Versione in Italiano
Tandem Learning is an exchange between two native speakers of different languages which enables both to improve their language skills through conversation or other forms of communication. The Language Centre offers “Face-to-face Tandem Learning”. Students participating in the initiative have the opportunity to meet personally.
Why participate?
Because it is:
- useful: it’s a chance to improve your speaking skills.
- easy to participate in: it’s open to everyone at the University of Padova.
- informative: it provides a means to get to know a different culture from your own.
- enjoyable: it’s good fun!
- flexible: you decide when and where to meet your partner.
Who can participate?
Students who are registered at the University of Padova; students on exchanges (through the LLP-Erasmus program, the Erasmus-Mundus program and Bilateral agreement students, Boston University, etc.); volunteers at the University of Padova (European Voluntary Service, National Civil Service, Regional Civil Service). Students have a priority for enrollment. Those who have a formal relationship with the University of Padova or the Hospital of Padua (administrative staff, fellows, graduate students, master students, specialization students and teachers) can also enrol in Tandem Learning.
How does it work?
The Language Centre will pair up tandem partners based on the applications received. These partners will be put into contact via email taking into account the order in which applications were sent in and the age of the participants.
It is not always possible to allocate a tandem partner to all those who apply for one. This depends on how many foreign students who speak the required language get involved.
We will only send an email to participants we have paired up, anyone who does not receive a partner is free to apply again the following semester, they will, however, have to fill in the application form again.
Once you receive our email you should write to your partner to introduce yourself and arrange your first meeting.
Where can we meet?
Tandem partners can meet wherever they want, and deciding together.
The partners can also have distance meetings (via Zoom, Skype, etc.)
What happens at the meetings?
You are in charge of what you do at your meetings, you decide exactly when and where to meet.
During your meetings, you should spend an equal amount of time in each language.
This is not a teacher-student type relationship but an exchange between peers in order to practice using the language in “real life”.
How can I keep track of my goals and my progress?
You can use a DIARY to make a note of your aims and of the progress made during each meeting.
Once your semester of Tandem Learning is over, you must hand in your diary to the Student Information Office at the Language Centre (Via Venezia 16, 5th floor), you will then be given a certificate saying you participated in the project.
In order to help you to get the most out of the project, you can download the “EUROPASS LANGUAGE PASSPORT TEMPLATE“. This is an essential tool to help you evaluate your language skills before and after participating in the project.
How do I apply?
Registration for 2nd semester 2022/23 closed on April 10, 2023.
Certificate
When you have finished all your meetings, and if you hand in your completed diary to the Student Information Office at the Language Centre (Via Venezia 16, 5th floor), you will receive a certificate saying you participated in the project.
Survey
At the end of the project, you can fill in a satisfaction questionnaire, a tool that will help us to know the opinion of the participants and improve our service.
F.A.Q.
1)Do I have to pay anything to take part in the Tandem Learning project? No.
2) How and where can I sign up for Tandem Learning? To apply for Tandem Learning you have to fill in a form with your personal details. You don’t need to go to the Student Information Office at the Language Centre.
3) How many times a year does the Tandem Learning project run? Twice (application are accepted at the beginning of each semester).
4) How many times a week should I meet my Tandem partner? It’s up to you. You can meet once, or twice a week, or even more.
5) What can I do if I don’t get on well with my Tandem partner? You can ask for another partner, but we can not guarantee to be able to find you another partner for the same language.
6) Is it true that I am asked to fill in a diary? Where can I find it? Should I fill in the diary each time I meet my partner? You are not obliged to fill in the Tandem Diary, but if you decide to use it, you can download it from the web, fill it in and then hand it into the Student Information Office at the end of the semester. It is not necessary for you to fill in the diary every time you meet your partner. We advise you to use it as a tool for reflection, defining your goals and objectives and keeping track of what you learn.
7) If I participated in Tandem once, can I sign up for this project again? Yes.
