Language and Culture Sharing Programs

Broaden your horizons with one of our language and culture sharing programs. This term, we are offering the Tandem Language Program. 

Tandem Language Program

Registration for the Winter 2025 term is now open!

• Register for the Tandem Language Program for winter 2025 by January 19th, 2025.
• Orientation is on January 23rd
• The mid-term survey will be done on February 24th
• Journals due and program completed April 8th

The Tandem Language Program is about teaching and learning language and culture to a peer, while getting to know someone new. Through the program you'll have a chance to improve your language skills, make intercultural connections and learn in a social way.

Participants will share their passion for language and learning with each other and are partnered based on language proficiency and interest. You'll be required to meet with your language partner for a minimum of 10 hours over the term and complete a journal reflection at the end. When you successfully complete the program you'll get Laurier Experience Record recognition.

How It Works

For example, perhaps you are able to teach some basic German and have always wanted to learn a few words of Japanese. You would be partnered with someone who has Japanese language skills, and an interest in learning German.  

We do our best to match you with a partner based on your language interests and level, but may not be able to. If that happens, we ask that you be flexible and open-minded in learning a language that isn't your first choice.

In the past students have learned English, Mandarin, Spanish, French, American Sign Language, German, Farsi and more.  

Laurier International Cultural Conversations

There is a pause of this course for 2024-2025. Check back for Fall 2025.

Laurier International Cultural Conversations is offered in collaboration with Laurie Jacklin's HR261: Multiculturalism course and is open to all international and exchange students on the Brantford campus. The program is a great way to meet new people and to share your lived experience as an international or exchange student in Canada.

How It Works

International and exchange students on the Brantford campus are invited to volunteer in the program and receive Laurier Experience Record (LER) credit. You don't need to be registered in HR261 or pay any fees, and you won't receive course credit. 

In the program, you will meet five times, in small groups, to discuss topics related to multiculturalism such as race and ethnicity, migration theory, settler colonialism, Indigenous People in Canada, and more. 

Dates and Deadlines

The deadline to apply for fall 2023 is now passed. All volunteers have been emailed with more information about the program and classroom location for the first session.

Volunteers are asked to share in a creative project at the end of the project to share insights and reflections about the experience.