What are the students' opinions?

Student voices

Still uncertain about which undergraduate program to choose? Hear from current and former students as they discuss their own experiences of the SKGM and DaZ/DaF programs.

Christina Koch, SKGM, 4. Semester

From the basics of linguistics to communication strategies in social media and seminars on career orientation — SKGM covers it all. The program is not only comprehensive, but also varied and future-oriented. Personally, I was very interested in our discussions of how culture and language are connected in a globalized world. Furthermore, the course is typically capped at around 25 students, which enabled us to ask questions and engage in detailed discussions during seminars. By now, we all know each other — and of course the lecturers, too — which makes learning in small groups even more interesting! 

As someone interested in media, the SKGM program is especially fascinating because it can be paired perfectly with my second subject, Media Studies. Additionally, through its contemporary, cultural and political references, SKGM is the perfect program for me. Here, I’m not just learning for the next exam; I’m learning for life. 

Published in April 2020

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© Christina Koch
Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Gina Tomaszewski

Gina Tomaszewski, SKGM, 6. Semester

Language and Communication in the Globalized Media Society — that’s a rather obscure and, above all, abstract program title. At first, I couldn’t picture what it would entail. All I knew was that I wanted to study Communication Sciences and, in order to keep my options open, to combine it with another subject. 

In fact, SKGM — I don’t know anybody who refers to the program by its full title — is very broad in its scope, so that in addition to communication models, it also covers topics such as intercultural studies and linguistics. Throughout my studies, SKGM’s wide range of contents enabled me to gain insights into various areas within the realm of communication and it gave me the opportunity to discover and explore new areas of interest. 

Overall, the program is very structured and clearly organized. Unlike many other subjects, SKGM has a fixed course plan and does not have any electives. In addition to introducing specialized areas, the program also entails an internship, as well as excursions to potential employers. Furthermore, the research seminar M8 teaches students how to work methodically. All in all, the program prepares students extensively for their bachelor’s thesis, as well as granting them the opportunity to explore professional interests. 

Given that the department itself is small, and that each course usually only consists of 20-30 students, there is a very familial atmosphere within the program. The lecturers and program coordinators know all the students by name and aren’t just interested in the success of the seminars, but are always willing to hear our questions and concerns. Whenever I had an issue, the faculty helped me solve it quickly and easily. If you value personal contact and close support in addition to academic input, then this is the right place for you! 

Looking back, I am very happy I chose SKGM. The two-subject bachelor enabled me to explore multiple disciplines, which I always found to be a huge benefit while studying for the individual subjects. I particularly liked that SKGM’s interdisciplinary focus allowed me to incorporate sociolinguistic knowledge into  my second subject, Politics and Society. Additionally, during the practical module, I was able to explore different professional perspectives. 

Published in April 2020  

Marie Hangebrauck, SKGM

A program that consists of seven words, and still doesn’t have a discernible focus, can pose serious problems for a recent high-school graduate. So why should you choose such a program and study at the University of Bonn? 

For me, the answer was very simple: shortly before I graduated high school, I started to  look for possible university programs. I already knew that I wanted to study Political Science or a similar subject, and after talking with a guidance counselor, I stumbled across the two-subject bachelor's program at the University of Bonn. Since I have always been fascinated by the media industry and have always enjoyed public speaking, Language and Communication in the Globalized Media Society seemed to be the perfect option. Without doing much further research, I applied, got accepted, and started studying. 

Many people, especially first-semester students, ask me whether the program met my expectations. I would answer this question with an emphatic “no”. In reality, the program was completely different from what I expected. But that isn’t necessarily an issue. Instead, I would simply advise prospective students to carefully read through the module guide to make sure they don’t apply with the wrong ideas in mind. 

But even though my expectations were different, I have to say that the program does what its name promises: though I will say that it covers communicative elements individually, and not necessarily in conjunction with one another. The first three modules cover communication theory and linguistics, which are followed by modules about globalization theory and the media society, and culminating in three modules about professional and internship perspectives, as well as the bachelor’s thesis and students’  independent interest in research topics. As long as you know that the eponymous elements of SKGM appear chronologically and not in parallel to one another, there should be no unwanted surprises. 

Overall, the diversity of contents had the largest positive impact on my study experience. Though there are a number of broad topics, each seminar has its own unique focus and introduces students to new content. While it isn't always easy to see a common thread, I’d call that a pleasant challenge, because it encourages students to look for it themselves. 

An additional advantage that sets SKGM apart from other programs is the support and proximity of the lecturers. In university settings, it is very rare that lecturers know all the students by name and still remember them in following semesters. Even the suggested reading and professional orientation seminars are characterized by the lecturers’ immense interest in seeing their students succeed. Especially because of the atmosphere and the close support all the employees show us students, I am very happy to have chosen SKGM as my program. 

My main recommendation for students considering SKGM is to find subjects you are interested in, even apart from those addressed in seminars: the provided reading list is very good and can teach you a lot of theoretical concepts, but it should only serve as an introduction. If you discover a topic you are passionate about and can integrate it into your studies, then you have done everything right. Does this sound enticing? Then SKGM is the perfect place for you. 

Published in December 2018

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© Marie Hangenbrauck

Has your interest been piqued?

Please visit our academic programs page and read more about course structures, modules, and program profiles. 

Susanne Lauer.jpg
© Susanne Lauer

Susanne Lauer, 2-subject bachelor DaZ/DaF and Italian Studies, 6. Semester 

In the 1980s, I studied English and Pedagogy for a teaching degree at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University in Bonn. After three decades of professional experience, both in Germany and abroad, I decided to fulfill one of my dreams and go back to university. After three years of living in Lombardy (Italy) for work, and over thirty years of experience with the Italian language, I knew that I wanted to study Italian. But I still needed another subject. Until that point, I had never heard of the DaZ/DaF program. So, I researched the program’s contents, and since I taught German and foreign languages to foreigners in the past, I applied. Generally speaking, I think it is very important to choose a subject you are passionate about, instead of simply enrolling in a program for the sake of studying. 

Overall, both the subject, as well as the program, far exceeded my expectations. In the winter semester 2019/2020, the Institute for Language, Media Studies and Musicology opened 40 seats for incoming students. Out of more than 160 applicants, I was one of the lucky ones, and got accepted into the program. When I received my admissions letter, I was filled with pride to be able to study DaZ. Furthermore, I enjoyed the tight-knit community with only 40 students. In the 80s, I sometimes attended lectures for lawyers for fun. Things were very different then, with overcrowded lecture halls and fights getting the necessary books from the ULB. DaZ on the other hand, promised to be a very private and intimate academic program. In my year, no two students were the same. About 50 percent of students came from non-German backgrounds, which made the program very international and exciting. Some of my classmates are from Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Asia, and more. Others want to teach in other European countries, and many of them are already fulfilling their goals through internships and semesters abroad. Furthermore, it wasn’t the case that, like I feared, I would only meet 18-year old students who would think negatively of me because of my age. Instead, I was not even the oldest. Six of the forty students were older students — that was 15% of the course. All in all, these mature personalities brought a wealth of life and professional experience to the group, which greatly enriched the course, as well as our internationality and age diversity. A large proportion of the students were already working on projects, such as at the Chamber of Industry or in language schools. Others had already graduated from bachelor’s  or masters’ programs and now wanted to strengthen their subject-specific and didactic skills. Everyone in our course gets along well, and we have grown into a very efficient and fun team that will remain closely connected even after the program ends. 

The DaZ/DaF program exceeded my expectations because it is an incredibly interesting, practice- and future-oriented subject that offers a wide range of career prospects, for example in the area of language and culture teaching, education and culture management, in publishing houses, in editorial offices, and in businesses. DaZ/DaF teachers are needed everywhere! By now, there are a plethora of schools with DaZ centers that have a shortage of teachers. What’s worse, the number is growing every day. 

Throughout the entire program, DaZ students are supported by competent lecturers. The learning and work environment is excellent. Furthermore, the internship office regularly provided us with interesting internships and job offers. We were basically at the center of the DaZ/DaF world. The course is also extremely practice-oriented. This means that we were able to visit language schools or institutions in the DaZ/DaF realm, such as the “Deutsche Welle” or the “Forum Bildungswelt”. We also observed classes in language schools and completed internships. Foreign DaZ/DaF lecturers are personally invited to seminars to lecture and report on their own experiences. With regard to the six-week, mandatory internship, there are an immense number of opportunities to fulfill the requirement either in Germany or abroad. Overall, the University has a large and impressive portfolio of interesting cooperation partners and connections. 

I can’t think of anything that I didn’t like about the program. On the contrary. The program provides its students with comprehensive skills in the areas of didactics/methodology, variety linguistics, microteaching, multilingualism, literature, culture, and regional studies. Although Covid-19 greatly impacted my grade, and our four semesters of online classes made the program more difficult, it also made us more resilient and more competent. We learned how to master digital tools, and since the pandemic came during a time of technological improvement, our online classes were able to assume a much more polished form than was possible prior to 2020. 

Here are some of my tips: Take the modules in the order in which they are offered, and not, as some students do, in a random order. This has the added benefit of enabling you to stay with the same study group throughout the entire program. Also take into account that some modules are only offered in the summer or winter semesters. Overall, the DaZ/DaF program can be completed in 6 semesters, even if you have a job. But, if you want to succeed, don’t procrastinate and make sure to write two papers each semester. If possible, write one of them during the semester so that you still have a little free time during the lecture-free period. At least that’s how I did it. Good luck! 

Published in August 2022

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