IMFLIT: The Meaning of Going Beyond Borders

In an increasingly interconnected world, geographical and cultural barriers are no longer significant hindrances to language learning. Since its development in 1970s and 1980s, teletandem –an online platform for linguistic and cultural exchange –has become a powerful tool that fosters autonomy, collaboration and meaningful communication between speakers of different languages.

In this context, the International Meeting on Foreign Language Learning in Teletandem (IMFLIT) emerged: a global gathering of researchers, educators and students dedicated to exchanging innovations and effective strategies in virtual language exchange.

For students in Enseñanza de la Lengua Inglesa [B.A in English Language Teaching] (LELI) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (UAEH), participating in international conferences such as IMFLIT not only strengthens their professional training, but also enhances their academic development and provides access to global collaborative networks.

In subsequent sections, we examine more closely the experiences and insights of two research professors from UAEH: Dr. Hilda Hidalgo Avilés and Dr. Martha Guadalupe Hernández Alvarado.

Teletandem: Building Global Bridges

Teletandem was created to connect students and educators from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds through digital platforms. This modality expands language learning beyond the classroom and into real-world interactions, where each participant’s culture and context enrich the process.

IMFLIT has become a leading forum for presenting research, addressing methodological challenges, and exploring emerging technological tools that support virtual language exchange.

By prioritizing human connection in the learning process, teletandem enhances linguistic skills while fostering intercultural understanding and digital literacy. It changes language learning into an arena of collaborative creativity that surpasses conventional techniques.

The Journeys of Two Experts

Dr. Martha Guadalupe Hernández Alvarado has built a solid career around teletandem. She participated as a speaker at IMFLIT in 2014 and 2018, both held at the University of Miami, and again in the 2025 edition hosted by UAEH.

In 2014, she met João Telles, founder of Teletandem Brazil, and connected personally with scholars whose work had been foundational to her master’s thesis. That encounter marked the beginning of academic partnerships that continue to this day.

In contrast, 2025 was Dr. Hilda Hidalgo Avilés’s first direct experience with IMFLIT. Although she was only able to attend for a few hours, she quickly recognized the value of seeing other research projects firsthand and engaging with experts in the field. For her, the conference provided inspiration and a renewed drive to delve deeper into this area of study.

Both scholars agree that each IMFLIT edition offers unique insights shaped by the participants’ profiles and the event’s location.

A Hub for Ideas and Connections

For Dr. Hidalgo, IMFLIT serves as a dynamic “laboratory” for innovative ideas. Each presentation and workshop are an opportunity to stay remain updated with worldwide research and explore emerging trends in virtual exchange. She also highlights the value of giving visibility to local research efforts while connecting directly with international peers.

Dr. Hernández Alvarado echoes this perspective, noting that her ongoing involvement with IMFLIT since 2013 has led to formal academic projects, including eTandem Language Learning: Improving Speaking and Learning about Culture (2018), as well as three academic articles and three book chapters published between 2018 and 2022.

Without IMFLIT, she emphasizes, many of these collaborations might never have happened. The event creates a space where researchers with shared interests can meet and build partnerships that fuel further inquiry and innovation.

Advantages for Students and Faculty

For LELI students, IMFLIT offers a valuable introduction to teletandem methodologies that they can apply in both classroom practice and academic research. Early exposure to virtual exchange strategies fosters autonomy, strengthens communication skills, and encourages comparative analysis with learners from other contexts.

Furthermore, the experience motivates students to develop their own projects that integrate digital tools and promote intercultural communication—skills that are increasingly essential in the modern classroom.

For UAEH faculty members, IMFLIT presents an opportunity to stay up to date with the latest in language education technologies, share their own research, and establish relationships with educators and institutions abroad. This kind of academic networking encourages co-authorship, collaborative project design, and the integration of innovative practices within UAEH’s academic programs.

Ultimately, such international involvement enhances the university’s global standing and enriches its educational programs.

Conclusion

IMFLIT is more than just a conference—it is a platform for decreasing barriers in education, advancing collaborative research, and positioning the English Language Teaching program at UAEH within a global network of language innovation.

The contrasting but complementary experiences of Dr. Hidalgo and Dr. Hernández Alvarado reveal the profound academic and professional impact that an event like IMFLIT can have.

As such, both faculty and students in the English Language Teaching program are encouraged to take part in future editions of IMFLIT, and actively contribute to an academic community that promote educational excellence, intercultural dialogue, and international collaboration.

References

Hernández Alvarado, M. G., Hidalgo Avilés, H. & Espinosa Butrón, N.A. (2018). eTandem Language Learning: Improving Speaking and Learning about Culture. The International Journal of Technologies in Learning, 25(2), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.18848/2327-0144/CGP/v25i02/1-14