Tandem friendships: much more than just language exchange

FH Burgenland
FH Burgenland

Around 300 students with 30 different native languages have taken part in the International Office's Tandem programme since October 2021.

A guest article by Anna Leskovich, employee of the International Office

While the programme was initially offered in cooperation with two universities in Burgenland and the University of Zadar, six additional partner universities from England, Finland, France, Croatia, Scotland, Slovenia and Spain have been acquired over the last four semesters. The range of languages practised now extends from English, Finnish, Italian and Croatian to Arabic, Chinese and Ukrainian.

Joining the Tandem Programme was one of the best decisions I made during my student exchange in Eisenstadt. I met my tandem partner several times and through our meetings I improved my German language skills, and at the same time we also communicated in English and I taught Michelle a few Croatian phrases.

Bernarda Grebenar, Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Zagreb

Intercultural friendships

The Tandem programme is not only used by regular students, but also by our guest students, for whom it offers a great opportunity to come into contact with local students during their semester abroad and learn more about Austrian culture. Participation was also a valuable experience for Bernarda Grebenar from Croatia, who spent the summer semester 2023 as an incoming student at FH Burgenland: "Joining the Tandem Programme was one of the best decisions I made during my student exchange in Eisenstadt. I met my tandem partner several times and through our meetings I improved my German language skills, and at the same time we also communicated in English and I taught Michelle a few Croatian phrases. In this way, we combined three languages and decided to get the most out of our meetings. I also learnt a lot about Austrian culture and gave Michelle useful tips for summer vacations on the Croatian coast, which she loves so much."


The example of UAS graduate Astrid Atteneder and her tandem partner Tobias Falkehed, a student at King's College London, shows that tandem partnerships can also lead to friendships. After meeting regularly online for three semesters to practise German and English in tandem, Astrid, who recently completed her Master's degree in International Business Relations, finally visited Tobias in London in June 2023. Michéle Zimmermann, a student on the Bachelor's degree programme in Information, Media & Communication, also travelled to visit her Slovenian tandem partner Metka Jenčič, who is studying German Studies at the University of Maribor. The two tandem partners captured their time together in pictures.


Are you also interested in learning languages in tandem? Then register for the Tandem programme by 3 October 2023 and look forward to interesting cultural experiences and international friendships!


# Gepostet in:
Internationales, Auslandsaufenthalte