The Teletandem Network

The paper describes how teletandem has been implemented in different university contexts. Teletandem is a model of OIE that uses the resources of webcam images, voice and text offered by VOIP technology (e.g., Skype and Google Hangouts). Within this context, two students help each other to learn their native (or other) language through online synchronous intercultural and linguistic collaboration (Telles, 2009, 2015; Telles & Vassallo, 2006, 2009; Vassallo & Telles, 2008). The works by Brammerts and Kleppin (2001), Brammerts (2003) and Lewis and Walker (2003) on foreign language learning in tandem and the International Tandem Network served as inspiration for the creation of the Teletandem Brasil: Foreign Languages for All project (Telles, 2005). However, our project differs to e-tandem (Brammerts, 1996) and web-based tandem (Appel & Mullen, 2000) in that those projects focussed on written in-tandem interactions, whereas our teletandem model is characterised by the use of webcam images of the partners, along with synchronous voice and text interaction. As was the case of the original tandem projects, teletandem started as a non-mandatory learning opportunity carried out in the institutional context (i.e., universities). Nowadays, teletandem is a part of the language teaching curricula of some university degree courses. Teletandem plus mediation sessions constitute a training programme which is ‘institutionally integrated’.