When Correct Language Still Leads to Misunderstandings

You may have experienced this yourself: you say something that is grammatically correct, yet it sounds too direct, too vague, too cold, or somehow inappropriate. The reason often lies not in grammar, but in differing communicative expectations.
For example, one study examined how appointment cancellations are phrased in English and what kinds of misunderstandings may arise. It found that American speakers often gave relatively detailed explanations when declining, whereas Japanese speakers of English tended to be more concise. In one particularly revealing case, a Japanese speaker declined an invitation by saying, “I have to go to a wedding.” To American listeners, this explanation initially seemed unclear or incomplete. Only later did they realize that she had to attend her own wedding. The problem, then, was not the language itself, but differing expectations about how much information should be explicitly stated in a given situation.
Misunderstandings arise not only from how something is said, but also from how situations themselves are interpreted.
Research on foreign language learning shows that learners do not always evaluate communicative situations in the same way. In one role-play designed to elicit an apology, a learner downplayed the situation instead of apologizing. Once again, the issue was not vocabulary or grammar. What mattered was something else entirely: What counts as a serious mistake? When is an apology expected? What seems socially necessary—and what does not? Such judgments are by no means universal.
This is where what linguists call pragmatic competence comes in. It refers to the ability not only to produce formally correct utterances, but also to understand how meaning is created in social contexts and how relationships are shaped through language.
Closely connected to this is metapragmatic awareness: the ability to reflect on linguistic appropriateness, notice differences between communication styles, and think critically about one’s own language use.

Why This Matters Especially Abroad

This becomes especially noticeable in international study and mobility contexts. For many students, the greatest communicative challenge abroad is not necessarily the question “is this grammatically correct?” but rather:

• Do I sound too direct right now?
• Do I seem too formal?
• Am I coming across as distant?
• Have I misunderstood something?

Such insecurities are far from trivial. They concern not only linguistic correctness, but also social belonging, interpersonal relationships, and the feeling of being able to move confidently in a new environment.

How the International Center Supports You

The International Center supports students not only in developing their language skills, but also in preparing for the communicative and cultural demands of international contexts.
Perhaps this is one of the most exciting aspects of language learning: you do not just learn how to say something new. You also learn how to relate to other people in new ways.
If you would like to develop exactly these skills, the International Center is the right place for you. We support you through language courses, intercultural programs, and practice-oriented learning opportunities that help you feel more confident in international and multilingual environments. In this way, you can expand not only your language proficiency, but also your communicative confidence and intercultural competence.
 

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Registration: via mystudy

Semester finale with an international perspective

After the student group chose the well-known anime film "Princess Mononoke" last winter semester, this year the drama Shoplifters – Family Ties concluded the seminar "Perception and Reception of Japanese Art and Culture in Germany" in the complementary studies program. SCALA showed the film in the Japanese original with German subtitles (OmU) – a special cinema experience for many.

Ambivalent family images in contemporary Japan. What does family mean beyond biological kinship?

Sawa, Mizuki, and Masaaki from Hosei University introduced the film in German and presented director Hirokazu Koreeda. In his work, he sensitively recounts social inequality in Japan – and at the same time asks what family actually means.
The focus is on an unusual chosen family: Osamu and Shota get by with petty theft until they take in the neglected Yuri. Despite difficult living conditions, closeness, care, and solidarity develop – even without biological kinship. It was precisely this ambivalence that sparked many conversations in the cinema after the credits rolled.

Intercultural cooperation in practice

But the evening was more than just a film screening. The planning brought Japanese and Leuphana students into intensive conversation – about cultural differences, social issues, and very practical challenges, because screening rights or subtitles were not available for every film.
The result was not only a successful movie night, but also a strong joint project – and a special end to the semester before the program students returned to Tokyo.

A specially tailored German program has been developed in collaboration with Hosei University. It begins with an intensive course before the start of the semester and offers regular courses throughout the semester, as well as a regional studies course and phonetics training. This enables students to get to know and understand the country and its people—both in seminars and in everyday life in Lüneburg.

Cultural exchange in Complementary Studies

During their semester abroad, Japanese students also take part in Leuphana's Complementary Studies Program and exchange ideas with their fellow students on topics that connect both cultures – from socio-political issues to environmental and future topics.

The personal exchange not only creates academic connections, but also friendships that last beyond the stay.

A program that connects

Prof. Dr. Markus Reihlen, Vice President of Internationalization says

The exchange with students from Tokyo is a great enrichment for our campus. It sparks curiosity and encourages others to take the step of spending time abroad and to rediscover themselves in a foreign environment.

The extension of the study abroad program will deepen the connection between Lüneburg and Tokyo in the coming years and open up new paths for exchange with Japan.

The EU's Erasmus education program offers great funding opportunities for students of all subjects, especially for stays in other European countries.

Leonie, a fourth-semester cultural studies student, will spend next semester at the University of Porto in Portugal. 

Before I started studying at Leuphana I already knew that there was the possibility of spending a semester abroad. That was important to me because I definitely wanted to keep this option open. I started looking for it more intensively at the end of the second/beginning of the third semester, when various information events were presented by the International Center. I then applied immediately with my friends. I am most looking forward to meeting new people during my semester abroad and also to interact with students from other international universities.

Mareike spent the third semester of her master's degree in sustainability sciences at the University of Almeria in Spain in the winter semester 24/25 and was thrilled with her studies there: 

... with the quality, the lecturers, the class sizes (...) and the content! The courses are held in blocks. I really liked this system because it allowed me to concentrate better on one topic.

Other ways to broaden international perspectives while studying at Leuphana include participating in an Erasmus Blended Intensive Program. For example, a group of 11 students from different degree programs completed a one-week specialized course in Linköping, Sweden, in May 2025. The International Center provides information about opportunities from partner universities, also at short notice.

Participating in international summer universities also offer the opportunity to immerse yourself intensively in an unfamiliar study system and to complement your studies at Leuphana in a meaningful way in just a few weeks. Summer schools usually also include a comprehensive cultural and leisure program. The International Center provides information about opportunites from partner universities on its website.

Internships abroad are another exciting opportunity to expand knowledge acquired during your studies in an international environment. Pia, psychology student in the 7th semester, is working at Merano Hospital in Italy this summer semester. 

My department works in a multidisciplinary team of five psychologists and other occupational therapists, doctors, social pedagogues, and educators. The ward is the largest inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy unit in South Tyrol. The team holds several meetings to exchange information and ensure comprehensive treatment and diagnosis. My job is to conduct and evaluate diagnostic tests. I can work independently and therefore always have a lot to do. I also have the opportunity to participate in group and individual discussions and gain insight into the psychology healthcare system in South Tyrol and Italy in general. I feel very comfortable in my team and my field of work is incredibly exciting and diverse.

Whether you are interested in a short or long stay, the International Center provides information about all types of study-related stays abroad and the respective financing options on its website, at information events, and during open office hours. We will support you with any questions you may have before, during, and after your stay abroad. Follow us on Instagram and subscribe to the International Newsletter to discover your options and make sure you don't miss any dates or offers!

No registration required - just drop by and get to know us! We look forward to seeing you!

In the following days, these students experienced a speed-friending-evening and celebrated a welcome party, which included an international buffet with food from around the world. In addition, the international students were welcomed in the town hall of Lüneburg and participated in a guided city tour through Lüneburg‘s beautiful old town. 
But the program was not limited to the city of Lüneburg, but also enabled the students to go on a trip to Hamburg, or as locals exclaim: To the most beautiful city in the world. After taking the 35 minute train ride  from Lüneburg to Hamburg, the students climbed the old and now green bunker in Hamburg’s famous St. Pauli district on a sunny Friday afternoon. Then, they tried a fish sandwich located next to the harbour and the picture-perfect train station at  Landungsbrücken. The subway trip to the next destination was short and, the students then enjoyed the springlike atmosphere of the Hamburger Dom: During this classic funfair, the students tried roasted candied almonds and watched the residents riding the roller coasters. With a short walk in Hamburg’s busiest shopping street, the Mönckebergstraße, this trip to Hamburg came to an end. 
One week later, the International Center provided a registration tutorial to support the international students in creating their schedules for the summer semester. The international students finished the language and orientation program with lots of new impressions of Lüneburg and had a motivating start into the summer semester 2025.

Are you an international degree-seeking student and interested in learning more about Lüneburg, meeting new friends plus getting support during your start at Leuphana University? Then register for our language and orientation program! The International Center looks forward to receiving your registrations!
 

The tutors ensure that all participants have the chance to actively contribute and provide support as needed. Through mutual exchange, participants can overcome inhibitions, have their questions answered, and share learning tips in a relaxed atmosphere.

Language cafés offer a casual, welcoming space where participants can enjoy refreshments like cookies and drinks while trying out the language naturally without pressure. This makes the language café a meeting place where people can learn together and support each other.

The sessions usually begin with a brief round of introductions, where everyone shares something about themselves. The rest of the session is flexible and tailored to the group’s interests. Language games are often used to encourage dialogue. The tutors are happy to accommodate the wishes and suggestions of the students. For example, the German as a Foreign Language (DaF) language café was once held outdoors during the pre-Christmas season to experience the unique atmosphere of the Christmas market. This allowed participants to use the language in an authentic, real-life scenario – a special highlight!

“In the language cafés, learning comes alive and feels practical – an inspiring opportunity for anyone who enjoys open exchange and discovering new language worlds together,” says Carla Peters, our tutor who moderates the DaF language café.

During the summer semester 2025, our students can participate in the following languages: English, French, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and German as a Foreign Language (DaF) for international students. Information about dates and locations can be found here.

The evening was organized as part of a seminar in the complementary studies program at Leuphana University  and implemented thanks to the Scala Kino. Japanese guest students from Hosei University in Tokyo worked with their German fellow students to develop a thematic approach to the film and presented it in a sold-out theater at the end of the lecture period.

Three Japanese students opened the evening with an introduction to the central themes of the film. They have studied  at Leuphana since the winter semester as part of a special program with Hosei University Tokyo. The students explained how Princess Mononoke addresses the conflict between humans and nature in a complex, nuanced narrative: Ashitaka, a cursed warrior, tries to mediate between San, the princess of the forest, and the humans who exploit the forest. In doing so, the film addresses exploitation, destruction, survival and the hope for harmony, without making a clear distinction between “good” and “evil”. Particular emphasis was placed on how the destruction of habitats fuels hatred and conflict that can only be overcome through understanding and reconciliation.

After the screening, the students invited the audience to take part in a lively discussion, in which the audience actively contributed their own thoughts. They exchanged views on the aesthetic design, feminist aspects and cultural backgrounds such as Shintoism and real historical references in architecture and clothing. The relationship between humans and nature was discussed intensively: The destruction caused by industrialization, the anger of the forest spirits and the desperate struggle of animals and humans reflect real global problems such as climate change and the decline in biodiversity. The spiritual foundations of Shintoism, which regards nature as sacred, were highlighted as well as cultural aspects of Japonism, for example in architecture and myths.

The evening not only provided a fascinating insight into Japanese culture, but also the opportunity to reflect on current global challenges such as how to deal with nature, social conflicts and the search for harmony. It was a nice ending of the lecture period for the Japanese students, who will soon return to Tokyo after their semester abroad in Lüneburg.

The participants were accommodated in shared student flats, which allowed them to experience not only the language but also student life in Germany at first hand and to make contacts with students in Lüneburg.

In addition to lessons, there were exciting excursions, such as to Hamburg, where they explored the new Green Bunker and tried traditional fish sandwiches at the Landungsbrücken. At the North Sea in Cuxhaven, the students admired the vastness of the Wadden Sea.

In addition to culture, sporting activities were also on the agenda: students paddled on the Ilmenau with the university sports team, played Viking chess on the canteen lawn and rounded off the day with a barbecue. 

Many of the students also used the Deutschlandticket to go on their own excursions to various cities and regions in Germany to get to know the country even better. The summer school therefore not only offered intensive language learning, but also a wide range of cultural impressions that will remain unforgettable for the participants.

The new opening times are:

Tuesday: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

The Self-Access Center offers a variety of opportunities for both Leuphana University students and employees to practice and enhance their language skills independently in an enjoyable and relaxed setting.

The tutor team is looking forward to hearing from you or seeing you.

While the tutors were still busy evaluating the winning team, the karaoke stage was opened just down the hall in the AStA “living room”. Under the motto "Songs from home", the spontaneous singers were invited to sing songs that reminded them of home. Throughout the evening, the enthusiastic audience enjoyed listening to songs in Spanish, Russian and Mandarin, among others. Refreshments from the bar and delicious snacks from the international buffet were of course also available.

Even after the announcement of the winning team of the pub quiz and a small prize ceremony for the participants, the singing continued into the night. But there was more to the evening than dueling with country and cultural knowledge and singing karaoke together - above all, it offered the opportunity to get to know people regardless of their language and to make new friends.

Until the next event, our tutors are offering further exciting opportunities to improve your foreign language skills during the lecture period. In the weekly language cafés, you can improve your foreign language communication skills in a relaxed atmosphere with the help of native speakers. We are also happy to support your self-guided foreign language acquisition. You can borrow language books from the Self-Access Centre or check out the book exchange shelf. We are looking forward to the international cooperation with the Unikino Lüneburg in the coming semester and will also offer our popular language placement tests.

We would like to thank all our guests for being part of this unforgettable evening!

"InteSA offers foreign skilled workers tailored, academically sound support to pave their way into the German labor market," explains project manager Maria Schloßstein. Networking events and exchanges with practice partners are designed to ensure that participants are not only professionally but also practically prepared for their professional future in Germany and find employment that matches their qualifications.

"With the InteSA project, we want to make our contribution to bringing foreign skilled workers into the German labor market according to their qualifications," says Leuphana Vice President Prof. Dr. Jörg Philipp Terhechte. "Thanks in particular to the cooperation with the International Center, which has a great deal of expertise in questions relating to arriving in Germany, and thanks to the support of the members of the Institute of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, we can make an attractive offer to the target group."

Further information about the project and upcoming dates can be found at http://www.leuphana.de/intesa

Contact: Jens Gummlich (jens.gummlich@leuphana.de)

The four-day workshops serve as closed forums in which 15 to 20 papers will be presented. Each participant presents their paper, which is then discussed by the group. This unique and collaborative process has helped tens of thousands of scientists improve their research, publish and network over the past five decades.

Further information: ecpr.eu/JointSessions

Background
The European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) is the leading scientific organisation for political scientists in Europe with more than 300 institutional members in almost 50 countries worldwide. Headquartered in the UK, the organisation was founded in 1970 by a group of European universities. Leuphana is a member of this international network.