Email Tandem

How does it work?

An exciting way to improve your language skills is to pair up with an email tandem partner and help each other with your language learning. Just like a traditional pen-pal (only much quicker!), email tandem partnerships can complement face-to-face learning, by developing reading and writing skills.

Email partners may choose to write bilingual messages or to alternate between the use of their own and their partner's language, from one message to the next. Partners are free to negotiate what they wish to write about as well as how and what they want to be corrected.

Advantages

• Email enables you to make contact with a native speaker living in the country where the language is spoken.
   
• Up-to-date cultural and lingustic information can be exchanged as well as friendships formed.
   
• It provides a safe environment where you are able to express opinions and ideas in the target language at your own pace.
   
• Messages are available to be stored if you wish to review them at a later stage.
   
• It is free if you use the University system!

How to find an email partner

It is very easy to get yourself an e-mail tandem partner. There are now several European projects on-line which help language learners locate a partner in the language of their choice. A good place to start is the International E-Mail Tandem Network.

You will find all the information you need to subscribe on this web site. The service is completely free and there are many sub-networks of language partners available as well as a variety of on-line chats on a range of topics.