Many international students have decided to complete a degree or doctorate in German. However, even with formally sufficient knowledge of German, which is achieved by passing the "German Language Test for Admission to Higher Education" (DSH), the German language can be a challenge in an academic context.
Meeting the standards for academic writing is not always easy, even for native speakers.
The "Language is a bridge" initiative aims to support international students and doctoral candidates with two programmes: With the language mentor programme and the language tutor programme.
1. Language Mentor Programme
Language mentors are volunteer native speakers of German who meet regularly with a specific international student to improve their German language skills through conversation or with the help of suitable texts.
The initial focus is on language practice, i.e. listening comprehension and the ability to formulate sentences and use the German language in a targeted and increasingly confident manner for communicative purposes.
Reading comprehension and vocabulary training as well as grammar forms can also be included. Experience has shown that such meetings also develops a deeper understanding of the other culture.
- We organise an introductory meeting between the interested international student and the potential language mentor. Beforehand, we ask both parties for a few details, such as their expectations of the programme, reasons for participating and the international candidate's existing knowledge of German.
- At least one coordinator of the language mentoring programme and several interested language tutors are present at the introductory meeting. Teams of two are formed from them ("matching meeting"), who should talk to each other and get to know each other in this way
The frequency and location of the regular meetings of a language learning couple are agreed between them. Whether a meeting in a café, at home or on an excursion, cooking together or an invitation to a family celebration – there are many opportunities and possibilities to meet and talk to each other.
- There is a monthly meeting of language mentors to discuss questions, problems and successes in supporting students in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Joint activities for all language mentors and international students are organised at irregular intervals.
- The language mentors are also insured against accidents during their voluntary work by the programme.
2. Language Tutoring Programme
For international students, writing a scientific text in German is often associated with linguistic difficulties. Language tutors help to compensate for the negative effects of a lack of language skills on the result of a scientific paper. These are people from Freiberg and the surrounding area who support foreign students with the linguistic correction of written texts. These include, for example, seminar papers, bachelor's or master's theses, but also dissertations or letters of application.
As part of your volunteer work, you have the opportunity to meet with other interested language tutors once a month for an informal exchange of experiences. You are also welcome to take part in or suggest further training courses, e.g. on the subject of
- intercultural understanding;
- organisation of an application;
- information on selected degree programmes;
- on other topics relevant to your work as a tutor.
- If you are interested, please get in touch with the contact person at the International University Centre (see below). This will be followed by an initial meeting to discuss the ideas and possibilities of tutoring.
- There will be an initial meeting between the three of you, during which the language tutor and the student will get to know each other and discuss the expected correction process.
- The student writes the paper. The tutor corrects the written text (possibly in sections). Both meet afterwards to discuss the correction suggestions.
- The student submits the thesis to the responsible chair and is informed of the defence date. The presentation required for the presentation of the thesis is formulated by the student and corrected by the tutor if necessary.
Good to know: As an honorary language tutor, you are covered by accident insurance.
- Please get in touch with the contact person at the International University Centre (see below).
- The type of supervision, topic, scope and deadline of your thesis will then be discussed with you.
- There will be an initial meeting between the three of you, during which the language tutor and the student will get to know each other and discuss the expected correction process.
Contact
The project is coordinated by the International University Centre – International Office.
Your contact person is Manuela Junghans, e-mail address manuela [dot] junghans [at] iuz [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de.