My First Telecollaboration Experience

My name is Sana, and I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Communication Management at Tallinn University Baltic Film, Media and Arts School. During my first semester, I enrolled in several courses, but one of the most meaningful experiences came from the telecollaboration during the course Basics of Intercultural Communication, taught by Prof Anastassia Zabrodskaja and Dr Sara Kim!. They weren’t just instructors, they felt like a mentor who consistently encouraged us to share our stories, reflect on our backgrounds, and learn from one another’s cultural experiences.

One of the most exciting parts of the course was our online collaboration project with students from North Central College in the United States. Even though we never met in a physical classroom, our small Zoom meetings became a space where we learned, shared, and worked together on four different intercultural assignments. The purpose of these tasks was to explore cultural differences, understand our intercultural profiles, and reflect on how diverse backgrounds shape communication.

Our group consisted of four members:

Alex Porter from the United States

Vianney Mendoza from the United States

Emily, originally from South Korea but now living in Estonia and studying at Tallinn University

And me, from Pakistan, also living in Estonia and studying at Tallinn University

 

On the very first day, we decided to create a WhatsApp group to make communication easier. It quickly became our main space for coordinating meeting times, sharing ideas, and asking questions. For our assignments, we used Google Docs to work collaboratively, allowing everyone to edit and contribute in real time.

Our very first challenge as a group was choosing a meeting time that suited everyone. With almost an eight-hour time difference between us, coordination was not simple. Two members Vianney and Alex were in the United States following Central Time, while Emily and I were in Estonia on Eastern European Time. After a bit of discussion, we finally agreed to meet at 12:00 PM Central Time, which was 8:00 PM for us in Estonia. I still remember how some of our meetings stretched longer than expected. At one point, I even had to ask my group members if I could eat my dinner during the call and they laughed and said yes. Moments like these showed how comfortable and familiar we were becoming with each other. The professional barrier slowly faded, and we started working more like friends than strangers did from different continents.

The assignments themselves were not easy. Most of them had deadlines on Mondays, so we usually held a final check-in meeting on Sunday evenings to review everything, fix any gaps, and make sure our work was aligned. These Sunday meetings became our routine and, surprisingly, something I started to look forward to.

Our last assignment was the most demanding because we had to choose a real international or intercultural conflict, analyze it academically, and suggest practical, theory-based solutions. After some discussion, we decided on the Kashmir conflict. For me, as a Pakistani, this topic already held personal interest, so exploring it through an intercultural communication lens felt meaningful. The work required several meetings, research, and careful discussion, but everyone contributed openly and respectfully. Even though the topic was complex, we managed to create a thoughtful and well-structured analysis together.

When we successfully completed all four assignments, we celebrated by sending encouraging messages to each other in our WhatsApp group. We expressed how supportive and understanding the group had been throughout the collaboration. What started as an online project eventually became a meaningful intercultural learning experience.

Through this telecollaboration project, I truly understood what intercultural communication means in real life. It is about cooperation across differences, active listening, and engaging with diverse perspectives with empathy and curiosity. These are lessons I will carry with me into my future studies, career, and everyday life.