Speaker
Description
The International Virtual Exchange Project (IVEProject) brings together several thousand students from around the world in an 8‑week online exchange held twice a year. This large‑scale collaboration is designed to improve English language skills and develop intercultural competence. Rather than rely on scripted, contrived, or AI conversations, the IVEProject uses forums in a Moodle‑based platform where participants share personal experiences, cultural perspectives, and global issues with a real, global community. In addition to large‑scale discussions, students form small groups for more focused conversation and can participate in “side‑quests” such as an international recipe book, an art gallery, and a World Music exchange. The power of this massive collaboration is that it exposes learners to authentic cultural differences and real communicative challenges with real humans. By engaging with thousands of peers, students challenge their preconceptions, broaden their worldview, and build genuine intercultural competence.