Credit BTZ
The German Department offers a number of on-campus opportunities to promote the study and interest in German language and culture. Whether students are seeking to be proficient in the German language, or simply want to learn more about the traditions and background of the culture, Dickinson College has plenty of ways to become involved!
German Club
The German Club was founded to foster an appreciation of the language and culture of German-speaking countries amongst interested students. Activities sponsored by the club include film showings, field trips, and events. Knowledge of German is not required for membership.
German Language Table
The German Department holds a German speaking only Language Table each week. Students bring their dinner to a designated HUB side room and enjoy the opportunity to use their language skills with fellow students, faculty, and guests.
Multilingual Writing Center
The Multilingual Writing Center supports the mission of the foreign language departments to develop students' critical thinking skills and fluency in writing. The MWC assists writers of all levels and abilities who are working on essays written in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish. Trained tutors and Overseas Assistants will work one-on-one with writers on a variety of concerns, including developing ideas; understanding genres; organizing material; crafting sentences; analyzing and correcting patterns of error; and building vocabulary.
The Multilingual Writing Center is located on the main level of Waidner-Spahr Library. Hours of operation are: Sunday 12:30pm - 10:30pm and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 2:30pm - 10:30pm. MWC is closed on Friday and Saturday. More information about scheduling appointments can be found here.
Peer Tutoring
Dickinson College offers a variety of supports for students who would benefit from working with peer tutors to better understand and apply what they are learning in class. In addition to regular on-demand tutoring offered through the Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Center and Multilingual Writing Center, students will be able to access ongoing peer coaching and tutoring through the new PACT (Peer Academic Coaching and Tutoring) Program.
Students in PACT will be paired with a peer tutor for sustained support in QR, world languages, writing, or general academic coaching. Faculty may refer a student to PACT via Navigate or students may self-identify through the “Raise Hand” function on Navigate. All students will initially meet with professional staff in the Quantitative Reasoning Center or Multilingual Writing Center who will help them identify any appropriate study resources for that course that they have not used yet, and collaborate with the student to set up a tutoring plan, which may include up to two hours of tutoring per week based on faculty and/or student input. Some tutoring may be offered in a group setting for up to four students in the same course.
Students who have a PACT plan are expected to attend all scheduled tutoring sessions with their assigned tutor or provide adequate notice (24 hours) if they need to cancel or reschedule. Professional staff will check in periodically with the student and tutor to ensure that the PACT plan is supporting the student’s learning in their class and, as needed adjust the tutoring plan accordingly, in conversation with the student, tutor and professor.
While all students can benefit from ongoing academic support, PACT is designed for students seeking course-specific support not met by existing resources in the QRC or MWC. PACT is designed to complement, not replace, support for content learning offered through departments.
PACT tutors are all hired on the recommendation of Dickinson faculty and trained by the Norman M. Eberly Multilingual Writing Center and Quantitative Reasoning Center, including specific training in peer academic coaching.
If you would like additional information or have questions about PACT, please feel free to contact Professor Dana Somers (somersd@dickinson.edu) or John Katunich (katunicj@dickinson.edu).