Engaging in International Projects and Foreign Exchange Programs During and After the Pandemic: Insights and Practices

Abstract

This autoethnographic study examines the benefits of engaging in various international projects and foreign exchange programs during and after emergencies. International projects and foreign exchange programs are taken as educators' initiatives and professional practices to foster learners' and their growth via an online connection. This research study has presented the personal experiences of an English language teacher's involvement in foreign exchange programs and international projects with global educators to flourish teacher professional development. The anecdotes and lived experiences of an English language teacher are depicted in the form of narratives that enrich the self-data of the researcher. The study explores the benefits of engaging in international projects and foreign exchange programs to promote global collaboration and communication and establish rapport with educators and learners worldwide. Similarly, it shows the significance of fostering 21st-century skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, digital literacy, language learning, and cultural understanding, and promoting the professional growth of a language teacher during and after the pandemic.