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Introduction to European Cultures and Intercultural Communication
This block seminar is an introductory course for incoming international exchange students (Erasmus and other) and also welcoming regular students of Saarland University. Besides the transmission of interdisciplinary knowledge, the course encourages exchange about living and studying in Europe from various perspectives. It gives a broad overview about various aspects of European culture(s) as well as about intercultural theories and multilingualism in Europe. Interaction and group work among the participating students is a vital part of the course.
Registration: Please use our online form to apply for the class.
Schedule and provisional course plan (attendance is compulsory for ALL dates) :
Thursday, 2.10.2025, 2 - 4 p.m.*
Monday, 6.10.2025, 9:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, 7.10.2025, 9:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Wednesday,8.10.2025, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, 9.10.2025, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Friday, 10.10.2025, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
2nd October:
- Introductory session, *afterwards autonomous task during the visit of the festivities for the anniversary of the unification of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic
6th to 10th October:
- What is "Europe"? And how did it happen? Introduction to the multiple dimensions of an idea and its reality(es)
- Living and studying in Europe: Introduction to German and European Academic Cultures
- European Culture(s): Diversity as virtue and defying issue
- Interculturality and intercultural communication throughout Europe
- Discovering linguistic and cultural diversity – worldwide, in Europe and the Greater Region
- Raising awareness about the importance of multilingualism in Europe
- Reflection on one’s own plurilingulism in the European context
- Multilingualism in the EU – opportunities and challenges
- Multilingualism in education and the workplace in Europe