230814 Englisch: Connect! English Multimedia Tandem Course (level B1 or higher) (S) (SoSe 2010)

See the world without leaving the comfort of your chair, your country and maybe your underwear. This class is intended for students who are interested in improving their English fluency while having a fun and unique cultural experience. This program aims to connect each student in Germany with several students in the USA and other native English speaking countries over the Internet and Skype.

This semester we will be again working with Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, along with other universities around the world. Students will correspond over Skype with members of the other classes from abroad and discuss various topics. Both our students and those participating abroad will gain valuable practice explaining their culture in a foreign language to individuals of potentially various and diverse cultural backgrounds.

The course is centered around a cultural exchange concept and therefore uses a mixed interview format to accomplish the tandem. One has the opportunity to meet people from different countries and cultures from around the world, while at the same time practicing English- the possibilities are endless!

There will be 4-6 planned tandem sessions and students are required to continue their exchanges as homework. After the completion of the tandems, the students will be required to analyze, organize and present material and information gathered through the process. The course has no exam, but students will be required to present a portfolio of edited video clips (the means to record Skype videos will be provided by the university) and a written summary of their experience with the project in English.

Requirements for participation, required level

level B1 or higher, for dates please see information on the C-test:

http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fachsprachenzentrum/tests.html