Since 2000, I have been coordinating a web based virtual exchange
project, Project Ibunka. Ibunka means different cultures in Japanese. It
aims to provide opportunities of authentic interaction among EFL/ESL
learners all over the world. The project has been giving English language
learners from various countries opportunities to use English for authentic
purposes and promote intercultural understanding. Since 2000, more than
6,000 students from 22 countries have joined the project. The long life, the
regularly appearing cooperative partner teachers, the diversity of students’
cultures, and the high quality of the messages exchanged, are the assets of
Project Ibunka. This paper, as a case study of virtual exchange, overviews
the background and the project constitution as a whole. It also analyzes the
project management and students’ written products. The three administrative
features, (1) non-unified project goals for partner institutions, (2)
selecting and sequencing themes and sub-themes, and (3) moderation by
experienced instructors, have contributed to students’ quantitative fluency
as well as their qualitative improvement.