When more is less: unexpected challenges and benefits of telecollaboration

Abstract

This article documents the changes undergone by a telecollaboration project between a Japanese university and a university in Romania. While the size of the project diminished with every passing year due to extrinsic and intrinsic causes, the quality of the exchanges improved. It became apparent that the main goals of the collaboration – improving cross-cultural understanding and increasing student selfawareness – were better served by reducing the number of tasks and allowing more time for reflection.