The eTandem Programme of the Universities of Maynooth and Bonn
The eTandem programme is a form of self-directed language learning whereby participants use digital media such as e-mail, video calls, or text chat to communicate over long distances and across national borders. This programme allows students from the universities of Maynooth and Bonn to connect regularly and to mutually advance their respective German and English language skills. On this page you will find information on the registration procedure1, eTandem guidance2, resourses3 and frequently asked questions4.
The eTandem Programme
As part of the project Begleitetes Autonomes Fremdsprachenlernen (BAFL), the University of Bonn6’s innovative eTandem programme is offered in cooperation with Maynooth University7.
Based on participants' abilities, interests and personal goals, the eTandem office assigns and connects suitable eTandem partners. Once matched, learning partners are free to organise the details of their language learning process independently. During the learning process, they are supported through specifically designed information and learning materials as well as individualised guidance offered by the eTandem staff.
The international eTandem programme is supervised and continuously developed by the academic staff of the University of Bonn’s Language Learning Centre8. We are looking forward to your questions and comments.
If you are a student at Maynooth University, please fill out the registration form on your computer, save it and send it to etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de.
In addition, please attach a document (pdf) proving your language proficiency at the minimum required level (A2) or above.
Prerequisites for taking part in the eTandem programme
- you are currently enrolled at Maynooth University,
- your first language is English or your command of English is at a comparable level, and
- you can demonstrate a level of at least A2 (CEFR) in German.
NB: eTandem partnerships can be set up only in the combination English/German.
To prove your language level at the minimum required level (A2) or above, please contact Dr Linda Shortt at the Department of German Studies10 via e-mail and provide your place and date of birth.
Registration form data are processed automatically. If you complete the registration form by hand, your data must be entered manually. This may lead to delays in your eTandem placement. Do you experience problems filling out the pdf form? You can find a number of common issues and solutions in our FAQ4.
After the submission of the registration form, you will be entered in the eTandem data base and matched with a suitable eTandem partner as soon as possible. Finally, you will receive the e-mail address of your assigned eTandem partner to establish the first contact.
For all information relevant for a good start, as well as ideas and tips for the successful development of your eTandem partnership, see Resources3.
Partner Universities
Maynooth University
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.
University of Bonn
As one of the best research-led universities in Germany with an international reputation as a leading institution of research and teaching, the University of Bonn plays host to a number of prize-winning researchers spread across a range of disciplines. Our two hundred year history of academic excellence is based on a number of simple yet effective elements: high-quality academic research, a research-led teaching curriculum, the international flair of Bonn as the German city of the United Nations. Our location in the Rhineland is a highly-networked region of academic excellence and a region providing a high quality of life.
Resources and Guidance for your eTandem
To support your eTandem learning process, the eTandem office provides guidance and a range of different materials and resources.
eTandem Guidance
In collaboration with the Department of German studies at Maynooth University, the University of Bonn’s eTandem office provides eTandem Guidance.
Who can use eTandem Guidance?
eTandem Guidance is available to all students of Maynooth University who are currently participating in an eTandem or planning to do so.
What does eTandem Guidance offer?
Principally, you can contact us with all questions, problems and ideas related to the eTandem programme. The University of Bonn’s eTandem office team is ready to address all your general and organizational questions. Simply send an e-mail to etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de.
If you need individualised support to advance your learning process or if you have specific language related questions, please contact Dr Linda Shortt at the Department of German Studies10.
eTandem Resources
To support your eTandem learning process, the eTandem office provides a range of different resources. If you study at the Department of German, you can access these resources via Moodle. Students enrolled in other faculties or departments will receive materials via e-mail.
Starter Kit
Besides general information to enable a successful start, the starter kit provides an overview of suitable digital media, as well as a selection of available communication software. The package also includes practical instructions for managing the learning process, for example tips for constructive feed-back and correction behaviour in the eTandem partnership.
Support materials
In addition, we provide an inventory of materials available online, which you can utilise to make your eTandem sessions both entertaining and efficient. Using these resources is not mandatory; however, the materials can provide support and inspiration. We are updating and expanding the range of available resources continuously.
The eTandem programme is a form of self-directed language learning whereby participants use digital media such as e-mail, video calls, or text chat to communicate over long distances and across national borders. This programme allows students with different first or native languages to connect regularly and mutually advance their respective foreign language skills.
Participants are free to choose the digital media they wish to use, for instance a laptop, tablet or smart phone, as well as the frequency and length of their joint sessions. The eTandem programme thus offers a particularly versatile and individualised option for learning a foreign language.
Generally, students can participate if they are enrolled at Maynooth University, or at one of the partner universities, and can demonstrate A2 level skills in the respective foreign language (according to the CEFR).
To participate in the eTandem programme, please first complete the registration form11. Secondly, please attach a document showing your language abilities at the minimum required level (A2) or above. Acceptable documents include the transcript of a successfully completed University language course (A2 or higher), an international language certificate, or a placement test conducted by an authorised lecturer. Please send the document, together with the completed registration form, to etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de. If you need to prove your language level, please contact Dr Linda Shortt at the Department of German Studies10.
In order to enter your data in the eTandem registration form on your computer, you need a pdf viewer that supports filling out forms. Plugins that are often pre-installed on your browser are not sufficient to fill out forms. Downloading a pdf viewer that doubles as a form filler is usually free. Be sure to select software that is compatible with your operating system.
Would you like to fill out the form on your desktop computer or laptop?
Depending on your operating system, you can use the following free PDF viewers that support filling out forms on your desktop computer or Laptop:
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC: Windows, MacOS
- Foxit Reader: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Ubuntu
- PDF-XChange Viewer: Windows
- Evince: Linux, Ubuntu
- Xpdf: Linux, Ubuntu
Would you like to fill out the form on your smartphone or tablet?
In order to fill out the eTandem registration form on your smartphone or tablet, you need an app that enables pdf document editing. Your respective app stores provide free downloads of apps such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or Foxit MobilePDF. Both apps are compatible with Android, iOS and Windows devices.
You can register for the eTandem programme at any time.
Please note that your registration is only valid for up to twelve months. After this period your data will be eliminated due to data safety reasons. If you wish to renew your registration, please let us know before the expiry of this period via mail to etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de.
After validating your documents, your information will be entered into the eTandem data base. Using an individualised matching procedure, the eTandem office will pair you as quickly as possible with a suitable partner. You will receive an e-mail with the contact information for your assigned eTandem partner, whom you can then contact immediately.
Principally, you can use any media at your disposal for the eTandem session, for example a computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone. It may be best to determine the best option together with your eTandem partner. We recommend communication via e-mail, video call or text chat. For a list of available software suitable for the eTandem sessions see Starter Kit3.
Which type of communication software or app you choose depends on your general preferences and the specific learning goals of your eTandem partnership. To initially contact your assigned partner via e-mail, you can use your private e-mail address. Communication via video call or text chat may require downloading software or a suitable app. For information on available options see Starter Kit3.
By using digital media, you are versatile in choosing the location for your eTandem sessions. You can be stationed at your home computer or use mobile devices, including a laptop, tablet or even smart phone. However, we recommend that you choose a reasonably quiet environment to avoid complicating your communication in the foreign language through background noise. In the case of video calling, you should make sure it is actually permitted in your chosen location.
Since you jointly organise your eTandem language learning process, you should discuss the most important organisational questions when you first contact your eTandem partner. Decide together when and how often you hold joint sessions and which digital media and which communication software you would like to use. For further information and tips on how to organise the first meetings see 3Starter Kit and Support Material3.
In the eTandem programme, you and your eTandem partner will alternately assume the role of first- or native speaker and foreign language learner. Whenever you are taking on the role of the foreign language learner, you should also take responsibility for the design of the eTandem session. Keeping your own abilities and goals in mind, you should decide what topics you would like to discuss with your eTandem partner and, if desired, which materials you would like to use.
For further information and tips on designing eTandem session see Starter Kit and Support Material3.
A number of suggestions to start your conversation are included in the Starter Kit Resources3. Alternatively, contact the eTandem team for advice! Just send an e-mail to etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de.
During the course of the project, we are constantly expanding the stock of accompanying material for eTandem sessions.
Contact
Queries and Questions
We are available for consultations and welcome your questions or concerns. Please contact us via email: etandem@slz.uni-bonn.de
Alternatively you can contact Dr Linda Shortt at the Department of German Studies10 at Maynooth University.
Simone Borlinghaus
Steffen Heidkämper
Links
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum/bafl/etandem/maynooth#Registration
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum/bafl/etandem/maynooth#Guidance
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum/bafl/etandem/maynooth#resources
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum/bafl/etandem/maynooth#FAQ
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum/bafl/etandem/etandem
- https://www.uni-bonn.de/en
- https://maynoothuniversity.ie/
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum/bafl/medien-ordner-bafl-1/flyer_etandem_en-maynooth.pdf
- https://maynoothuniversity.ie/faculty-arts-celtic-studies-philosophy/our-people/linda-shortt
- https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/de/sprachlernzentrum/bafl/medien-ordner-bafl-1/registration_form_maynooth.pdf
- https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/
- https://www.uni-bonn.de/en?set_language=en