[5] Here are some key points:[6][7] In the early 19th century, Joseph Lancaster and Andrew Bell introduced the "mutual system" in England, which involved students assisting each other in school, complementing the teacher's role.
Peter Petersen, a German educationalist, developed a similar approach in the "Jenaplan schools," and tutoring models inspired by this concept emerged in the USA from the 1960s onwards.
[8] Klaus Lieb-Harkort and Nükhet Cimilli introduced this model in their work with immigrants in the German-Turkish area of Munich.
TANDEM Fundazioa,[11] headquartered in Donostia/San Sebastian, Spain, was established in 1994 to promote scientific cooperation, education, and advanced training.
[12] The majority of schools affiliated with the TANDEM Network formed the association 'TANDEM International,"[1] with its headquarters in Bremen, Germany.
The results indicated that the tandem participants demonstrated better listening comprehension and speaking skills, although they were less successful in reading and writing.
Through its natural exposure to the native speaker's culture, Tandem provides a relaxed and inviting environment for engagement.
The autonomous nature of language exchange enables participants to experience different worldviews, fostering attitudes of respect, openness, curiosity, and discovery.
Additionally, native speakers also report an increased awareness of their own language throughout the tandem process, making it a valuable confidence booster in learning contexts.
[13] The method focuses on engaging participants in conversations aimed at strengthening listening, comprehension, vocabulary, and pronunciation skills.
To conduct effective sessions using the Cormier method, the following recommendations should be considered:[14] Advantages of the Cormier method include the opportunity for focused practice in small groups, pre-designed lesson plans and engaging activities to enhance motivation, real-time communication with native speakers, and the ability to access sessions from anywhere with an internet connection.
The method is more suitable for intermediate and advanced learners, as native speakers without teaching backgrounds may struggle to assist beginners.
It's important to note that while the Cormier method is beneficial for practice, it should not be relied upon as the sole source of language learning.
Second, students themselves may face difficulties in designing meaningful learning experiences due to a lack of methodological and pedagogical skills.
[15] Error correction during tandem programs[16] can also disrupt the flow of conversation and create anxieties for novice learners, impacting their fluency and confidence in the foreign language.
Students may express subjective opinions and reinforce intercultural stereotypes, creating a hostile discourse and disrupting the flow of conversations.