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Join our international interdisciplinary online course on language learning tools!

Dr. phil. Tobias Thelen
Senior lecturer
E-Mail: tobias.thelen@uni-osnabrueck.de
LinkedIn: Tobias Thelen
Phone: +49 541 969-6502
Room 50/302, 42/107, 94/E04
Institute of Cognitive Science,Wachsbleiche 27,49090 Osnabrück,Germany

Dr. Ella Dovhaniuk
Research Assistant
E-Mail: ella.dovhaniuk@uni-osnabrueck.de
virtUOS
Heger-Tor-Wall 12, 49074 Osnabrück, Germany

Online course "Peer Development of Language Learning Tools"

Osnabrück University, September - December 2022, online

Course description

We invite Foreign Languages Department students and early stage researchers enrolled at Ukrainian Universities to apply to our course called ‘Peer Development of Language Training Tools’ we organise in winter term 2022-2023 on the topic of AI Technologies for Education in a collaboration between German and Ukrainian institutions:

• Osnabrück University, Cognitive Science
• V.N. Karazin National University Charkiv
• T.H. Shevchenko National University ‘Chernihiv Colehium’
• Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University).

Additionally, Osnabrück students of our international Cognitive Science program will join the course (these students can simply register for the course as usual and don't need to send an application) to make it a truly interdisciplinary experience. The course language is English.

This project will have a unique format where participants will be intensively working on mastering their skills in developing  both software and teaching materials for learning applications: we plan to dedicate most of the course to hands-on sessions while providing an overview of the theoretical foundations underlying the practical work.

The course will address various aspects of AI and Teaching Language Methodology with a particular focus on:

• Second language acquisition
• Teaching strategies. Best practices in teaching Academic English.
Teaching vocabulary: active, passive, potential vocabulary. The process of assimilation of lexical material. Teaching grammar. Teaching reading.
• Intelligent Tutoring Systems
• Gamification and motivating user experience

Each of these topics will be covered in lectures and practical sessions.

Expected candidates and benefits

We welcome applications from Foreign Languages Department students (English as a Foreign Language and/or Translation studies)  and early stage researchers that have already some knowledge in at least one of the topics above, but want to broaden their perspective and have a chance to apply their skills on real problems. The benefits for the participants are:

• learn or improve knowledge in several areas of Foreign Language teaching methodology
• build a network with other talented young researchers from Germany
• create a working online tool that will help other students improving their language skills
• have the opportunity to further develop collaboration with international students 


How to apply

We will limit the number of participants to 75 people. Therefore, in case we receive too many applications, we will select attendees based on their motivation letter and prerequisites for participation. Please make sure that you are a student of Foreign Languages Department at a Ukrainian university (English as a Foreign Language and/or Translation studies). This can be proved by providing a copy of your student card or record book, using university domain in emailing, etc).

Your motivation letter (1-2 pages) has to answer these questions:


1. Do you have th technical prerequisites for participation in the course? (this includes reliable internet connection as the participation in video conferences will be needed, available laptop, etc)
2. Do you have enough time for the course? You are expected to devote a workload of approximately 180 hours between September and December to the course. This includes weekly online lectures and meetings on Friday afternoon, various group meetings (to be arranged by mixed international student groups) and asynchronous studying and working on your group's products.
3. How can you use this class for your studies? (Successful participation leads to 6 ECTS-credits (1 credit = 30 hours workload), can these credits be recognized and transfered for your studies?)
4. Will you most likely be able to complete the course successfully? (List relevant current grades and achievements and tell us how this topic is connected to your interests, etc)

5. Do you have special interest or experience with international participation or interdisciplinary studies? (any similar former projects, participation in conferences or workshops, etc)  

6. Do you have any experience in developing learning materials and/or online tools? 
7. Which possibly relevant skills for the course do you bring and what do you hope to learn or achieve interacting with other participants?
8. If you apply for an online scholarship (see below): How will it help you participating successfully?

This course is part of a DAAD-funded project from the program „Ukraine digital: Ensuring academic success in times of crises“ that aims at giving Ukrainian students the prospect of completing their studies despite the limitations caused by the war. Involving Ukrainian scientists/researchers, German higher education institutions offer a virtual platform for Ukrainian refugee students so they can continue and complete their current studies in Ukraine virtually.

We are able to grant online scholarships in the amount of 200 Euros /month for Ukrainian students and doctoral candidates if this is necessary for being able to fully concentrate on the course and finish it successfully. If you want to apply for such an online scholarship, please give reasons why you need this support for successful participation.Applicants from the three corporating Ukrainian universities will be preferred for granting the scholarships.

Application procedure

Dates 
Opening of application for participation:  28 July 2022
End of application: 10 August 2022
Notification of acceptance: 15 August 2022

Class dates: mid-September to mid-December 2022


In addition to your motivation letter, please add the following information:

• Full name and e-mail address (use your university e-mail address to send the e-mail if possible but also provide an alternative address)
• Proof of being a student of Foreign Languages Department at a Ukrainian university (English as a Foreign Language and/or Translation studies). This can be proved by providing a copy of your student card or record book, using university domain in emailing, etc)

If you want to apply for an oline scholarship, we additionally need:

• Your current postal address (grant notification will be sent there via paper mail)
• Your Tax ID number
• Your date of birth
• Information about your bank account: Name of bank, IBAN and BIC

Send your application to ella.dovhaniuk@uni-osnabrueck.de

 via e-mail by 10 August 2022 the latest.