Tandem.MINT - Taking advantage of the pandemic

Abstract

Being able to interact in an international environment has become more and more important in the field of STEM disciplines. To offer STEM students the option of acquiring intercultural skills and improving their language competence, Tandem.MINT was created as an innovative language and cultural learning program explicitly for STEM students to allow a specified approach, catering to the needs of this particular group. In the beginning, the tandem was offered in a face-to-face manner, enabling local as well as international students to support each other in enhancing their language and intercultural competences. Due to the pandemic, Tandem.MINT was moved online, allowing cooperations with international universities, thus broadening the pool of participants. Evaluations showed that both the face-to-face version and especially the e-tandem are well received by the participants and raised language as well as intercultural competences significantly.