This paper argues that one of the challenges facing language learners working in telecollaborative computer-mediated projects is dealing with the divergences they will find between their collaborators learning contexts and their own. This point will be illustrated through a report of a portuguese-english language learning experience developed within the frame of a computer-assisted language learning pedagogy referred to as "tandem learning". In the analysis, it will be argued that macro-social differences between the teaching of Portuguese in Australia and the teaching of English in Brazil had an impact in the outcomes of the telecollaborative endeavour.