Bustling activity and international flair filled the University of Paderborn last Wednesday. Almost 300 participants exchanged views on current issues and topics in foreign language teaching in English, French and Spanish at the Paderborn Foreign Language Day. They took advantage of the wide range of lectures, workshops and a book and media exhibition by well-known publishers in the foyer of Paderborn University.
"The Paderborn Foreign Language Day is particularly close to the hearts of the Paderborn University and the PLAZ Professional School, as it illustrates the good cooperation between the university and the region every year," said Dr Annegret Hilligus, Managing Director of the PLAZ Professional School, welcoming the participants and underlining the importance of the event, which has been held at UPB since 2014. The outstanding value of the Paderborn Foreign Language Day was emphasised by Dr Angelika Schlimmer, chair of the North Rhine-Westphalia section of the English and Multilingualism Association (E&M NRW), in her welcoming address: "Teachers are actively involved in shaping the processes of social change determined by topics such as digitalisation and heterogeneity. For this, further education and training are key success factors, which will find an important forum at the Paderborn Foreign Language Day," she said, looking ahead to the day.
Artificial intelligence, efficient correction and feedback culture
The participants took the opportunity to exchange ideas on a wide range of foreign language teaching topics. The use of artificial intelligence in the training of foreign language teachers was on the agenda as well as efficient correction of essays or feedback culture in Spanish lessons. "We got new impulses in the workshops and lectures that can be used in the classroom and made many new contacts," said Isla Alahmed and Jasmin Campos Rivera, who are trainee teachers at vocational colleges in Bielefeld, enthusiastically about the event. In addition to the professional discussion, the focus was on personal exchange between the participants. An exhibition of current teaching materials in the foyer also provided a good opportunity for this.
The Paderborn Foreign Language Day takes place annually at Paderborn University. The organisers are the E&M NRW Association, the German Association of Spanish Teachers (DSV) NRW, the Institutes of English and American Studies and Romance Studies of the Faculty of Cultural Studies as well as the PLAZ Professional School of Paderborn University.
This text has been translated automatically.
