TandemPlus: Rolling into Summer with a Special Opportunity for Spanish Students
The summer TandemPlus program is smaller than in fall and spring, but it remains vibrant. Students can register for summer matching now at tandemplus.umn.edu to seek a language-and-culture exchange partner. The program is strongly recommended for students enrolled in summer language courses.
Spring Partnerships Roll into Summer
To help bridge the social distance, TandemPlus partnerships that started in the spring will continue through summer. Those current participants can opt to change their preferences by filling out this short form.
Peer-to-Peer Partnerships
In addition to the standard native-to-native partnerships, TandemPlus now offers students the opportunity to request a study peer, a partner who is learning the same language, as a "study buddy" option. Participants can opt into this option in their TandemPlus profile while registering. Email tandem@umn.edu with questions.
Special Spanish-English Summer Exchange Opportunity
This summer TandemPlus is once again collaborating with the US Department of State’s English Access Microscholarship Program to pair English learners in Mexico with Spanish learning volunteers for virtual English-Spanish conversation exchange sessions. Participants engage in at least three one-hour sessions with their partner, half of the time speaking in English and half of the time in Spanish. For the conversations, partners can choose topics of their own or follow conversation topic guides provided by TandemPlus.
These pairings begin on July 16, 2021 and will continue until August 13, 2021.The exchange is free and open to all Spanish learners at the University of Minnesota (while partnerships are available). Please email tandem@umn.edu to indicate your interest and ask questions.
The TandemPlus program sends a huge thank you to the coordinator of this opportunity, Catherine (Kate) Clements, a UMN ESL instructor, and former TandemPlus coordinator herself, who is currently serving as an English Language Specialist for the Department of State.
