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Description
This study explores collaboration across intercultural borders through a campus interview task assigned to 167 first-year students at a national university in Japan. The participants designed their own questions on topics of interest and conducted English-language interviews with international students outside class time. The task positioned both parties as valuable contributors: the participants controlled the interview’s content and structure, while their respondents served as experts on their home countries and cultures. An analysis of the participants’ post-task reflective reports reveals how both sides negotiated meaning in English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) interactions, employing strategies such as simplified language, visual aids, and nonverbal communication. Findings highlight the collaborative, two-way nature of these exchanges and offer practical implications for designing intercultural interview tasks that build learner confidence and help to develop their English communication skills.