Become a language buddy

Do you want to learn Chinese, Spanish or another language? Or improve the language skills you have previously acquired? Or is your other native language a bit rusty? Or are you interested in the culture related to the language? If you answered yes, then get yourself a language buddy through VYY! VYY organizes language buddy activities together with the Language Centre of the University of Vaasa to help students from Vaasa learn the languages they want. The basic idea of language buddy activities is to learn another language and get to know the culture, as well as teach your own language and culture. The course is called Language Buddy – Språkkompis (KKIE5000).

If you want a language buddy through VYY: register with this form and tell us which language you would like to learn/practice and which language you could teach yourself. You must have a mother tongue level in the language you are teaching, but you do not need to have a language teacher's qualification or pedagogical skills. With this information, we will try to find a suitable language partner for you.

The autumn 2024 language partner activity starts in week 39 and ends in week 50. The activity includes the following sections:

• Two joint mandatory meetings with the entire group and the language teacher as follows:
  • Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 4:00 PM in Tervahovi, room D103.
  • Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 4:00 PM in Tervahovi, room D103 or online.
• One voluntary meeting with the language teacher, where you can get tips and advice for your own language partner meetings. You can come and meet the language teacher at the following time:
  • Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 4:00 PM in Tervahovi, room D103.
• A total of 30 hours of language buddy activities together with your partner.
• Writing and presenting a final report (or video) during the last meeting.

You can get 2 credits for language buddy activities if you wish. Completing two credits requires participating in two joint meetings, writing a final report and presenting it orally in the last meeting, and 30 hours of joint language buddy meetings with your partner. Instead of a presentation, you can make a video together with your language buddy and upload it to Moodle.

Students other than those at the University of Vaasa must obtain a JOO contract from their own educational institution.

If you are interested, register via the link above by September 16, 2024! If you want to know more, send an email to eva@vyy.fi