Principles

i. Autonomy

We— coordinators, facilitators, and volunteers— create a community where people can access and engage in activities in different languages, but at the same time, participants understand that they are the ones responsible for learning.

ii. Reciprocity

We expect partners to give and take equally. Likewise, we— coordinators, facilitators, and volunteers— expect to give and take equally with each other and all participants.

iii. Everyone’s Language is Valuable

At Tandem, we believe everyone’s language has the same value. No matter what you look like, where you come from, how your accent sounds, you can still enrich someone’s language learning experience. We are all responsible for creating a community of respect, and this means valuing and celebrating diversity!