Tandem: An Important Component of the Summerschool Experience

To give you additional opportunities to practice improving your language abilities, each Summerschool participant has the opportunity to work with a Tandem Partner, all of whom are students or employees at Darmstadt Technical University.

What is Tandem?

Similar to riding a Tandem bicycle, learning a foreign language the “Tandem way” requires at least two persons as well as the motivation and energy from each of its participants. Tandem's bicycle pedals are comparable to the foreign languages you and your partner are seeking to improve -- you speak German, and your partner speaks English, while together your dynamic chain makes the Tandem “work”. Whether you are just starting out with the German language or already have a few years experience, Tandem learning is designed for all types of learners and levels. The goal in Tandem is clear: to improve your foreign language ability in an interesting and meaningful way. The way in which you achieve that goal is up to you and your Tandem partner. In the truest sense, Tandem learning is defined by openness and choice -- you decide with your partner when, how and what to learn.

Possible Tandem themes

• When first meeting your Tandem partner, the theme “Getting to Know One Another” might be a good place to start. Here you would introduce yourself in German, and your partner would do the same in German.
• Why not let your Tandem partner help you get oriented in Darmstadt? Activities such as going to the supermarket, riding the train or going to a restaurant can help you survive the first few days in your new host country. In turn, you might be able to do the same once back in your home town. Tandem learning is recriprocal learning, that is, both parties should mutually benefit from the experience.
• Enjoy reading children's literature? Go to the library together and let your German Tandem partner pick out his/her favorite book (and you do the same for him/her). To read the text you might head to the nearest park or cafe.
• Travelling together. Perhaps go for a bike ride in the surrounding area, or take a trip to the Alps with your Tandem partner. At some point, maybe you can show your Tandem partner around once back in North America.
• Other suggestions: take a trip to the local toy store or hardware store, visit an industry museum in Darmstadt, take part in university lectures…
• Above all, make sure to choose themes which are most interesting to you. When your partner does the same, you will be sure to benefit from Tandem.

Your Tandem partner

A few weeks before you arrive in Darmstadt, we will be sending you the name of your Tandem partner. Here you will have the opportunity to establish email contact with him/her before the Summerschool begins.

Further Information

For more detailed information about Tandem, please refer to the University of Bochum Tandem server .