Long-distance tandem learning by e-mail: evaluation of a case study

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of an experiment in tandem language learning by e-mail carried out jointly by the Institute of Modern Languages and the Department of Applied Languages at Antonio de Nebrija University in Madrid and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) in the United States during the first semester of the academic year 2004-05. We found that, despite certain teething problems regarding the implementation of the project and the students' initial ignorance of the pedagogical principles of reciprocity and autonomy needed to guarantee the success of the project, the students' involvement and participation reflected a considerable improvement in their communicative competence in the target language, especially with regard to their vocabulary acquisition, writing skills and foreign culture awareness.