Tandem programs and language cafés in Berlin
You would like to talk more German outside of the classroom from Transmitter and improve your speaking skills? We often get the question, how to be able to speak more German with native speakers, especially if you are new in town and haven’t had the chance to connect to many native speakers yet. Then we like to present you some easy ways to get you started talking!
If you …
• …want to learn languages.
• …want to teach someone else their language.
• …feel like having a fair and respectful exchange.
• …feel like organizing the meetings together with their tandem partners themselves.
• …would like to get to know new people…
then a language tandem might be for you!
A language tandem provides two people both learning a foreign language the opportunity to learn and practice with each other. It is an authentic way to practice and improve your language competences. Tandem partners meet regularly and are free to organize their meetings according to their own language goals. A tandem partnership is usually recommended from level A2.
There are some places and organisations, we would like to present you here, so you can have a look and find the best option for you:
1. Freie University of Berlin, language centre
The Freie University offers a free language tandem, provided by the language centre of the university, where you fill out an online form with the language you like to speak and the language you can offer (you can also add more info about yourself, interests and hobbies to find your perfect language match). The language centre provides the contact and offers help on how you could prepare your meetups. Of course, it’s up to you and your language partner how regular you would like to meet.
Two more free options for language tandems in Berlin:
2. Kontakt- und Beratungsstelle für Geflüchtete und Migrant*innen e.V.
3. Sprach-und Kulturbörse, TU Berlin
This tandem option works over a Facebook group that is operating in Englisch SKB Berlin Tandems“. The facebook group helps you to find a tandem partner for your target langauge.
If you feel like you don’t have the time to regularly meet up with a tandem partner, then a language café might be a better option for you. Language cafés offer a casual place where you can usually join spontaneously.
Check out „Netzwerk Berlin hilft“ : they offer a weekly overview for all the language cafés and meet-ups happening in Berlin.
And finally, learning a language takes time and should be fun – with a Tandem program or a language café you will get the chance for a more relaxed and natural flow of learning a language, one step at a time.
