Virtual Exchange as a Transformational Third Space for English Language Teacher Education: Discussing Project ViVEXELT

Abstract

This article discusses Vietnam Virtual EXchange for English Language Teaching (ViVEXELT), a project funded by the British Council - Vietnam (Digital Learning Innovation Fund Pilot – Response to COVID-19). It makes a substantial contribution to the theorization of Virtual Exchange as a fertile and inclusive knowledge-sharing Third Space. ViVEXELT proposes a distinctive internationalization of the curriculum (IoC) model, where students and staff involved in formal ELT courses in higher education collaborate with ELT practitioners from other ELT educational sectors to co-construct Sustainable Development Goals-inspired ELT materials. ViVEXELT attracted over 200 participants from 46 different educational level institutions between June 2021 and March 2022. The rich qualitative data collected illustrate that ViVEXELT supported its participants with developing online interactional and intercultural competence, while also providing them with opportunity to reflect on the learning gains from the pandemic for their future ELT practice, such as the effective use of breakout rooms.