Overview

Tandem learning is based on the principles of self-regulated learning within a partnership. Both tandem partners benefit equally from their work together, bringing skills into the partnership which the other wishes to acquire in the language and using those skills to help their partner learn.

Competences addressed

The use of the method aims to enhance trainees’:

• Language competence
• Communication competence
• Cross-cultural competence
• Socio-cultural competence
• Digital skills

OBJECTIVES

• Improve the knowledge of a foreign language (particularly oral expression),
• Develop intercultural skills and cultural sensitivity,
• Facilitate integration.

GROUP SIZE

2 trainees.

TIME REQUIRED

Minimum 60 minutes.

RESOURCES

Books, notebooks, stationery, video conference software and computer etc. depending on the way of learning the tandem partners choose.

PROCESS

Tandem language learning is based on communication between two people. Tandem partners are both experts for their respective languages and cultures. Both partners are responsible for their own learning - in other words, they both decide on the goals and methods for their part of the exchange. It is important that they discuss their goals and needs with each other, and then set about achieving them in their share of the tandem time.

Tips for the tandem language exchange:

• Once you choose your tandem partner, decide together the subjects to be tackled as well as how many times and where and how you will meet (face to face or online).
• Each meeting has to be decided together and usually lasts one hour. The important thing is to speak half the time in a language and the other half in the other one without intermixing them in a dialogue. Use paraphrase, synonyms, pantomime, drawing, as a last resort direct translation of a word or a phrase that you don’t understand.
• One of the most important aspects for successful tandem learning is that the partners meet as often as possible. At the beginning of your work together not less than several times per week for at least an hour. This helps you to become familiar with the foreign language more quickly, increases learning frequency, and makes sure that you get plenty of practice.
• Together with your partner you may choose to read aloud, discuss particular topics that interest you, listen to music, practice conversations or undertake any number of other activities including information about traditional and ritual cultural behaviour.
• It is important to correct mistakes, not totally, but communicatively significant and the most frequent in the partner’s speech, propose improvements, include phraseological units and slang forms.
• To make tandem sessions as interesting and effective as possible for both partners, you need to agree in advance about the next topic of the meeting and prepare for it (what I’ll ask, which words I’ll need to know…).
• It is important that tandem partners find common interests for discussion. Although goals may vary, tandem language learning in and of itself should be primarily an enjoyable experience.

VARIATIONS

1. A tandem partner can be of different age.
2. You can also organize a tandem video-conference with more than two participants.
3. In tandem partnership, you can develop not only spoken but also written language. You can write letters to each other.

EXERCISES

• Exercise 1
• Diary of tandem meetings
  It is recommended to keep a diary of your tandem partnership. Each partner writes new words (at least 5) and phrases during the conversation. At the end of the meeting, a summary of the new vocabulary is made. At the same time, in the diary, everyone writes not only his own new vocabulary but also the new vocabulary of his partner. Preparing for the next meeting, you need to think over the beginning of the conversation in such a way as to activate the dictionary of the previous meeting of your partner, and maybe make some clarifications and adjustments. You can use questions, mini-dialogs or games – this is up to your creativity. It is recommended that you periodically return to vocabulary throughout the entire time of the tandem learning and the diary can be of help here.
• Exercise 2
• Games
  Play with your tandem partner! Emotions, excitement create and effective microclimate for activating and remembering language material and for establishing more friendly relations.
  
  Examples:
  
  • Guess some kind of an object. The partner asks questions, and you help him guess by answering only YES or NO.
  • Guess the word, mark each letter in the word with a dot. The partner names the letters of the alphabet, trying to guess the word by already guessed letters. You can limit the number of his attempts for more excitement.
  • Tell jokes, make riddles, solve crosswords – this is again the field of your creativity.