Language tandems as an instrument for evaluating the acquisition of intercultural competence in the German-Spanish language learning process

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to describe the development and the results of a virtual language tandem between Spanish and German language students from the Universities of Trier (Germany) and Murcia (Spain). The sessions of the language exchange, which took place in pairs via conference weekly during a term were recorded and served as the basis for the development of an evaluation grid, the validity of which was subsequently tested on the project results. A survey, in which the participants were asked about intercultural aspects and their concrete personal development in this regard, was used for internal evaluation and to check the achievement of the project goal. Both evaluation methods turned out to be valid tools for assessing intercultural competence.