Global English Corner

International conversations through Elluminate and WordPress

Abstract

This paper reports on a pilot project undertaken by Victoria University (VU) with three partner universities in China (Sichuan University, Henan University and Liaoning University). The Global English Corner project uses online technologies to both encourage interactions between students in China and Melbourne and enhance the English language proficiency of international students for whom English is not a first language. The Global English Corner project also explores how technologies might achieve a greater comparability of the student experience on- and offshore in supporting the language development of international students. The Global English Corner pilot uses the online conferencing tool Elluminate together with a WordPress blog to conduct and support English conversations between business students in China and two student peers in Melbourne, Australia.