Workshops and tutorials of the International Relations Office
Intercultural competence
Academic writing
Rhetoric and presentation
Examination preparation
Please note: All courses will be held in German. You will need good knowledge of German to be able to follow the courses. The English course descriptions here are for your convenience.
Intercultural competence – When in Rome…
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Led by: |
Katja Dienemann |
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Certified translator, trainer, experiential educator |
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Time: |
Two-day course |
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Location: |
N.N. |
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Target group: |
Newly-enrolled international students |
Prerequisite: Good knowledge of German (minimum Intermediate German II)
New in Germany? Getting used to a foreign country and an unfamiliar learning environment poses special challenges. Adjusting to the unfamiliar, encountering those who think and behave differently, making friends, communicating in a foreign tongue, learning in a structured way – feeling comfortable in your new “home” and being able to study effectively takes intercultural competence.
This action-oriented workshop offers valuable suggestions for a successful stay and academic life in your host country. Cultural sensitisation will include a revealing look at your own culture to uncover cultural differences and learn how to deal effectively with them. Theoretical fundamentals incorporate exercises (e.g. role playing), allowing you to immediately apply what you have learned. There will also be plenty of time to share your personal experiences, both individually and in small groups.
The following topics will be covered:
- Germany: expectations and reality
- Cultural standards of the Germans
- Cultural shock - phases
- Cultural differences and (possibly intercultural) misunderstandings
- Intercultural competence in your studies
- Making contacts
- Sharing experiences with other students
The course is free of charge, but the number of participants is limited. Registration is mandatory and should be submitted as early as possible.
To register, please use this form.
Academic writing
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Led by: |
Natascha Haas |
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Time: |
Course I for Humanities and Social Studies students:
Course II for Natural Science students: |
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Location: |
Anglistisches Seminar (AS), Kettengasse 12, room 112 |
Academic writing poses major challenges to students. How do I start? How do I need to formally structure my assignments? And what do the instructors expect? This task becomes even more daunting if you are supposed to do it in a foreign language.
The tutorial offers a compact overview of the most important elements of academic writing and familiarises students with the main skills needed for planning and completing an assignment:
· Efficient structuring of information
· Formal aspects of a paper
· Banishing writer’s block
· Academic language
The course is free of charge, but the number of participants is limited. Registration is mandatory and should be done as early as possible.
To register, please use this form.
Rhetoric and presentation
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Led by: |
Alexander Jakusch |
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Time: |
Two-day course: |
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Location: |
Institut für Japanologie, Akademiestraße 4-8, room 136 |
This course is designed to help students improve their oral presentation skills, reduce fear of public speaking, and learn new presentation techniques. During two 8-hour sessions, all aspects of an effective presentation will be covered, such as (body) language, content structuring and presentation as well as use of supporting media. Participants will also have the opportunity to apply their new skills in the form of a short presentation with subsequent feedback and voluntary video analysis as to where any weaknesses, and hidden strengths, might lie.
Participants must attend both days, since the course content is integrally connected.
The course is free of charge, but the number of participants is limited. Registration is mandatory and should be submitted as early as possible.
To register, please use this form.
Examination preparation
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Led by: |
Anne Benner |
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Time: |
Two-day course |
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Location: |
N.N. |
The exam is next week and you are nowhere near done studying? Additionally, the sources are all in a foreign language? How to break down the mass of information into manageable bits? What is expected in written or oral exams at a German university?
This course is designed to give helpful suggestions on how to study strategically and on how to behave in exams. The tutorial offers learning techniques and strategies, but also puts a focus on time management and on the importance of breaks and buffers. In order to get as “real” as possible, you will be given the opportunity to take an oral exam in-class and get feedback.
The course is free of charge, but the number of participants is limited. To register, please use this form.
