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News and Events

TandemPlus COVID-19 Update and FAQ

Submitted by prest211 on March 31, 2020 - 2:42am

Thank you to all participants of the TandemPlus Spring 2020 session! By this time, everyone is very aware of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. In the link below you will find answers to many questions related to TandemPlus operations at this time. Please review it and email us at tandem@umn.eduwith any questions. TandemPlus staff is available to support you.

TandemPlus FAQ and Resources (COVID-19) Link (Google Doc)

The obvious question you may have is, "Will the TandemPlus Face-to-Face program continue in Spring and Summer?" The answer is: YES! We will continue to support your Face-to-Face partnerships; however, all meetings must be moved online.

Review the Google Doc linked above for answers to more questions and links to resources. We will not be in the office and we will not be answering phone calls while the University of Minnesota is in reduced operations. As we move ahead we will continue to update you with any operation changes.

Together, we are stronger. Thank you for being an amazing community, for supporting one another, and seeking to learn from each other culturally and through language exchange.

Sincerely,

TandemPlus

Publish Date: 
Tuesday, March 31, 2020 - 2:30pm

TandemPlus Spring 2020 Kickoff Event

Thursday, February 13, 2020

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Peik Hall 28

Clear your calendars! TandemPlus Student Association (TPSA) is happy to announce the TandemPlus Spring 2020 Kickoff Event. This event is open to everyone: current participants, and anyone interested in the program, so feel free to bring your friends.

Apply to join 2-week Korean-English exchange with Seoul National University

Submitted by prest211 on December 5, 2019 - 12:43pm

Go Minnesota, a UMN program for visiting international students on campus, is inviting students of the Seoul National University of South Korea to the University of Minnesota. In February of Spring 2020, approximately 20 native Korean speaking students from South Korea’s Seoul National University will come to the U of M for a 2-week visit.

In order to help facilitate American connections for these students, GO Minnesota is pairing up with TandemPlus to offer an opportunity to interested Korean language students to join the SNU students in an intensive 2-week language and culture exchange. Participants of the program will be paired in groups of 4 SNU students with 4 UMN students, and are expected to commit to meeting regularly over the 2-week period.

To get the details on the exchange and apply, use the Application Form.

 

Publish Date: 
Thursday, December 5, 2019 - 12:45pm

MPR News – Chinese TandemPlus Program

The Culture and Language Integration in Chinese and English (CLIC) Program, a collaboration between the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies department and Language Center’s TandemPlus program, and led by Chinese instructor Zhen Zou is featured in a December 2, 2019 Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) News audio story titled Chinese, English language students learn from each other in U of M program.

TandemPlus Fall 2019 Registration Closed

Submitted by prest211 on November 22, 2019 - 12:05pm

Registration for the Fall 2019 semester of TandemPlus is now closed. However, current TandemPlus partners are encouraged to continue meeting until the end of the semester. Remember, if you and your TandemPlus partner are getting along wonderfully and wish to continue meeting after this semester, you can now consider yourselves friends! You're not required to re-register in the Spring to continue that partnership.

If we were unable to secure a partnership for you this fall, or if you are simply interested in new languages, or meeting new people, we strongly encourage you to register again in Spring 2020! TandemPlus Spring 2020 registration will open on Tuesday, January 21st, the first day of class. Many new people will join the program and the matching pool will restart, with a fresh beginning.

Stay tuned for information regarding the upcoming December 5th TandemPlus Study Evening put on by the TandemPlus Student Association.

Questions about registration? Email us at tandem@umn.edu

Publish Date: 
Monday, November 18, 2019 - 2:00pm

TandemPlus Thanksgiving & Bubble Tea Event

Submitted by prest211 on October 28, 2019 - 12:05pm

TandemPlus Thanksgiving & Bubble Tea

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Blegen 317 (West Bank)

The TandemPlus Student Association is hosting Thanksgiving, with Bubble Tea! Are turkey and pumpkin pie the first foods that come to mind when you think about Thanksgiving? TPSA wants to try something new this year! Join in celebration; there, you can celebrate Thanksgiving by making new friends from around the world by partaking in the lively conversation. Enjoy fun activities to test your cultural knowledge, and dive in on FREE BUBBLE TEA! The event is open to everyone with an interest in languages and cultures. Don’t miss the most international event for Thanksgiving on our campus this year.

-TandemPlus Student Association

Questions? Email tandem@umn.edu.

Publish Date: 
Monday, October 28, 2019 - 12:00pm

Fall Registration Dates

Join TandemPlus! TandemPlus registration opens on August 28th for the fall session. Pairings will begin within the first few weeks of the semester, so join quickly for the best chance of finding a partner to meet with regularly.

Sign up via our matching software tandem.umn.edu to either create an account or refresh your information. You can access this by clicking the "My Account" tab on the right.

Plan now for fall class-to-class exchanges

Instructors:  If you are considering incorporating a class-to-class exchange in your course next fall, now is the time to begin planning!  Contact us at tandem@umn.edu for assistance and tips for a successful exchange.

What is TandemPlus?

The TandemPlus program organizes opportunities for language students to practice and improve their abilities in the foreign language they are studying. To meet the needs of as many students as possible, we make these practice opportunities available in a variety of formats.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Registration for TandemPlus Face-to-Face exchanges is now re-open for Spring 2020. Join today via the "My Account" tab on the right-hand side to find a virtual partner.

FACE-TO-FACE EXCHANGES

The TandemPlus program matches native speakers of two different languages, students of each other's language who learn from each other and help one another to learn. Typically, the partners meet for about two hours every week. Priority is given to language students currently enrolled in a class at the University of Minnesota, but registration is open to all. 

Are you trying to register for a TandemPlus Face-to-Face exchange?

Visit the Getting Started menu link for more information, and click on "My Account" to access the TandemPlus Matching Software.

VIRTUAL FACE-TO-FACE EXCHANGES

The TandemPlus program pairs language learners online through Virtual Face-to-Face exchanges, which join U of M participants with conversation partners in different countries. In this program, participants meet on-line via Skype or a similar platform to practice their second-language skills with students at universities in countries such as Mexico, Honduras, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Russia, Germany, France, and Israel.

This is a great option for students of languages for which there are few native speakers on campus, or who might otherwise have a difficult time being paired with a local conversation partner. 

CLASS-TO-CLASS EXCHANGES

Instructors can include their entire class in an electronic class-to-class language exchange. In these exchanges, students at the University of Minnesota are paired with one or two students in an overseas class, and correspond throughout the course of an entire semester. TandemPlus can help the instructors in a variety of ways, from finding a counterpart class to suggesting how the exchange might be incorporated into a language curriculum.