ИСТИНА

This paper reports on the design, implementation, and outcomes of a Teletandem language exchange program jointly delivered by the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Area Studies at Lomonosov Moscow State University (FFLAS MSU) and the World Studies Media Center at Virginia Commonwealth University (WSMC VCU) between 2015 and 2016. Practitioners and researchers at both sites drew on a multidisciplinary range of theory, methodology and practice to coordinate student-to-student, group-to-group, and class-to-class online student interactions. The interactions were conversational and collaborative and students were given tasks to complete in pairs. Time was divided equally and all sessions were mutually beneficial. Both groups were asked to document and share their work in an online wiki-style portfolio. The findings of the study showed that Teletandem is an engaging, high-impact learning activity that provides opportunities for meaningful immersion and practice in the L2. The sessions were analyzed through collective observations of the program, evaluation of the data, and intensive reflection and interpretation of the action research. Based on the observations of Teletandem implementation, delivery, and outcomes, there appears to be immense value in pairing domestic and foreign students in classroom settings in order to share ideas, work together, and foster better linguistic and cultural understanding in foreign language courses.