Class-to-Class Exchanges
HOW CAN TANDEMPLUS HELP ME?
The TandemPlus staff works with individual language instructors to help them organize an exchange in which an entire class communicates with a counterpart class in another country. Depending on your goals, we can help you: locate a counterpart class; explain the types of technology available to carry out the exchange; help train the students in using the technology; offer suggestions on how to incorporate an exchange into the class, offer tips on how to increase the chance for a successful exchange.
WHO PARTICIPATES?
The students in the overseas classes are native speakers of another language who are learning English. We have worked with classes in Spain, Chile, France and China, but are willing to work with instructors and students of any foreign language taught at the University of MN Twin Cities.
Generally, all students in both classes must participate in the exchange, i.e., the exchange must be a requirement for the class and incorporated into the grading system. There may be an occasional opportunity for a non-mandatory exchange, but this is unusual. Generally, counterpart classes want to know that there is a grade associated with participation so that students will be more likely to send and receive postings.
TYPES OF EXCHANGE
Voice
Students participating in voice exchanges use Wimba voice tools to leave one another messages on private voice boards. It requires that the counterpart school have access to updated computers and internet access. Typically, students leave one voice message per week in their native language, and one voice message per week in the target language. However, this may vary, as the instructors decide jointly what they will require of the students
Voice exchanges using Wimba technology go through a WebVista site. TandemPlus staff can demonstrate how to set up the boards, and also provide training for the students in using Wimba technology.
Written
This type of exchange is generally carried out through e-mail. Typically, students leave one written message per week in their native language, and one written message per week in the target language. However, this may vary, as the instructors decide jointly what they will require of the students.
HOW DO I FIND A COUNTERPART CLASS?
TandemPlus staff is happy to work with instructors to find a counterpart class. Please call us or send us an e-mail to let us know you are interested, and we can set up an appointment to discuss what kind of an exchange you would like.
Some instructor have students find their own partners, which students can do by going to the sites listed below. Depending on the language, there may be hundreds of counterpart students looking for an exchange partner. The site is: