By tandem to China, Spain or Latin America

When Lei Guo and Tom Becker meet once a week to learn together, the result is a language mix of Chinese and German. But the two work in a very disciplined way: half the time they speak only German, so that Lei can practice the pronunciation, and the other half they talk in Chinese. Lei and Tom, who is reading Chinese Studies and Economics, are just one of 140 such tandem couples that have got together in the winter semester of 2015/2016. The Language Centre has been offering this special type of course for German and foreign students at Münster University since the winter semester of 2007/2008. The courses are financed through quality improvements funding - formerly tuition fees. The requirement for taking part is competence in the foreign language at advanced beginners level. "Some people do it just for fun, while others want to gain points that they can have credited for General Studies", explains Katharina Grenningloh from the Language Centre.