A project led by faculty members David Neville and Scott Windham allows anyone with Internet access to sharpen his or her German language skills with a special focus on business environments.
By Kaitlin Dunn ‘16
Elon University’s German Studies and Business German programs are growing their reach beyond the walls of campus.
Associate professors David Neville and Scott Windham this summer debuted a massive open online course (MOOC) to teach German business concepts to anyone around the world with Internet access.
When fully completed—a process that will take several years—the course will be a more in-depth version of the curriculum offered to Elon students through the university’s Business German program. “Wege in den Beruf: German for Your Career,” as the course is titled, stemmed from interest in the German Studies program’s YouTube channel, which counts more than 4,000 subscribers from around the globe.
Founded in 2011, Elon’s Business German program supplements German courses and teaches students the ins and outs of doing business with Germans, how to build a solid German resume and basic skills they need to know to live and work in Germany.
“I teach students so that hopefully when I send them out in the world, they’ve gained marketable skills,” Neville said. “I want to teach them the things they need to get a job. It’s important to think and ponder and analyze literature, but it’s also important to function in an office and function on a day-to-day basis in Germany.”
Students in the MOOC watch videos and access vocabulary lists and information sheets. Using these resources, they also take short quizzes and complete activities.
There is currently one course module with 10 separate activities that culminate in students creating a German resume. Windham and Neville are developing materials for the next modules and said they plan to use feedback to develop future module instruction.
Students can enroll in the MOOC at any point and complete exercises at their own pace. German teachers from around North Carolina have expressed interest in taking part. One of Neville’s hopes is that teachers will use the MOOC to supplement their own classroom lessons.
Some of those teachers will join Neville and Windham this fall on Elon University’s campus when the German Consul General visits to help brainstorm ways to better teach German to students at the secondary and post-secondary levels.
“We’re really working hard this year to pump up the program and put it out there because it is so unique and such a great opportunity for students,” Neville said.
Click here for more information on Elon’s Business German program.
Click here to register for “Wege in den Beruf: German for Your Career.”