiana University. Our small group turned out to be wonderfully diverse: one student from the U.S., one originally from Bangladesh, another from Pakistan, and me, representing Switzerland. Our online meetings often went beyond discussing assignments, as we delved into a range of captivating topics. Conversations frequently meandered away from the task at hand because of these fascinating tangents, but they offered unique insights. We shared personal stories, trusting one another to respect the privacy of our discussions.

Of course, the communication aspect was not always easy, primarily due to the significant time difference between Tallinn and Louisiana. However, this challenge became an interesting new experience and taught me valuable lessons about organizing group work and planning my own tasks. While it wasn't always entirely successful, in the end, everything always worked out.

The timing of the U.S. elections added another layer to our conversations, as we often debated and analyzed the political climate. Although we shared similar opinions, it was fascinating to hear perspectives from “actual Americans” and listen to their personal stories. I wish we had more time in our classes; our discussions were so engaging and enjoyable!

Having lived in Europe my entire life, my understanding of South Asia was limited. Before this class, I could not have distinguished between Pakistani and Bangladeshi cultures. The factual knowledge I gained during the course was invaluable, but equally important was the way we interacted with one another. My favorite assignment was a cultural values test, which revealed our individual cultural values. This exercise led to thought-provoking discussions: Where do our core values come from? How do they influence our actions? Are they shaped by culture? Using a cultural value comparison tool, we compared our values with the averages in our home countries (see Figure). It was fascinating to see both similarities and differences in our results.
 

Figure. National Averages Using Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Framework

Overall, this course has made me even more enthusiastic about learning about other cultures. It has equipped me with the tools to engage in intercultural environments, ask meaningful questions, and use tools I had not encountered before. The inclusion of AI in the curriculum also left me feeling more confident and creative when applying AI tools in a scientific context. The course “KOI7067.FK Basics of Intercultural Communication” has provided me with valuable knowledge and meaningful connections that I hope to maintain in the future!