Fil-Thai Language exchange Program Experience: Exploring the Next Step Forward

: The study sought to explore how to best continue the language exchange program of St. Paul University Manila (Philippines) and Silpakorn University (Thailand) by looking into the learning experiences of the participants coming from both universities. Through the use of mixed open-ended and closed-ended items in Google Form, the students were asked to answer questions that relate to their specific learning experiences throughout the 10-session program after their program was completed. The thematic analysis of narratives from 24 participants revealed that a deepening of cultural learning was achieved in the participants as conversations moved from surface-level topics to personal ones. The building of friendships between conversation partners allowed them to talk about more sensitive topics in succeeding sessions and achieve the goals of the collaborative activity at the end of the program (a video-documented talent exhibition).