Language Tandem

The tandem concept is based on four ideals:

• Partnership:
  Both tandem partners are equally involved and benefit from collaborative learning.
• Self-directed learning:
  The tandem partners autonomously regulate their workload and the speed of learning, while their partner supports and encourages them.
• Interculturality:
  The tandem partners do not only improve their language skills, but also their intercultural knowledge and competence.
• Flexibility:
  The tandem partners arrange their meetings independently and depending on their individual availability.

Tandem+

• The tandem+ is open to everyone (including guests) who has found a tandem partner. This programme starts with the new semester and finishes at the end of the semester.
• The tandem partners commit to meeting each other at least ten times until the end of the semester for at least one hour.
• The tandem partners commit to take part in a group event.
• They spend an equivalent amount of time practicing each language (at least ½ hours for each language).
• The meetings are documented in a ‘tandemportfolio‘.
• After the third meeting, the tandem partners participate in a counselling session with the tandem coordinator.
• At the end of the programme, all tandem partners from the same semester take part in a joint closing event to share their tandem experiences.

The tandem+ needs to be completed by the end of the semester. If all requirements are met, students can receive one credit point (1 Credit) at the end of the programme. Please contact your respective faculty and/or examination office in order to receive the credit.

Tandem for employees

• The tandem for employees is exclusively for employees, lecturers, postdocs and doctoral candidates of TU Braunschweig.  
• The tandem partners commit to meeting each other at least ten times for at least one hour.
• They spend an equivalent amount of time practicing each language (at least ½ hours for each language).
• The meetings are documented in a ‘learning log’.
• After the third meeting, the tandem partners participate in a counselling session with the tandem coordinator.
• At the end of the programme, the tandem partners take part in a closing meeting with the tandem coordinator to share their tandem experiences.

There is no deadline for completing the tandem for employees programme. If all requirements are met, you will receive a tandem certificate at the end of the programme.

You can have the language tandem credited with three points in the area of "Acquisition of language skills" within the framework of the Zertifikat Interkulturelle Kompetenz (ZIK).

There are several ways to find a tandem partner.

Option 1 – Tandem exchange events

You can participate in the tandem exchange events which are offered at the beginning of each semester. In order to take part, you need to register on the Tandemportal (more on the tandemportal under ‘How do I register on the Tandemportal?’). The dates for the tandem exchange events are published on this website. Once published, you can sign up for the tandem exchange events on the tandemportal. After you receive an invitation from the tandem coordinator, you can participate in the tandem exchange event and meet a potential tandem partner.

Option 2 – Via the Tandemportal

You can find a tandem partner via the tandemportal. You can find more information on this topic in the section ‘How do I find a tandem partner on my own?’.

Option 3 – Only for Tandem for employees

If you are an employee, a lecturer, post-doc or doctoral candidate and are interested in a language tandem, please email us at sprachenzentrum-tandem(at)tu-braunschweig.de with the following information:

• your native language
• the foreign language/s you would like to learn
• the institution/ faculty where you study/work
• your position
• brief introduction (e.g. interests, hobbies)
• goals you would like to achieve with the tandem

We will take your application and send you an email as soon as we have found a potential tandem partner who might match your interests.

You can find learning material for different purposes, e.g. grammar and vocabulary, on the website Seagull.

SEAGULL

To make an appointment with the tandem coordinators Nese Yobas or Sebastian Schimmel, please check our calendar. Pick a date and write us an email with the requested appointment. Then, we will confirm the date by email.

Certificate

You can pick up your tandem certificate during our certificate consultation hours at the language center. In order to receive your certificate, you must have attended the closing event and submitted your learning log to us.

Credit

If you have participated in the Tandem+ programme as a TU student and have fulfilled all the requirements (participation in a group event, closing event and submission of completed tandem portfolio), you can download your certificate of achievement with one credit point on AURA.