Language Learning with eTandem
The eTandem program enables students to learn languages in an autonomous and virtual environment. Currently, we have partnerships with five universities in other European countries. Please visit the following links to learn more about registration1, the eTandem process, support services2, and answers to frequently asked questions3.
Are you a student at a partner university?
Students attending partner institutions can find specific information about participating in the eTandem program below.
Information Sessions
You can find information about current events and dates by clicking the link below.
The eTandem program
eTandem offers students the unique opportunity to study languages in an autonomous and varied environment with partners in Europe and beyond. This format uses digital forms of communication such as email, video calls and chats to enable students to meet native speakers without being tethered to a specific location. In this way, people with different native languages support each other in regular meetings, while strengthening their own foreign language skills at the same time (e.g. a German native speaker who wants to learn English is paired with an English speaker who wants to learn German). Through this process, both participants not only improve their foreign language skills, but also learn how to use digital forms of communication in both their native and foreign languages.
Through its eTandem program, the Language Learning Center of the University of Bonn, in collaboration with a number of partner universities4, offers students an innovative program in the field of accompanied, autonomous foreign language learning. The SLZ ensures that students are supported and supervised by academic staff throughout the entire process. Our SLZ team is always happy to answer any questions or respond to suggestions you may have.
The eTandem office pairs language learners according to their skills, interests and personal goals. From there on out, the study groups design their learning process individually. Specifically designed informational and accompanying materials, as well as individual consultations and workshops support students in this process.
If you have any questions, please contact the eTandem team by email or arrange an appointment for an eTandem consultation. You can also attend information sessions at the beginning of each semester. To find the exact dates, please visit the events sections6 of the IKM homepage.
Werbevideo eTandem
Bild © Begleitetes Autonomes Fremdsprachenlernen
To participate in the eTandem program as a student at the University of Bonn, please fill out the registration form below, and send it to etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de alongside proof of your language level.
Interested students from partner universities must follow their university’s respective registration procedures.
Requirements for participation in the eTandem program in Bonn:
- You must be currently enrolled at the University of Bonn
- You must either be a German native speaker, or speak German at a CEFR-C2 level
- You must speak the desired foreign language at an A2 level or above (according to the CEFR)
Note: Please be aware that language learning partnerships can only be formed with the following language combinations: German/English, German/French, German/Italian and German/Spanish.
Please include a PDF providing proof of your language level when you submit your registration form. Students at the University of Bonn who do not have proof of their A2-level language proficiency, have the opportunity to take a placement test on eCampus after registration.
Note: If you have taken a placement test for a language module at the SLZ within the last six months, that result counts as valid proof of your language proficiency for participation in the eTandem program.
Please fill out this registration form digitally (rather than by hand).
Should you encounter any difficulties filling out the PDF, please read through our FAQs3 to find possible causes and solutions.
Once we have received your registration form, you will be added to the eTandem database, which will assign you a suitable eTandem partner as quickly as possible. Once you have been matched, we will forward you your partner’s email address, which you can use to contact them.
After successfully registering for the program, you will be added to our eCampus course. There, you will find important information on getting started with eTandem, as well as suggestions and helpful materials to make the most of the program.
Partner Universities – Universités partenaires – Universidades asociadas – Università partner
Founded in the 15th century, St Andrews is Scotland’s first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world. The university is now one of Europe’s most research intensive seats of learning – over a quarter of its turnover comes from research grants and contracts.
Its international reputation for delivering high quality teaching and research and student satisfaction make it one of the most sought after destinations for prospective students from the UK, Europe and overseas. It is Scotland’s most international university – forty five per cent of the student body of 8,400 is from overseas.
Maynooth University is located 30km west of Dublin. It was founded in 1795 as a seminary but in 1997 the secular part developed into National University of Ireland (Irish: Ollscoil na hÉireann Mhá Nuad).
With over 13,000 students enrolled, and over 900 staff from over 20 different countries, it is Ireland's smallest and fastest growing university and takes pride in very supportive staff-student interactions. Currently the University is ranked #74 in the new Times Higher Education (THE) 100 under 50 rankings, offering an excellent environment for learning and research.
Riche, plurielle et diverse, l’Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès figure dans les meilleures universités françaises d’arts, lettres et langues et de sciences humaines et sociales, tant du point de vue de la formation que de la recherche.
Elle est membre fondateur de l‘Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées. Créée en 1229, elle connaît au XVIème siècle, une grande renommée, puisqu’elle accueille des humanistes prestigieux. Elle est pluridisciplinaire puisqu’elle embrasse aussi de manière innovante le champ des sciences et des technologies, mais aussi du droit, de l’économie et de la gestion.
Nato nel 1992, Roma Tre è tra gli Atenei piu giovani nel sistema universitario italiano.
Questa giovinezza è anche il suo punto di forza, perchè è stata e rimane un forte stimolo per una crescita rapida e dinamica, che l’ha portata a contare oggi oltre 33.000 studenti e 1000 docenti e ricercatori. I suoi 84 corsi di laurea triennale e magistrale, i 24 dottorati di ricerca e i 61 corsi post lauream compongono l’offerta formativa dei 12 Dipartimenti dell’Ateneo. Roma Tre si è sempre concentrata sull'internazionalizzazione e sull’apertura di nuove opportunità di formazione e di carriera per i suoi studenti.
Creada en 1218, poco después de las de Oxford, París y Bolonia, la historia de la Universidad de Salamanca es también la de la de la enseñanza superior en castellano.
Su título de alma mater de las universidades iberoamericanas y decana de las españolas certifica un papel clave en el desarrollo de los estudios universitarios y del avance científico, pero también como lugar de debate y reflexión sobre aspectostan importantes como la naturaleza del poder, el derecho de gentes y los conflictos internacionales, sin olvidar su papel como referente contemporáneo en la enseñanza del español. La Universidad de Salamanca es de carácter público y generalista. Cuenta con campus en las provincias de Salamanca, Ávila y Zamora. Tiene 26 Facultades y Escuelas que imparten 65 grados, 24 dobles grados y 71 Másteres Universitarios de todas las ramas del conocimiento. Tiene 57 departamentos, 13 Institutos Universitarios de Investigación y 11 Centros Propios. La Escuela Internacional de Doctorado desarrolla 40 programas de doctorado y el Centro de Formación Permanente ofrece más de 60 Títulos Propios. La comunidad universitaria está formada por 30.000 estudiantes de más de 50 nacionalidades, 2.000 profesores e investigadores y 1.000 profesionales de administración y servicios.
La Universidad de Salamanca es una universidad global comprometida con el progreso de su entorno y la empleabilidad de sus estudiantes, con una oferta académica amplia y actualizada, una docencia de calidad y con una intensa actividad investigadora, de transferencia e innovación para un desarrollo sostenible.
To ensure the success of your eTandem experience, our eTandem team at the SLZ offers a wide range of resources and support services: our eTandem consultations and specialized learning materials help participants design and make the most of the eTandem program.
eTandem consultations
The Language Learning Center provides eTandem consultations. To find out more about what the consultations include, please read the information below:
Who are eTandem consultations designed for?
Our eTandem consultations are designed for all students at the University of Bonn who are either actively participating in the eTandem program, or are interested in doing so in the future.
Interested and participating students from our partner universities St Andrews, Toulouse, Maynooth, Seville, Salamanca, and Roma Tre can contact etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de with any questions about the program. Additionally, you can turn to the eTandem coordinators of your respective universities: their contact information is listed on the subpages of the respective universities.
What can our consultations do for you?
Our consultations are a great place for you to address any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have about the eTandem program. The eTandem office will do its best to address your organizational questions. Additionally, we are more than happy to help you design a plan best suited to achieving your independent learning goals. If you would like additional assistance, or have questions about accompanied autonomous foreign language learning, we will happily refer you to colleagues at the SLZ.
When do eTandem consultations take place?
eTandem consultations can be scheduled via Zoom. To make an appointment, please contact the following email address: etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de
eTandem materials
The eTandem office will provide you with diverse high quality, university-specific materials. Students at the University of Bonn will receive these materials via eCampus at the beginning of their eTandem partnership. Participants from partner universities will receive material from their respective eTandem coordinators.
Instructional material
In addition to general information outlining tips for an effective start to the eTandem program, our instructional material includes an overview of the possible forms of communication you will encounter, and a selection of available communication programs. You will also find other helpful resources, such as how to give constructive feedback in eTandem.
Accompanying material
As accompanying material, we will provide you with an overview of online resources you can use to design varied and efficient eTandem sessions. Furthermore, we will provide you with language-specific learning units tailored to your specific eTandem study group. With the help of these units, you and your partner will be able to structure and design 14 eTandem sessions about different university-specific topics.
While the use of these materials is not mandatory, they can serve as useful guidelines for students beginning their eTandem journey. Furthermore, our range of information and support services is constantly expanding.
Principally, all students enrolled at the University of Bonn, or one of its partner schools, who speak their chosen foreign language at the A2 level or above (according to the CEFR) can participate in the program. Bachelor's students will be given priority.
Tandem is a language learning method in which people with different native languages help each other improve their foreign language skills. eTandem follows the same format, except that it uses digital forms of communication such as email, video calls and chats — enabling students to communicate even over long distances. Participants can choose which medium — e.g. laptop, tablet, or smartphone — to use, in what form they want to communicate, and how often and long they want to talk. eTandem empowers students to learn a foreign language in an individualized and flexible format.
If you would like to participate in eTandem, please fill out the following registration form11. In addition, you must prove that you can speak the desired foreign language at A2-level or above. Accepted forms of proof are the successful completion of a language module at the university (at least A2-level), an internationally recognized language certificate, or a language level assessment conducted by an authorized lecturer. Please send proof of your language proficiency, as well as your registration form to etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de. Students at the University of Bonn who register without having proof of their foreign language skills must take a placement test on eCampus immediately after registration.
Registration for eTandem is available at any time.
In order to fill out the eTandem registration form on your computer, you need a program able to view and fill out PDFs. Plug-ins, which are often pre-installed on web browsers, are often not sufficient for this purpose. However, PDF viewer programs are typically free to download. Just make sure that the program is compatible with your operating system.
Filling out the registration form on your desktop-PC or laptop
Below, you can find a number of free .pdf viewer programs, and the operating systems compatible with them, you can download in order to fill out the registration form:
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC: Windows, MacOS
- Foxit Reader: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Ubuntu
- PDF-XChange Viewer: Windows
- Evince: Linux, Ubuntu
- Xpdf: Linux, Ubuntu
Filling out the registration form on your smartphone or tablet
If you want to fill out the eTandem registration form on a smartphone or tablet, you will need to download an app capable of editing PDF documents e.g. Adobe Acrobat Reader or Foxit MobilePDF. (Both apps are free to download, and are compatible with Android, iOS and Windows.)
Your registration for the eTandem program is valid for twelve months. After that time period has elapsed, your data will be deleted for data protection. If you would like to extend your registration, please let us know by email before the deadline expires. You can contact us at: etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de
After verification, your entries will be added to our eTandem database. Following an individualized matching process, you will be paired with a suitable eTandem partner from one of our partner universities as quickly as possible. Afterwards, we will reach out to you with the contact details of your eTandem partner and you can start your correspondence.
In principle, you can use any media for eTandem work — e.g. computers, laptops, tablets, or smartphones. Discuss viable options with your eTandem partner and decide together which is best for both of you. The options we recommend most often are email, video calls and chats. If you would like more options, you can find a list of available programs in our instructional material.
Which communication channels you use depends entirely on your own preferences and the individual goals you set for your eTandem work. If you decide to use email, you can use your Uni-Bonn account or a private email address. Should you instead opt for video calls or chat, you may need to install additional programs.
By using digital forms of communication, you and your partner have a lot of flexibility in the choice of location for your eTandem sessions. You can attend your sessions at home on your computer, or on the go via your laptop, tablet or smartphone. The point is: you are free to choose your own location. However, we recommend places with quiet atmospheres for learning. (Communicating in a foreign language is hard enough without adding extra hurdles such as noise!) For video calls, you should of course make sure to choose a location that permits you to talk freely.
Given that you are responsible for the organization of your language learning process, we recommend discussing important organizational questions with your eTandem partner during the first session. Decide together when, how often, and on which platforms you want to meet. For further organizational tips for the first session, please consult our instructional and accompanying materials12.
During eTandem sessions, you and your partner alternate in assuming the role of native speaker and foreign language learner. Whenever you are primarily in the role of foreign language learner, you should take responsibility for organizing the eTandem work. After all, you are the best judge of your own abilities and goals. Take some time to talk with your partner about what you want to accomplish, and which materials you would like to work with. When the roles are reversed, keep an open mind and try your best to accommodate your partner's language needs.
To find further information and tips on organizing eTandem work, please read our instructional and accompanying materials12.
You can find conversation topics in our content support materials12. In addition, students at the University of Bonn can access a wide range of learning materials in numerous foreign languages in the multimedia library13 of the Department of Intercultural Communication and Multilingualism Research with Language Learning Center. Or, come to the eTandem team for advice! Send us an email at etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de, or come to our eTandem consultation hours.
For questions about the eTandem program
Digital consultations via zoom
(individual appointments schedules via email)
Silvia Schmid
M.A.
3.030
Lennéstraße 6
53113 Bonn
Steffen Heidkämper
2.002
Lennéstraße 6
53113 Bonn
Links
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/en/language-learning-center/accompanied-autonomous-foreign-language-learning/etandem/etandem#Anmeldung
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/en/language-learning-center/accompanied-autonomous-foreign-language-learning/etandem/etandem#Begleitung
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/en/language-learning-center/accompanied-autonomous-foreign-language-learning/etandem/etandem#FAQseTandem
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/en/language-learning-center/accompanied-autonomous-foreign-language-learning/etandem/partnerhochschulen
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/en/language-learning-center/accompanied-autonomous-foreign-language-learning/etandem/etandem#Veranstaltung
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/en/language-learning-center/sprachlernzentrum#SLZVeranstaltungen
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum/bafl/medien-ordner-bafl-1/anmeldeformular_etandem_bonn_stand_03_2024.pdf
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum/bafl/etandem/veranstaltungsordner/e-tandem-informationsveranstaltung
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum/bafl/etandem/veranstaltungsordner/copy_of_e-tandem-informationsveranstaltung
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum/bafl/etandem/veranstaltungsordner/copy2_of_e-tandem-informationsveranstaltung
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/en/language-learning-center/accompanied-autonomous-foreign-language-learning/media/anmeldeformular_etandem_bonn_stand_03_2024.pdf
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/en/language-learning-center/accompanied-autonomous-foreign-language-learning/etandem/etandem#eTandemMaterial
- https://www.ismm.uni-bonn.de/institut/bibliothek-mediathek-der-abteilung-ikm-mit-slz