The Language Center of the Universities in the Land of Bremen (SZHB) participated in the 34th AKS Conference with several presentations in various formats.

In a plenary presentation, the SZHB’s Academic Director, Claudia Harsch, demonstrated how language competence can be validly described and assessed within the context of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

In the sessions, the SZHB was active both in terms of content and organization: Claudia Harsch led a session on language assessment, in which our colleague Ann Schult discussed the tension between AI and performance assessment (“AI vs. Assessment”) in her presentation. In another session, colleagues Violetta Kozik-Rafii and Christine Rodewald reported on creating creative freedom in language instruction during the SZHB summer courses.

The SZHB also contributed to the workshop program: Astrid Buschmann-Göbels, Anika Müller-Karabil, and Kate Stollmann worked with participants in their workshop to develop approaches for thoughtfully handling AI-generated feedback in language instruction. In another workshop, Astrid Buschmann-Göbels and Anika Müller-Karabil, together with colleagues from other institutions (Christian Hagen, Maria Giovanna Tassinari) and the participants, discussed how self-study centers can be designed as dynamic learning spaces to promote autonomy and the development of competencies.

More information can be found in the conference program.