Jahresbericht 2011 - Institut für Versicherungsbetriebslehre - Leibniz ...

European Scholarly Exchange
Prof. Dr. Gary Hoover
The summer of 2011 marked my third trip to
a German speaking country to teach and do
research. In the summer of 2008, I spent a
summer teaching at the University of Konstanz.
In 2010 I spent half of the summer
teaching at the University of Vienna and the
other half as a research fellow at CESifo in
Munich.
von links: Ines Gräfin v. d. Schulenburg, Gary
Hoover, J.-M. Graf v. d. Schulenburg
My times are always enjoyable as I learn
more about the culture and especially as a
learn more of the language. Although I have
taught exclusively in English during my times
there, being able to communicate in the native
language of the students has helped me
to gain an appreciation for what it is that they
are learning in my classes. The learning
styles of European and American students
are vastly different. It has been my experience
that American students are much more
likely to ask questions or to simply confront
instructors concerning materials. My European
students have been very hesitant to ask
questions whether in class or out. I have tried
to change that mindset and assure students
that I am perfectly willing to engage them,
actively, in the learning process. It has made
for some very interesting exchanges as the
European students have no idea why this
crazy American professor is asking them
questions and waiting for an answer.
The other interesting aspect of my time in
Europe is always the time I spend working on
my own research and then presenting it. In
the summer of 2010, I presented a paper at
CESifo that has led me and a colleague
there, to start working on an extension. The
summer of 2011 spent at the University of
Hannover was no different. I gave papers in
the UK, Austria and southern Germany.
Those presentations have helped me to clarify
my understanding on several lines of current
research and begin to think about other
ideas. My time in Hannover was particularly
rewarding because of the friends at the institute
that I was able to meet and reconnect
with. The group was exceptionally friendly
towards me and made my stay very nice. I
am greatly looking forward to my next trip to
the institute.
Gary Hoover und einige Mitarbeiterinnen des
Instituts
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