On this issue: |
 European Day of Languages – 26th September - and the role of TANDEM International in promoting language learning worldwide
- International Day of the Elderly – 1st October - and language courses for 50 + in London, Totnes and Rome
- World Teachers’ Day – 5th October - and conferences and courses for language teachers in Valencia, Montpellier and Totnes
- Official Exams:
 CILS
- TestDaF
- Autumn Offer
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Official Exams |
CILS Italian Exam
CILS (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera), the certification of Italian as a foreign language, measures the proficiency a student has reached in the Italian language. This certificate, awarded by the prestigious Universitŕ per Stranieri di Siena, is legally recognized as an official certification of linguistic communicative competence by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Ministry of Educations, yielding this certificate essential when seeking employment in Italy or for admission to the Italian higher education system.
- Rome: The Torre di Babele – TANDEM Rome Italian school is an authorized examination centre for the CILS certificate, and it organizes specially-designed preparatory courses for the CILS exam, taught by highly qualified teachers who specialize in this area. The CILS preparatory course can be in group or individual. However, individual courses are offered in any time of the year.
The next CILS examination date is on 5th December, being the enrolment deadline on 31st October.
You can also prepare for the CILS Exam in other TANDEM member Italian schools:
TestDaF German Exam
TestDaF is a standardised language test assessing linguistic performance within the context of university life at an intermediate to advanced level. Within the scale of the European Framework of Reference the TestDaF comprises the levels B 2.1 to C 1.2.
The TestDaF is suitable for students who wish to start or continue their university studies in Germany, students who need a proof of their proficiency in German for other purposes, academic staff who want to establish their level of knowledge of the German language prior to a study visit in Germany, and professionals who have to document their proficiency in German.
The next TestDaF examination date is on 13th November, being the enrolment deadline on 14th October.
- TANDEM Hamburg is an accredited examination centre for TestDaF and it offers two preparation courses, a crash course and an evening course, both including a mock exam.
You can also prepare for the TestDaF exam at other TANDEM member German schools:
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Autumn Offer |
2009 English courses in London
Students booking their 2009 English course in London before 14th November will save money by paying 2008 prices.
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TANDEM International Newsletter - Autumn Issue - September 2008 |
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Dear Reader,
We are happy to send you our autumn 2008 edition of the TANDEM International Newsletter. In this issue we are delighted to present you with information and language course offers in tune with the coming international days: the role of TANDEM International in promoting language learning worldwide, language courses for senior students, and training for language teachers. We also provide you with information about the next dates for the Italian CILS exam and the German TestDaF exam.
We hope you enjoy this TANDEM International update!
Kind regards from the TANDEM International Team.
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The role of TANDEM International in promoting language learning |
European Day of Languages – 26th September
TANDEM International, a growing association of independent language schools throughout the world, shares with its member schools the purpose of promoting cross-cultural awareness and understanding through in-context language learning.
The TANDEM International member schools are characterized for placing special emphasis on cultural integration as part of the language-learning process. Thus, in order to complement the language courses, they offer language exchange partnerships with local native speakers under the TANDEM® method, extra cultural and social activities, and student support to facilitate cultural immersion. The schools also adopt a communicative approach in the language courses, which facilitates the language acquisition process.
The language schools of the TANDEM International network have a selected team of native teachers who hold university degrees and who specialize in foreign language teaching. They also ensure ongoing professional training to the teaching staff.
TANDEM International places a special emphasis on offering excellent customer care, reflected in its conscientiously-built network of language schools that offer a wide range of language learning possibilities, the personalized service it provides, the quick response to customers’ enquiries and feedback, and in the continued academic, technological and service update and innovation.
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Language Courses for Senior Students |
International Day of the Elderly – 1st October
London: Cultural Experience for over 50’s
For 2009, the Language in London English school will launch a special course for the elder who wish to learn English in an entertaining and care-free fashion. The Cultural Experience for over 50’s is the ideal way for elderly students to practise their English and visit London without sitting in a classroom!
This is a one week program in which mature learners enjoy their English lessons in London's museums and galleries, making the language learning experience a simple and relaxed holiday.
Totnes - Devon: 50 Plus English Courses
The Totnes school of English has organized a wide variety of English courses for 50+ adults, offering them a chance to practise English with similar aged people in an interesting and stimulating way, in a small town where everything is within walking distance, and where senior students can make meaningful connections with local English people through welcoming host families and friendly TANDEM partners. The English courses for seniors are complemented with workshops and excursions in and around Devon and Cornwall, and a full social and cultural program. Students can choose any of these 4 options:
- Creative Art for 50+
- Natural Health for 50+
- Gardens and Castles for 50+
- Agatha Christie for 50+
Rome: Senior Class Program
The Senior Class program of Torre di Babele Italian school is designed for people from around the world who are 50 or over, and wish to combine their study of the Italian language with an interesting and varied cultural program. The languages courses are held in small groups, and the extensive cultural program is an integral part of the course.
The Senior Class program may include some of the following activities:
- Guided tours in or near Rome: the Roman Forum and the Imperial Forums, the Pigna neighbourhood, the Monte neighbourhood and the Esquiline basilicas, Ostia Antica…
- Evening activities: dinner in a typical Roman restaurant, cooking workshops with full dinner menu…
- Full day trip during the weekend: Orvieto…
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Language Teachers Training |
World Teachers’ Day – 5th October
Spanish: Valencia – Spanish as a Foreign Language Training Conference
The Spanish school Taronja – TANDEM Valencia has organized and is hosting the Teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language Training Conference, which will be held on 14th, 15th, and 16th November in Valencia, Spain. The conference is addressed to professionals in the area of teaching Spanish as a foreign language: teachers, directors of studies, teaching material developers, etc.
This edition of the Training Conference will include lectures centred in important issues of Spanish teaching such as phonetics and pronunciation, learning styles, dealing with language skills in the classroom, and workshops offered by the TANDEM schools staff and the EDELSA publisher.
See the complete program in Spanish.
French: Montpellier – Year round courses for teachers of French
For teachers of French at the secondary level - middle school to high school - and/or teachers of French at the elementary school level, TANDEM Montpellier offers French courses for teachers aimed at perfecting teaching methodology and at providing with tools to develop activities and to enhance students’ motivation.
A level of B2 as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is required to participate. For European teachers, this course is eligible for grants through the Coménius and Grundtvig program - Reference: FR-2008-191-008 more info
Next sessions:
- October 20th to October 31st
- November 17th to November 28th
English: Totnes - Courses for foreign teachers of English
The Totnes school of English two-week course for Teachers of English offers teachers the opportunity to update their own English at the same time as expanding the scope of their teaching skills. The courses aim to be practical, and to give teachers new ideas, skills and techniques which they can apply to their own teaching situation.
The course includes 30 lessons (22.5 x 60 minutes) focused on improving the foreign teacher’s own level of English as well as giving teachers input on methods and strategies for teaching English to foreign students.
This course is also eligible for Comenius funding under the course title is Course for foreign teachers of English and the Reference Number is: UK-2008-729-009.
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