1. DESCRIPTION OF A SUCCESSFUL CASE

1.1 Scope of the initiative

Success case: Tandem programme at the Independent Language Learning Centre (ILLC – SLZ);

Target: Foreign students (e.g, Erasmus students) and (language) students of the Free University Berlin (FU Berlin) (language students as well as students of all disciplines);

Institution carrying out the initiative: Independent Language Learning Centre (ILLC – SLZ) as a part of the Language Centre of the FU Berlin. In particular the initiative is presently being carried out by two people (the head of the ILLC, a teacher of German as a foreign language and two student assistants).

Other partners involved within the University: FU-BEST, FUBIS, Studienkolleg, which are institutions providing fee-based language and cultural programmes for foreign students or language courses for exchange students at the FU.

About the tandem programme:
The tandem programme is an extracurricular initiative of the Language Centre, but it is intended to fit into the university context and into the study programmes of students. See also 1.3. Learning outcomes, and 2.2 Strategic goals of the initiative.

1.2 Range of languages studied

No language constraints are set within the tandem programme. Students can offer their first language and seek any other language. The range of languages offered and/or requested by the students is on average about 25-30 languages (from Arabic to Hungarian, to Farsi, Chinese, see table 2).

1.3 Learning outcomes

The tandem programme is focused on language learning in a university context. Tandem learning is not just about spending time together and making conversation with the tandem partner; it is primarily focused on language learning relative to study subjects and skills, and the use of language in meaningful contexts. Although it is difficult to generalise, since the learning outcomes are different for different students, depending on their language competence, their dedication to the tandem programme, their specific goals, etc., we can nevertheless say that most of the students involved in tandem-learning work on learning goals strictly related to their individual needs within their academic career, such as writing a paper in the foreign language, preparing an interview for a job, understanding lectures etc. See also 2.2 Strategic goals of the initiative.

1.4 Practical realisation

The present tandem programme is a further development of an earlier tandem project organised by a teacher of German as a foreign language. Based on an evaluation of the previous programme, some features have been modified. Two major changes were made in regard to the language competence required for participating in the programme: The first major change is the opportunity for cross-language tandems (in the previous programme only students with either German as a first language or seeking German as a foreign language could take part); the second major change is that students can offer more than one (first) language, assuming they have very good skills in these languages (e.g. a school or university degree), along with any first language(s). The goal of both these changes is the promotion of multilingualism. The programme is open to the entire student population of the FU and other universities in Berlin.

In particular, the tandem programme at the ILLC is based on:

• an online application form collecting student data about languages (sought and offered), age, study programme, language competences, interests and hobbies, goals for tandem learning, etc.);
• a data base of students having submitted an application form;
• a general tandem agreement (Tandemvereinbarungen), which students sign when they apply for the tandem programme (e.g. students are supposed to spend the same amount time on each language, to respect one another, to negotiate their learning goals);
• a general tandem meeting at the beginning of each term to give students the possibility to meet and choose their own partners;
• ongoing work by the tandem team at the ILLC to arrange tandem partners (students are informed by e-mail);
• tandem training in the form of workshops directed at all languages, focussing on tasks, strategies, materials for tandem learning;
• language advising for tandem partners;
• the possibility to sign a tandem contract with the partner and an adviser in order to obtain a certificate for the tandem work (ECTS credits may be provided);
• the possibility for tandem partners to work with ILLC resources;
• general information about the tandem programme (handouts, tips for tandem learning, tandem agreement);
• collaboration with other departments and institutions within the university and in Berlin in order to establish partnerships among students and language learners from different languages (e.g. FU-BEST, FUBIS).

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