Knowledge and Thirst
For example, it rarely occurs to anyone to order pizza in the lecture hall or eat a hamburger during a seminar. 'First, it is disrespectful to the professor and students who are not eating at the time, and second, it can distract their attention. So it's better to wait for the break and go to the cafeteria,' advises Horst Hanisch, head of business etiquette seminars at the Adolf Knigge Society. The same applies to chewing gum: loudly smacking, blowing bubbles, or answering the professor's questions with gum in your mouth is more than impolite.
Water and soft drinks are another matter. No one is forbidden to quench their thirst during class, but one should keep in mind that many plastic bottles tend to make a specific crackling sound when drinking, and carbonated water can splash out of the bottle when the cap is unscrewed. It is important not to wet the neighbors, notes the Bonn-based expert.
High-Tech: Pros and Cons
Laptops are nothing surprising in German universities. They effectively replace handwritten note-taking. This way, you can not only record the main points but also quickly look up the meanings of unfamiliar terms and additional information online. However, sitting in headphones and watching movies can get you into the professor's bad graces.
However, talking on mobile phones during class is taboo. 'Some professors warn about this before they start and even ask not to use voice recorders to record the lecture. That is each lecturer's right. But if there is no such stipulation, recording lectures on audio or video equipment is not forbidden,' emphasizes Horst Hanisch.
And Susanne Preuschoff, an employee of the International Student Office at the University of Cologne, adds: 'Sometimes I have to remind students that it is not allowed to photograph a classmate who dozed off during a lecture with a smartphone and post the photo on Facebook without their knowledge. This is not just a violation of etiquette, but also of data protection law.'
Smartphones should be used only in exceptional cases, warns Horst Hanisch, even if they are in personalized cases and are the latest model. 'It should be remembered that the sound of an incoming call can put you in an awkward position, so it is better to set your smartphone to vibrate mode,' advises the etiquette seminar leader. He does not rule out that some students may need to be reachable for urgent matters. However, it is better to step out of the room to answer an urgent call.
By the way, the etiquette expert also advises those who are late to attract as little attention as possible. They should enter the room as quietly as possible, forgoing greetings or apologies. It is best to take a free seat at the edge and start working.
"Please, Slow Down!"
If you want to ask a question or make a comment during a lecture, you should raise your hand and wait until the professor gives you the floor. Under no circumstances should you interrupt the speaker or shout out from your seat.
'I speak from my experience and would like to note that a lecturer can only be pleased by a question that shows the student is thinking about the information. It is better to refrain from requests to repeat what was said because the student did not have time to take notes, or from frequent clarifying questions,' recommends Horst Hanisch.
Preference should be given to constructive questions that can enliven the discussion of the topic. Before asking them, one should consider: will the answers be interesting and useful to other listeners? 'With a timely and intelligent question, a student can attract attention and be remembered by the professor, just as with an inappropriate and distracting question,' Susanne Preuschoff emphasizes in turn.
Student Dress Code
There are no regulations regarding the appearance of students in German universities. 'Everyone is free to come to class in whatever they find comfortable,' says the University of Cologne employee. 'But I would not advise wearing sportswear to lectures.'
Etiquette expert Horst Hanisch agrees and gives an example from his own practice: 'A first-year student came to my lectures at a private university wearing a baseball cap until I made a remark. It is customary to remove headwear indoors. The exception may be headscarves for religious reasons.'
The expert believes that students should dress comfortably and according to their own taste. However, classes at university are a kind of work. Horst Hanisch advises adhering to a strict dress code even during student years: such clothing does not distract others and helps oneself get into a business mindset. At the same time, he emphasizes that in hot weather, it is perfectly acceptable to come to class in shorts, T-shirts, and sandals.