What are the main advantages of the language-tandem program?

• Language tandems are an open, informal and friendly way to meet people at Pompeu Fabra University and to improve one's language skills.

• You are in touch with a native speaker of the language you wish to learn, improve or practise, in authentic conversational situations.

• You and your partner can organize your language learning schedule as best suits you, focusing in your own language needs and cultural interests.

• You can learn colloquial expressions and cultural and social aspects of the country or countries where the languages are spoken, which you hardly ever learn in a language class.

• Both partners provide each other mutual support in learning each other's language, and a potential new friendship may result.

Which languages can be exchanged?

Catalan students may offer Catalan, but also Occitan and Spanish (which are also official languages in Catalonia), as long as they are fluent enough in these latter languages, and foreign students may offer their mother tongue or tongues in exchange. All languages are welcome, not only widespread national languages, but also the so-called regional or minority languages!

When pairing up tandems, however, absolute priority is given to those tandems in which Catalan is one of the two languages involved.

If you are a native Spanish-speaking student interested in learning Catalan, please e-mail us at voluntariat.linguistic@upf.edu and we will do our best to assign you a Catalan student who will introduce you to the national language of Catalonia.