iscussion group facilitation, internationalisation at home, peer-learning, study abroad, volunteering
ostering skills development is one of the tenets of education. For a longtime, the traditional binary teacher-student interaction was used as the soleapproach to teaching and learning but it is now overwhelmingly regarded asinsufficient. The present paper reports on an initiative based on the principles ofpeer learning. The discussion groups and one-to-one sessions in languages,facilitated by native speakers (NS) who are international students in the institu-tion, were set-up to enable language learners to develop their oral skills. While theadvantages of the activity for language learners are clear, it is not as easy todetermine the benefits for the NS peer-facilitators. The study presents findingsfrom questionnaires and interviews conducted with some of these NS peer-facilitators and discuss the reported impact of the initiative on these students.While personal growth and development of intercultural awareness featurestrongly in the data analysis, an enhanced language learning experience and aninfluential factor in some participants’educational and career paths are alsorevealed. These findings are explained with reference to relevant developments inthe study abroad, volunteering and peer learning literature. We will conclude thatthe initiative is a positive tool for international students’integration into the hostinstitution and offers a novel way for them to socialise and engage in their newlearning environment.