App recommendation: Tandem

Blog 4 from Alejandra

Hallo!! I hope you are doing well. Today I want to recommend you an App. It is called Tandem. I had never heard of it before I got to Germany. But here everybody seems to know about it. It makes sense because Germany receives every year new immigrants that wish to learn their language and build a new life. It basically consists on getting a “Tandem partner” with whom you can practice the language that they speak as Muttersprache (native tongue) and you teach the other person your own language (which they wish to learn).

There are people from all around the world in it, you can set up your profile, place pictures, write a bit about yourself, explain your goals and intentions in using the app. Here I dare make a parenthesis that lots of people use it as a sort of dating app. It makes sense because the other person is very interested in your language, therefore your culture, etc… Which is obviously fine, but always set your purpose straight and let your Tandem partner know your goals. You can also make phone calls and video calls through the app. I’ve talked with lots of people on Tandem and gone out with two people. Oh boy, speaking the language in real time / real life, is a whole lotta different thing than just texting. Therefore I recommend this app greatly, if you want to practice a language. 

Talk to you soon, your Alejandra