Short Internship (Fall 2022): Development of an English audio guide for the museum 'Sprachpanorama' in Laufenburg (AG)

To start with, the student receives an introduction to how the museum developped and how it operates today.

The first part of the project is devoted to the elaboration of a concept for the audio guide. Several questions need to be discussed and decisions will be taken together with the museum operator: What are the aims? What information is relevant for the target audience? Is it aimed at native speakers or also/rather for EFL speakers or both (e.g. decisions about the level of language)? What are the learning goals for visitors? How exactly is the new guiding system best implemented (text length/hardware/software), etc.?

The exhibition is so far kept in German (with some foreign language examples in several languages and writings), but English speaking visitors are equally interested in what is shown in the museum. Thus, the question is how an audio guide could help make the exhibition attractive and intelligible for English speakers.

In this project you get the chance to show and use your above average conceptional skills, your excellent knowledge of the English language, your sense of visitor needs and wants and it gives you the opportunity to invest your time in a 'real world' project that is going to be used in the future.

Slots: 1-2

The student(s) will:

• gain knowledge on how how a museum (NGO - non-profit organisation) works and operates.
• gain knowledge and skills regarding concept work for the offers of a cultural provider
• learn about general conditions and criteria for the elaboration of a concept and how to formulate aims accordingly
• have the chance to test their conceptional skills in an existing real world framework and work on a project that is going to be in use for some time after the internship

Prerequisites:

• Students are expected to have written term papers in English literature or linguistics at BA level or above.
• Students are required to have good (written) academic English language skills (Level C1)
• Students should be interested in variational linguistics
• Students should have good strategic thinking skills
• Students should be able to work independently as well as in a team

Assessment:

• Time Sheet: Students will have to submit a time sheet documenting their workload (c. 90 hours). The time sheet needs to be signed off by the contact person at the partner institution.
• Portfolio with a description or electronic copies of the material or the texts included in the audio guide (original and translation).