Abstract

This study explores the experiences of Chinese and Japanese university English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students who engaged in English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) virtual exchanges through mobile instant messaging (MIM). Participants from universities in Japan and mainland China took part in a six-week online lingua franca exchange project using ‘WeChat’, a Chinese MIM application. Based on thematic analysis of post-project interviews, this study demonstrates the advantages and limitations of MIM for lingua franca exchanges from the perspective of university EFL students. The findings demonstrate students’ positive perceptions and utilization of the flexibility of MIM communication, including synchronous and asynchronous options, along with various semiotic resources like images, emojis, and stickers. However, there were several challenges including concerns about intrusiveness caused by immediate responses and the platform’s suitability for users from diverse regions. The study concludes by offering language educators practical guidelines for implementing MIM-based lingua franca exchanges.