This spring saw the first succesful edition of ENLIVE connect students from across the ENLIGHT network. ENLIVE (ENLIGHT Network Language and Intercultural Virtual Exchange) is a project designed and run by Espace Langues, a centre for language learning and intercultural exchange at the University of Bordeaux.
Guided by facilitators, participants engage in weekly synchronous discussions in an English as a lingua franca context. Together, students build relationships, discuss current social issues and work towards a micro social media campaign. This year's crop of campaigns explored topics such as gender and education or science denial and anti-science movements.
In total, 63 students completed the exchange and out of the 59 students that answered the end-of-course survey 57 said they enjoyed participating in the project and would recommend it to other students. For next Autumn's edition, Espace Langues will be collaborating with ZESS (Central facility for languages and key qualifications), a partner structure at the University of Göttingen, in order to upscale ENLIVE after this initial pilot.