I have been providing the following advice to effectively advance learning in the eTandem project between Germany and Japan, which I am conducting.

1) Use the target language as much as possible during learning time.

Divide the time to learn each language in tandem learning clearly. Moreover, talk in the target language as much as possible during your learning time. There may be learners who actually have hardly spoken in the target language. However, your language skills will not improve unless you practice speaking. Start from memorizing short phrases little by little and actively use them. Don’t be shy, and keep trying. On the other hand, let the partner speak the target language as much as possible during the partner’s learning time!

2) Express your thoughts clearly.

Express your thoughts to the partner clearly in words, such as “I am busy next Saturday,” and “I think B is a better subject than A.” Sometimes, people do not say their opinion and simply say “okay” even when they have their own ideas, if the partner suggests by saying, “How about ~?”. However, this is not acceptable in tandem learning. Since tandem learning is a learning where partners cooperate with each other, learning can be better achieved if the relationships with partners are good. If you try too hard to go along with the partner, it will not work. So, share your ideas with the partner honestly.

3) Ask for “Firsthand” Information.

The partner lives in the region of language and culture that you are learning. In other words, the partner can always give you firsthand information on the region of target language and culture. If you were in Japan, it would be difficult to obtain such firsthand information. Take advantage of opportunities of tandem learning and ask the partner about your target culture to your heart’s content.

4) Think about how you make corrections.

Being able to speak accurately is very important in learning languages. Thus, having your mistakes corrected is equally important. However, if you put too much focus on how accurate your sentences are, contents of conversation may become uninteresting or you may become afraid of making mistakes when talking. Meanwhile, the partner may also hesitate to interrupt you to correct your mistakes while you are speaking. The method used to make corrections depends on the learning objective. For example, if your intention is to talk as much as possible in the target language, you do not have to be corrected as long as your mistakes do not interfere with the negotiation of meaning during the conversation. However, if you want to have your mistakes corrected, you can be corrected after the conversation in addition to being corrected immediately in the middle of the conversation. It is a good idea to discuss in advance how the partner wants to be corrected. Some other methods are to recast (=Rephrase in a correct way without interrupting the conversation.) mistakes only without interrupting conversation as much as possible or make notes of mistakes and correct later.

5) Prepare for a session.

In order to use the tandem learning time effectively, you should prepare for the next session. For instance, if you have decided to talk about a certain subject, prepare what and how you want to talk about that subject, or prepare questions you want to ask the partner. If you are going to use images or websites, you need to consider how to introduce them to the partner. Further, even when you are to have a free conversation without set subjects, you should still prepare so that you will not run out of things to talk about during a session. For example, you can prepare yourself for the next session as follows: a) write short sentences in the target language and send them to the partner via e-mail, or b) find texts of your interest (including newspapers, cartoons, recipes, advertisements, movie reviews, and book reviews) on the Internet and check where you are not sure beforehand, so that the partner can help you understand them in the next session.

6) Reflect on your learning.

Corrections given and new words taught by partners tend to be just for the duration of a session because learners are often desperate to communicate with the partners during the session. Reflect on the feedback provided by the partner, and review the notes you made during the session or chat logs. It will help you retain knowledge if you write down and sort out newly learned words or organize grammar mistakes, in the Learner Diary. If you do not have time, it is useful to record the session on your smartphone and listen to it during your free time.

7) Actively use Japanese (a native language) as well.

The partner also wants to improve Japanese skills by learning with you, as well as you want to improve your target language. Therefore, use Japanese (a native language) as much as possible during the partner’s learning time. The partner can learn from what you talk about or write in Japanese. In addition, when the partner’s Japanese language level is low, it is difficult for the partner to exactly understand all the Japanese you speak. However, the experience of communicating only in Japanese will lead to confidence in language learning. Isn’t this the same for your own target language learning? For example, how do you feel when you do not understand what the partner explained to you in their native language (referring to your target language) and the partner quickly translated it into Japanese for you? Don’t you wish that your partner speaks again slowly in the native language (referring to your target language) instead? Listen to what the partner wants, and use your native language well.

8) Actively support the partner.

The more partners support each other in tandem learning, the better the learning becomes for each other. So, support the partner earnestly. You can support the partner actively by making notes of mistakes while the partner is talking and going over the mistakes after the speech or by typing out words or expressions that the partner could not think of in the chat box. In addition, confirm if the partner understood what you said or ask if there are any questions.

9) Say so honestly, if you do not know the answer to the partner’s question about grammar.

Partners in tandem learning are not language teachers who are trained in foreign language education; therefore, it is natural that they cannot answer successfully when they are asked about grammatical rules and so on. When you do not know, say frankly “I don’t know,” and look it up in the grammar book together. Or, you can let the partner check if a sentence you composed is correct. Although partners cannot explain grammar, they can still figure out if the sentence is correct or not. There are other benefits in tandem learning, such as being able to talk without worrying about making mistakes, and being able to make friends. It is better to conduct learning activities that take advantages of such benefits.

10) Learn without worrying about the difference in language levels with the partner.

Most of the cases in tandem learning have differences in language levels between partners. Even if your German language level is lower than the Japanese language level of the partner, there is no reason that you have to be depressed or diffident. You do not have to do the same learning activities as the partner in tandem learning. For instance, a partner may read a Japanese newspaper article and discuss that topic, while you may practice a role play using a scene in a beginner-level textbook. There is a benefit that you can ask questions in Japanese about what you do not understand in your German learning since the partner has a higher level of Japanese than that of your target language. On the contrary, a disadvantage is that the partner use Japanese more often, which gives you less opportunities to use your target language. The important point is that you should try to use your target language as much as possible and mutually decide with the partner when to use Japanese. On the other hand, if your German language level is higher than the partner’s Japanese language level, you should let the partner speak as much Japanese as possible.

11) Choose safe topics.

At least initially, you should avoid sensitive topics such as politics and religion. As partners gradually understand each other through sessions, you may be able to talk about such topics.