What is eTandem?

In eTandem, you work together with a language learning partner from another country - by telephone, e-mail or other media. From your partner, you learn his or her language while he or she learns your native language.

A learning partnership ...

... - as holds true in any partnership - only works well if both partners benefit equally. For this reason, the following applies:

Half of the time is for you - your partner speaks and/or writes in his native language, and you learn from him. Your partner can inform you of current events in his country, can correct your mistakes and can give you various helpful tips.

During the other half of the time, your partner learns from you: now you communicate in your native language and help him.

You determine ...

... what you want to learn, when you learn and how much. Perhaps your language teacher or a professional learning coach will advise you in this. Discuss your learning objectives with your eTandem partner and let him know how he can help you achieve them.

Your partner will probably be following different learning objectives and will ask you to in turn help him.

A proven learning method

Two individuals meeting regularly to learn each other's languages - this is as old as time. However, for over 30 years, this learning method has been systematically practised under the name tandem.

eTandem is tandem at a distance usually using electronic media such as e-mail, telephone and video conferencing.

Since 1994, over 30 European universities, schools and other educational institutions have researched and successfully implemented this form of language learning.