Aktuelle Meldungen

„The floor is yours“ Workshop zur Präsentations- und Konferenzsprache Englisch (10.Juli 2011)

13. Juli 2011

Unter der Leitung von Dr. Michael Pätzold fand vom 1.- 2. Juli 2011 der ALMA-Workshop "Presenting in English" statt. In dem vom Forschungsservice in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Institut für Umweltkommunikation (INFU) organisierten Workshop setzten sich Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler mit Englisch als Präsentations- und Konferenzsprache auseinander.

Daniel Fischer, wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter am gastgebenden Institut für Umweltkommunikation (INFU), fasst den Wunsch nach dem Workshopangebot und den Verlauf der zwei Tage zusammen:
 
„In the academic world of today, international conferences, symposia or workshops are important forums where members of the scientific community meet to share latest research findings, discuss new strands and trends and build networks for future project collaborations. With a growing number of researchers from all over the world attending such international events, it has become an essential part of a researcher‘s professional competence to present one‘s own research and engage in social interaction in English. Anyone who ever listened to someone reading out a research paper to an audience knows that spoken language differs quite considerably from written English.

The two-day workshop Presenting in English offered researchers the opportunity to practice their academic presentation and conversation skills. In the course of the two days, the workshop participants were given individual feedback from the other participants and Dr. Pätzold on a Power Point presentation that they gave. The presentations were also recorded on video and distributed among the participants. But it was not just presentations that were covered. Other conference formats addressed in the workshop activities were panel discussions and chaired sessions. The young researchers had also to take on the roles of the chair, who has to look after the speaker and the audience, and that of discussant in the panel debate on ”Steps towards sustainability – urgent fields of action“ .

On the final day, the workshop ended with a particularly enjoyable exercise. The participants were asked to give a three to five minute presentation, including their own view, on a short article from the Economist. The article raised the question what roles science and maths education play for innovation and economic progress. After a short preparation period, the workshop participants delivered talks that were again recorded on video so that workshop members can work on their gestures and body language if they want. Not surprisingly, as most of the researchers in the workshop had a background in sustainability science, most comments critically reflected on what sort of innovation and progress science should seek to contribute to.

The way in which the catering was organized during the workshop (coffee and drinks in the breaks, shared meals for lunch) allowed participants to practice informal conversation and to recharge batteries.

The INFU as the hosting institute would like to thank Dr. Pätzold for his excellent coaching, Dr. Barbara Ebert and the ALMA team for making this workshop possible in the first place, and, finally, to all participants for two days full of insights, practice and enjoyable group experiences.