Buddy Programme/Sprachtandems

The Language Tandem consists of two people with different first languages who will help each other to learn each other’s language. Both of the participants profit from this partnership. The tandem partners decide themselves what and how they would like to learn. This program doesn’t give credits or certificates.

With Tandem you will see the possibility of communicating in a foreign language and learning a lot about its culture. 

The structure of the meetings is left to the Tandenpartners. You could use it for example to:

• Discuss a previously arranged theme (from a news article etc.) to improve the oral competence
• Practice grammar and vocabulary
• Prepare for tests

Or also to:

• Watch a movie in one of the foreign languages (with or without subtitles)
• Help each other with homework
• Cook a traditional meal of one of the countries
• Listen to an audiobook or read books/newspapers together

Language tandem on the University of Hildesheim is organized by the Incoming Team. You can apply for it here.

The Language Tandem consists of two people with different first languages who will help each other to learn each other’s language. Both of the participants profit from this partnership. The tandem partners decide themselves what and how they would like to learn. This program doesn’t give credits or certificates.

With Tandem you will see the possibility of communicating in a foreign language and learning a lot about its culture. 

The structure of the meetings is left to the Tandenpartners. You could use it for example to:

• Discuss a previously arranged theme (from a news article etc.) to improve the oral competence
• Practice grammar and vocabulary
• Prepare for tests

Or also to:

• Watch a movie in one of the foreign languages (with or without subtitles)
• Help each other with homework
• Cook a traditional meal of one of the countries
• Listen to an audiobook or read books/newspapers together

Language tandem on the University of Hildesheim is organized by the Incoming Team. You can apply for it here.

Foreign language practice meets gaming fun in Social Virtual Reality!

• Language tandem in form of interactive, cooperative puzzle-solving in a virtual environment
• Fun and language contact by trying new technology in avatar form
• Discovering a new learning environment and intercultural communication situation
• No prior technical knowledge required 
• Instructions are given by project staff and assistants 

For the buddy program, the International Office is looking for students that can help international exchange students for the winter and summer semesters!

Here is some brief information about what such support should include:

Ideally, the support begins already before the student arrives in Hildesheim, from exchanging Emails to the reception in Hildesheim:

• Picking up from the main train station
• Bringing to the accommodation
• Organizing the key to the accommodation before the arrival

It is practically an introductory help (where is the nearest supermarket, getting a telephone number, nightlife tips). However, it is of course desirable that you keep in contact with your buddy during the semester. 

Participation in this program is especially interesting for the local students that plan to spend a semester abroad. Here you can already collect contacts with international students, get information about partner universities, and improve your language knowledge. 

This program can also be credited by the ZIKK (Certificate for intercultural communication and competence).

Important: In the winter semester the exchange students arrive at the end of September/beginning of October and in the summer semester at the end of March/beginning of April, since our introduction days always start 1-2 weeks before the beginning of classes. Therefore you should be in Hildesheim during this period so you can receive your Buddy.

If you would like to help an exchange student, then you can register in this form for the Buddy Program. We will try to find someone for your chosen language. 1 to 2 months before the semester begins, you will receive an email with the information about your exchange student and their accommodation. Please get in contact with them as soon as possible. 

The goal of the International Writing Partnership is the same as by Language Tandem: to improve the language competence and stimulate the intercultural exchange.

The difference is that in this program the groups are composed of three people, in which one of them is a student of teaching. They are there to acompany the language learning process.

The target group is therefore full time and exchange students, that want to improve their writing and cultural competences in a foreign language outside of the classroom, as well as students of the Education Bachelor German and English.

You can find more about the International Writing Partnership here (in German). This program was marked in 2011 with the European Language Seal.

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