Unite! Language Tandems: a bridge between languages and cultures
Among the many training opportunities offered by Unite! Alliance to partner universities, the language tandems are a flexible and innovative program designed to improve or develop language skills from scratch. It is aimed not only at the student community but also at academic and administrative staff.
Unite! language tandems offer the opportunity to practice every language used within the Unite! community, pairing with a person from another partner university. After the launch in October 2023, more than 50 virtual tandems have been created, allowing participants to improve their language skills.
Among the active tandems is the one involving Dario Pilori, a researcher from the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications-DET, who practices with his colleague Lena Neureiter from TU Graz, from the International Office of the Austrian university.
“My research activity involves numerous international collaborations”, stated Pilori. “And I believe that knowing other languages, in addition to English, significantly improves communication and collaboration with foreign researchers. After a few months practicing with my tandem partner, I can speak German with greater confidence, which has greatly helped me in my scientific collaborations”.
This program is ideal for those who wish to improve their conversational skills in a foreign language, while also expanding their international network and getting to know new cultures. It is an excellent alternative for those who want to brush up on their language skills without much organizational effort, as participants independently decide when and how often to meet with their tandem partner. In addition to language learning, the program fosters personal and professional exchange, offering insights into the daily life, working methods, and culture of the tandem partner. The languages currently available are Spanish, Catalan, German, Italian, French, Swedish, Finnish, Portuguese, Polish, and English.
It is easy to join: you can register in the area dedicated to tandems on the Unite! Agora platform, using PoliTO login credentials.
The tandem experience is characterized by great flexibility and informality. Dario Pilori and Lena Neureiter meet online approximately every two weeks, making progress in each other's languages in a playful way. They converse about work topics but also personal life, feeling increasingly confident.
Lena and Dario's experience demonstrates how Unite! language tandems are not only an excellent tool for language improvement but also a valuable means for intercultural connection and professional exchange within the international academic community.
This program embodies the spirit of collaboration and continuous learning promoted by Unite!, offering new perspectives and stimulating experiences.