Language Learning for Visually Impaired Poeple II

ELLVIS - English Language Learning Programme for Visually Impaired Students

Following its cooperation with the European Commission for the development of language learning computer-based programs for visually impaired people, two TANDEM International member schools will participate during 2010 in the Comenius new ELLVIS program.

ELLVIS stands for English Language Learning Program for Visually Impaired Students, and Centro Machiavelli (TANDEM Florence) and TANDEM Hamburg will work together in this new Comenuious project.

The ELLVIS project amplifies the innovative results of the ALLVIP program.

Language Learning for Visually Impaired Poeple I

ALLVIP (Accessible Language Learning for Visually Impaired Poeple)

TANDEM Hamburg, TANDEM International e.V. member since its foundation in 1985, participates in a very interesting Socrates project for developing computer-based language learning courses for visually impaired people. The role of TANDEM Hamburg in this project is to develop the German lessons for English-speaking learners.

ALLVIP (Accessible Language Learning for Visually Impaired Poeple) is an English and German language learning course aimed at blind and visually impaired people who can’t read Braille.

Two main goals pursued by this project are:

The development of an innovative self studying language course for blind learners: The centre of the project is the development of a self-learning language course «English for German learners» and «German for English learners» which concentrates on communicative listening and speaking skills. Contentwise and methodically, this course takes into account the challenges of being a blind learner, especially those learners who have not mastered Braille. Learners may reach an A1 to A2 level in the self-learning course.

Italian and Glass Courses in Murano with Istituto Venezia

Italian and Glass Courses in Murano with Istituto Venezia

This year, Istituto Venezia started a collaboration with the Abate Zanetti Glass School in Murano, and is offering its students the possibility of combining their Italian course with a Glass workshop.

The tradition of glassworking in Murano has very ancient origins: the presence of such activity is documented in the lagoon since VII Century. A decree of 1291 issued by the Venice Republic orders the displacement of the glass factories from the historical centre of Venice to the Murano island in order to protect Venice from fires. Thus, the island becomes the worldwide Capital of Glass, a place where families hand down, from generation to generation, recipes, techniques and secrets inimitable by any other glassworker in the world.

After over six hundred years, very skilled glass masters, descendants of the
glassworking ancient families who jealously kept the secrets of glassworking, decided to spread their precious knowledge and to look for a necessary comparison with the international reality. The historical roots of glass art have to be searched here, in Murano.

TANDEM International Workshop Berlin, Germany – 2009

TANDEM International Annual General Meeting in Berlin - 2009

Every year, the TANDEM International member schools meet in any of the cities where there is a TANDEM school to share experiencies and expertise, discuss joint working strategies, and to promote the common growth of the network as a whole.

The Annual General Meeting of 2009 was held in Berlin, Germany, hosted by TANDEM Berlin e.V., member of TANDEM International since its foundation in 1983. About 20 member language schools from Germany, England, Ireland, France, Italy and Spain were present at the annual TANDEM International Meeting in Germany.

Friday 6th November 2009

This year’s annual meeting started on Friday with a set of workshops. Representatives from different TANDEM schools, as well as members of the TANDEM staff, presented topics related to working with agents, new marketing trends, and EU projects for the visually impaired.

Tapa Tours in Granada with Escuela Montalbán

Tapa Tours in Granada with Escuela Montalbán

TANDEM Granada, Escuela Montalban, in collaboration with Granada Tapa Tours invites to to sample authentic Spanish «tapas», Granada style! This is the way of the «granadinos»: upon ordering your drink, for example a glass or red wine or a draught beer you will be served a generous sized tapa for no extra charge! Not just a modest plate of olives or some crips, but elaborate and tasty «tapas» with typical ingredients such as ham, cheese, mushrooms, prawns…

Forget about typical tourist places or guide book recommendations. Visit instead Granada’s «real» tapas bars. You will be taken to places that perhaps you would not venture into, where you can enjoy the best quality and best value tapas on offer in the city. If a place is packed with locals, it’s usually for a good reason!

Jornadas de Formación de Profesores TANDEM

Jornadas de Formación de Profesores TANDEM

Las Jornadas de Formación de Profesores TANDEM tuvieron lugar los días 20 y 21 de noviembre de 2009 en TANDEM San Sebastián. El programa constaba de exposiciones y talleres interrelacionados.

Aprovechando la conmemoración de «25 años de ELE» y el simposio del Instituto Cervantes, las jornadas se iniciaron con una revisión de la evolución de la metodología de la enseñanza del español en estos últimos años y la aportación del MCER. Una reflexión sobre el punto de partida, la evolución y el momento actual de ELE. (Pilar Melero Abadía)

Spanish Course & Carnival in Cadiz, Spain!

Spanish course and carnival in Cadiz, Spain

TANDEM Cadiz has designed a Spanish course especially for you, so that you can enjoy the most typical and famous “Fiestas de Cádiz” while you are learning and improving your Spanish. Make the most of the Spanish course and Carnival!

This is a unique opportunity to see how «Carnaval» is celebrated in Andalusia.

It is a 2 week Standard Spanish Course, with 20 hours per week, which includes the following activities:

• Welcome Party in Bar Cuba
• City tour through the most famous districts of Carnaval
• Chat and experience the «Carnaval de Cádiz»
• Learn and sing typical songs of Carnaval
• Night of theatre: listen to various groups on the stage which entertain you with different songs of Carnaval
• «Fiesta de disfraces en Melkart» – the person with the best costume wins a private spanish lesson
• Detailed information for each student about all activities during this period in the city: group contests on stage, contests of Flamenco, Carnaval party with costumes, choir of Carnaval, Parade, Pyrotechnics, Concerts, etc.

Special offers and news from TANDEM Cadiz

Spanish courses in Cadiz, Spain

¡Hola a todos los amigos de Melkart!

…did you hear about our special offer of learning Spanish in autumn and winter? Normally this offer would end on the 8th of January, but we are extending the offer until the 29th of January. It is a Standard course (20 lessons per week) which has an extraordinary price of only 120 € per week (for courses from 2 weeks onward) that offers extracurricular activities.

Autumn and winter special in Cadiz, Spain

We not only wanted to take this opportunity to inform you about our current offers but we would like to inform you about our most recent news as well.

Jornadas TANDEM 2009 – San Sebastián – España

Encuentro práctico de profesorado E/LE en San Sebastián, España

Encuentro práctico de profesorado E/LE

20 y 21 de noviembre en TANDEM San Sebastián
Inscripción: 80€
Estudiantes y desempleados: 65 €

Plazo máximo de inscripción: 13 de noviembre

Objetivos:

• Dar a conocer la formación TANDEM.
• Crear un espacio para intercambiar experiencias entre el profesorado de español, tanto de las escuelas como de otros centros.
• A través de los talleres prácticos, compartir ideas, propuestas y materiales que puedan servir de una manera inmediata en la clase de ELE.
• Crear un foro de encuentro periódico entre profesores y profesoras de español.

City hopping – Combined courses with TANDEM Spain

City hopping with TANDEM Spain

Having a hard time choosing your destination for your Spanish course in Spain? Don’t worry. TANDEM Spain offers a Spanish language program which appeals to the traveller in you. You may choose from six main cities in the regions of Andalusia, Valencia, Catalonia, Madrid and the Basque Country and distribute your learning experience among them.

By combining a course among several of these cities, you will both learn Spanish and experience the variety of the Spanish culture.

Enjoy the extraordinary contrast between the Atlantic Sea and the Pyrenees in the city centre itself of San Sebastian. Try the delicious «pintxos» –an original kind of «tapa»- with «txakoli» –local white wine- in the many bars, typical of the Basque Country.

Discover the great architecture of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona, chill out in the endless beaches along the Mediterranean Sea, and close the day with Catalan cuisine.