How to teach discipline-specific courses in English at a German-speaking institution

Referent*innen

Dr. Ina Alexandra Machura, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/Main

Zielgruppe

Lehrende

Inhalt

Currently, the DAAD lists over 2,000 degree programs with English as the main language of instruction at universities in Germany. However, only a fraction of German universities offer systematic training or support for teaching faculty to navigate English-medium instruction (EMI). Accordingly, this workshop provides an overview of strategies, resources, and AI tools for faculty in higher education teaching discipline-specific courses in English. In the workshop, an EMI toolbox will be applied to various situations, such as course sessions, presentations, oral and written feedback, exams and assessments, as well as office hours and mentoring.

This workshop is offered for teaching faculty from all disciplines, with little to no experience in teaching in English. Teaching experience is required. Proficiency in English at the C1 (CEFR) level is required. The workshop languages will be English and German, as needed.

Objectives:

Workshop participants will

• map their own English language proficiency for teaching in their specific discipline(s),
• transfer elements of their teaching materials into English,
• select scaffolds, templates, and assessment criteria for teaching in English and
• avoid common pitfalls in teaching in English.

Foci:

• Strategies, resources, and AI tools that support EMI teaching
• Aligning EMI teaching practice with research and administrative workload
• Accommodating different levels of English language proficiency among faculty and students