402244 International Perspectives of Public Health: Professional and English language skills (S) (SoSe 2024)

The overarching goal of this module is to provide students with an introduction to core professional and English language skills, which form an essential foundation for understanding and successfully working with international perspectives of public health. The module will support students to build knowledge, skills, and confidence to underpin their studies and activities as part of the International Perspectives of Public Health profile. The module has two specific and interlinked objectives with corresponding learning competencies, as outlined below.

The first objective focuses on "professional and interpersonal skills in an international context". The main focus of this component of the module is to provide students with a foundational understanding of essential professional and interpersonal perspectives and skills that are critical for effective work in an international context. Students will deepen their competencies related to diversity, intercultural competency, reflexivity and communication in a learning environment supportive of reflection and discussion about the value and challenges of working across languages and cultures.

At the end of the module students will have been able to:
• Gain a deeper understanding of relevant theoretical frameworks and analytical perspectives as well as skills and reflexive approaches that underpins diversity and cultural competencies essential for international collaboration;
• Understand the principles, style and approaches of written, verbal and non-verbal communication in different countries and cultures, and compare these with Germany; and
• Practice applying the above knowledge, skills and approaches to different circumstances and settings.

The second objective, "English in Public Health", provides students with an introduction to and foundational understanding of working professionally in English, in general and in the public health discipline specifically.

At the end of the module students will have been able to:
• Understand the general rules and principles for spoken and written academic English, including the major differences between English and German;
• Understand and correctly use common words and expressions in academic English and specifically in the public health discipline;
• Understand the norms and standards for inclusive language related to gender and diversity; and
• Practice applying the above knowledge, skills and approaches to different circumstances and settings, in order to strengthen written and verbal communication in English.