Workshop Master's Workshop Living and studying in Germany 9:00-13:00

Studying in a country different than one´s own always means a change to a new cultural environment. Many of the familiar things one has been accustomed to are missing: questions like -How should I address my professor?-, -What is the proper conduct in an office hour?-, or -How do I make friends with German students?- are just a few examples of the many issues international students face. The workshop will deal with the intricacies of German university culture like teaching and learning styles, interaction with professors and fellow students. It will also inform about the basic features of German everyday life. Furthermore we will talk about culture shock: the relocation to a new international environment is usually marked with excitement and euphoria in the first weeks, but then confusion and anxiety may occur. The concept of culture shock is very useful for understanding what is happening around and within oneself when living and studying in a foreign setting. We will also discuss ways to help participants to anticipate and detect misunderstandings in their interactions with Germans. As students share their studies with colleagues of many different nationalities we will also discuss about the chances and challenges of studying and working in multicultural teams. The workshop will be interactive, allowing participants to practice their newly acquired cultural knowledge and skills. Practical exercises will intensify the transfer of intercultural knowledge. LMU München WiSe 1415 Fakultät für Biologie