Studdy Buddy Programme

Reciprocity
You divide your time fairly:

• Half of the meeting is devoted to your target language,
•  and the other half to your study buddy’s language.

In this way, both benefit equally from each other and actively support each other in achieving their learning goals.

Independent learning
You organise your study buddy yourself. You determine...

• the content
• the learning location
• the pace of learning

Your study buddy supports you in achieving your individual goals.

At the first meeting, you get to know each other and agree on the arrangements together.

How often and for how long will you meet?

Our recommendation:

• at least once a week
• at least 45 minutes per language
• for the duration of a semester

Important: Make sure to allocate the same amount of time for both languages.

Where will the meetings take place?

You decide together:

• online or
• in person at a place where you can concentrate on your work (e.g., in the canteen outside mealtimes)

During the learning phase:

• You speak in the foreign language.
• Your study buddy speaks in the native language.

You decide on:

• your learning objectives
• the learning content
• the methods

Typical questions to help you get started:

• What do I need the language for (studies, job, travelling)?
• What do I want to improve (speaking, writing, listening, reading)?
• What is my specific learning objective (e.g., improving oral skills, perhaps for a stay abroad)?

For effective meetings, we recommend:

• Plan the content in advance.
• Write down questions.
• Bring materials with you, (e.g., articles, videos, exercises, conversation ideas).

Here’s how to stay motivated:

• Write down your learning goals.
• Check your progress regularly. You could use checklists (e.g., the European Language Portfolio) or a learning diary).

When helping your study buddy:

• Focus on your partner’s learning objectives.
• Provide active support by
  • explaining vocabulary and grammar
  • giving feedback on spoken or written texts
  • asking questions for practising
  • sharing insights into your culture

In your role as a support person, preparation is not absolutely necessary. However, you are welcome to bring in your own materials.

You decide together how to deal with mistakes. The following approaches have proven effective:

• correcting mistakes immediately during the conversation
• collecting and discussing them at the end
• indirect correction by repeating the sentence correctly