Workshop – Intercultural Training

As an international PhD student, the following situation may sound familiar: You have done everything correctly, are friendly and polite, and still your German colleagues, professors and even fellow students occasionally seem harsh and not very friendly. This can be confusing and unsettling. In a foreign culture, communication and interaction can be very different, and sometimes things can go wrong when you least expect them to. It is difficult to interact as smoothly as in the culture you grew up in and so sometimes, misunderstandings are inevitable. You can, however, learn to navigate your way in this foreign culture to ensure smooth interactions and a successful communication in both professional and private contexts. This workshop will help you to improve your intercultural skills by providing an insight into how we are formed by our own culture. You will get useful tips on how to cope with German culture, especially if you come from a different cultural background. All international PhD and Master students are welcome to attend and will receive a certificate of attendance after the workshop.

Lecturer: Elisabeth Sommerhoff

Date: 04 December 2018

Time: 4-8 pm (16-20 Uhr)

Venue: Hauptgebäude der JLU (Main Building of the JLU), Ludwigstraße 23, Raum 315

Snacks and soft drinks will be provided.

Elisabeth Sommerhoff is an experienced trainer and lecturer in the field of intercultural competences. She studied Drama and Literature at Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, in Vienna (Austria) and at Yale University (USA). Furthermore, she spent five years teaching at the University of Birmingham (Great Britain). Her portfolio also comprises the teaching of voice training, speech and Rhetoric at the Universities of Gießen and Marburg. Currently she is working at the University of Regensburg in the field of Intercultural Rhetoric Competence.