IAP 2017 Activities by Category - Writing and Communications Skills

Jan/17

Tue

01:30PM-03:00PM

4-270

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

Wondering how to mount a successful job search in this highly competitive academic job market? This workshop presented by Bob Dolan will discuss important elements of preparing a strong application package which includes a CV, Cover Letter, Research Statement, Teaching Statement, and Diversity Statement.  This program is targeted towards all PhD students and Postdocs who may prepare for the faculty search now and in the future.  In addition, actual academic hiring committee interview questions from 20 US and international universities will be provided.

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Marilyn Levine, Lecturer II, WCC and CMS/W & Nadia Colburn, PhD

Jan/17

Tue

01:00PM-03:00PM

E17-136

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/16
Limited to 20 participants
Prereq: none

In a world so often out of alignment, we'll take some time to reconnect with ourselves and with our stories in this mindful writing workshop. We'll reconnect the mind with the body and breath and come back into center; we'll write through some of the places we feel stuck and explore some of the places that give us joy. There will be time for discussion and practice with different writing techniques. Participants will leave with new practices, prompts and techniques to take home so that they feel more empowered to write with authenticity.

Sponsor(s): Writing and Communication Center
Contact: Nadia Colburn, nadiacolburn@gmail.com

GECD-IAP

Jan/10

Tue

01:30PM-03:00PM

4-270

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

While your technical skills will get you the interview, it is your behavioral attributes that will get you the job.  This session facilitated by Bob Dolan will discuss preparation and strategies for a successful interview.  In addition, sample behavioral interview questions will be provided along with tips on how to answer those tough questions. 

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Holly Sweet, PhD, licensed psychologist

Jan/31

Tue

02:00PM-03:30PM

TBD

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/27
Limited to 20 participants

In this workshop, we will explore different styles of communication with
others, including passive, passive-aggressive, assertive and aggressive
behaviors. Through role playing, personal inventories, and group
discussion, we will examine what gets in our way of being assertive and
what helps us be more assertive in both personal and professional relationships.

Limited to 25 participants. Sign up link: http://goo.gl/forms/tUf9i6jg9t.
There will be a waiting list.

Priority will be given to women undergraduate in Course 6.    

Sponsor(s): Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Contact: Sheena Nie, HKN Outreach, xnie@mit.edu

Suzanne Lane, Director, Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication

Jan/26

Thu

01:00PM-03:00PM

E17-136

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/26
Limited to 30 participants

Whenever we do research—whether in the library, the lab, or the field, or just reading the assigned texts for a class—we hope to develop new ideas: to form and test hypotheses, develop new and better methods, produce richer evidence, and refine existing theories.  Our research is often collaborative, and always builds on work by previous researchers and writers.  But how do we develop new ideas from these sources?  How do we document where others’ ideas contribute to our thinking, and where our ideas build on theories and evidence that’s already published?  And why do the practices of incorporating and citing sources vary so much from one discipline or journal to another?  This workshop will help you learn how to write with sources—published, online, or live—in ways that will help both you and your readers understand how your ideas build on, and move beyond, those of your sources.

Space is limited to 30.

For more information, and to reserve a space, please contact the Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication program (WRAP)

 

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies/Writing
Contact: WRAP, E18-228a, 617-253-3039, wrap@mit.edu

Feb/02

Thu

06:00PM-07:00PM

E19-202

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

Come for the pizza, stay for the career advice. At this panel, you will learn about career opportunities at the intersection of technology and law and the various career paths that panelists have taken to get from their STEM backgrounds into law. Panelists include patent lawyers, MIT alum, and other professionals who use their STEM expertise in the field of law. 

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge.

Open to students, alumni and postdocs.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Beverly Kahn, Risa Kahn, Alan Wagner, Course 6 alum

Jan/18

Wed

05:00PM-07:30PM

34-401A

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Our presentation will share with you what goes on in the hiring process that is below the radar screen.

Join recruiting industry veterans in an interactive discussion led by Beverly Kahn Founder/President of  New Dimensions in Technology (NDT), a boutique Boston-area recruiting firm, that has worked successfully to place many MIT students and alums over  30 years and Risa Kahn, Recruiting Manager, New Dimensions in Technology (NDT) who offers 15+ years of coaching "early career" tech professionals. NDT has successfully partnered with generations of MIT students and alums to build and grow their careers!

 All are welcome.

Sponsor(s): Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Contact: Anne Hunter, 38-476, 617 253-4654, ANNEH@MIT.EDU

Ruth Levitsky

Jan/12

Thu

12:00PM-01:30PM

E51-149

Enrollment: sign-up to be coached-no sign up required for others
Sign-up by 01/12
Limited to 10 participants

Prepare a short 3 minute talk on any topic (yourself, your hobbies, your research, a toast) - or be assigned an impromptu topic- and receive feedback on your speaking skills: organization, vocal variety and body language. 

Information will also be available for those interested in the ITC club forming on campus (http://powertalkinternational.com)

Send an email to levitsky@mit.edu to sign up for coaching. Auditors are welcome!

January 12th: 12-1:30

Contact: Ruth Levitsky, 857-266-3400, LEVITSKY@MIT.EDU

Suzanne Lane, Director, Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication

Jan/25

Wed

01:00PM-03:00PM

E17-136

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/24
Limited to 30 participants

This workshop, developed by the Writing, Rhetoric, and Communication Program (WRAP), will provide vivid lessons and hands-on practice in communicating scientific research to a general audience. An in-depth explanation of strategies for making complex information accessible and memorable, without compromising accuracy, will be followed by exercises for developing clear and vivid explanations of data and concepts.  Space is limited to 30. 

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies/Writing
Contact: WRAP, E18-228a, 617-253-3039, wrap@mit.edu

Kitty Huang, Communication Trainer

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/11
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

Conflicts can occur for a number of reasons at work and at home.  Sometimes, people in conflict with each other even have the same goals, yet finding a solution that satisfies both parties seems to be a difficult task. These two interactive workshops demonstrate how the disagreement in a conflict offers an opportunity for us to listen to our own needs and the needs of others.

The first interactive workshop, on Jan. 12th, provides several check points to review our conflicts to identify the real issues, verify the assumptions, determine the best time for discussion, and obtain the mindset required to approach the problems. The second workshop, on Jan. 19th, offers techniques on listening to the needs of both sides, emotional control, and being assertive without being aggressive. Bring your conflicts. Both workshops include case study opportunities. You are welcome to attend one or both independent sessions.

- Jan/12 Thu 6:30pm to 8:00pm (Location: E51-151)

- Jan/19 Thu 6:30pm to 8:00pm (Location: E51-151)

Contact: Kitty Huang, Heart to Heart Talk, at h2htalk@gmail.com to register.

Sponsor(s): Toastmasters@MIT
Contact: Kitty Huang, h2htalk@gmail.com

Jan/12

Thu

01:30PM-03:00PM

4-270

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

If you are considering exploring Industry positions, you will need to have a resume that effectively positions you for this path.  This workshop presented by Bob Dolan will discuss the process of converting your 4-6 page CV into a 2-page resume for industry, and creating a document that effectively targets the Hiring Manager.  Can your resume survive a 15 second scan and still get into the YES pile? Discussions will surround the strategies of effective messaging and how to be "on-point" with your written communication.  Actual MIT PhD/Postdoc resumes will be provided as handouts. 

Pre-registration is requested on Careerbridge.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Helen Bailey, Application Developer/Analyst

Feb/02

Thu

11:00AM-12:30PM

3-270

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required

This introductory session will provide an overview of concepts and tools for visualizing data. Attendees will be introduced to web-based, open-source tools that provide beginner and intermediate users with richer functionality than traditional desktop spreadsheet and graphics software. Topics will include use cases and tool selection, data processing workflows, and principles for creating effective visualizations.

Register here: http://libcal.mit.edu/event/3000664

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Helen Bailey, E25-131, 617 324-4493, HBAILEY@MIT.EDU

Ruth Levitsky

Feb/02

Thu

12:30PM-01:30PM

4-237

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Move over spelling bee. Just because you can spell a word doesn’t mean you know how to use it. From the editors of The American Heritage Dictionary comes the Define-a-Thon, a competitive word challenge.

Come see the best definers at MIT. Open to all in the MIT community: students, staff, faculty.

To compete, sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/6ky6AlOAoZLtFBht1

Audience members who are not competing, just drop in.  No need to sign up.  

Our word caller is Toastmaster Mary Agnes Mullowney.

 

 

 

Contact: Ruth Levitsky, E52-415, 617 253-3399, LEVITSKY@MIT.EDU

Stacey Snyder, E-Learning Librarian

Feb/02

Thu

02:00PM-03:00PM

14N-132

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 02/02

PubPub creator and MIT Media Lab PhD student, Travis Rich, will demonstrate this open-access platform for writing digitally native publications that are rich and highly collaborative. We will also discuss wider trends and opportunities in publishing today. This event is sponsored by the MIT Libraries' Personal Content Management team.

Please register ahead of time.

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Stacey Snyder, 10-500, 617 324-6024, SSNYDER@MIT.EDU

Jan/12

Thu

01:30PM-03:00PM

4-270

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

Do you present your work to your lab, at conferences, or to a faculty or industry hiring committee?  If so, this workshop presented by Bob Dolan is designed to provide you with tips and strategies for delivering an effective presentation.  The more prepared you are, the more confident you will be.  Discussions will include room set-up, proper dress, room management, and actual professional delivery to your audience.

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Barbara Smith

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/09
Limited to 50 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

Have you always wondered why some people seem at ease in public speaking? Have others told you to speak up because you speak too softly, or perhaps you are self-conscious because of your foreign accent? Well, this course is for you! You will learn the proper techniques for projecting your voice and delivering that talk.

Students must sign up by 1/9/17 and must attend all 4 classes. Please send an email to bsmith@mit.edu to sign up. Enrollment limited to 50. 

Sponsor(s): Mechanical Engineering
Contact: Barbara Smith, 5-320, 617-253-0137, bsmith@mit.edu

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Effective Speaking

Jan/10	Tue	05:00PM-07:00PM	3-333
Jan/12	Thu	05:00PM-07:00PM	3-333
Jan/17	Tue	05:00PM-07:00PM	3-333
Jan/19	Thu	05:00PM-07:00PM	3-333

Barbara Smith

Feb/01

Wed

02:00PM-03:30PM

E19-202

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

You will have the opportunity to learn more about the skills you have gained in your PhD and/or postdoc. This session will feature activities to help you identify skills. It will also discuss research that has been done to identify skills you have learned that employers desire in various industries.

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Patrick Henry Winston, Ford Professor of Engineering/MacVicar Fellow

Feb/03

Fri

11:00AM-12:00PM

10-250

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Professor Winston offers heuristic rules that enable you to do winning job talks
and inspiring conferences presentations, and make your listeners consider your performance impressive.

Sponsor(s): Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Contact: Patrick Henry Winston, phw@mit.edu

Jan/26

Thu

01:30PM-03:00PM

E19-202

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

Many students are overwhelmed when attempting to navigate a career fair with many employers. This workshop will provide tips and strategies on how be effective during the upcoming Career Fairs. You will learn what to do in preparation for the fair, what to do at the fair, and what to do after the fair. The fair is an excellent opportunity to connect with employers -- create a strategy that will help you in this competitive employment environment!

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge.

Open to students, alumni and postdocs.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Steven Strang

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: none

 The professional communication experts at the WCC@MIT (the Writing and Communication Center) will continue to offer free consultations and advice about oral presentations, slide design, poster presentations, English as Second Language, and about any writing issue, including but not limited to writing strategically, finding a topic, generating ideas, turning data into a story, understanding a particular genre, overcoming writer's block, improving grammar, crafting effective sentences and paragraphs, organizing ideas, using evidence, and analyzing audiences. We can help with all of the following: all types of technical writing; grant proposals; theses in all departments; job, graduate and med school application essays and personal statments; research and teaching statements; resumes and CVs; conference talks; articles for publication; book proposals and chapters; papers for any course; and creative writing. We also offer help on pronunciation and oral communication. The WCC is open throughout IAP. You must be registered with our online scheduler. Go to https://mit.mywconline.com to register and to schedule appointments. Open to MIT undergraduate students, graduate students, post-docs, faculty, staff, spouses and partners, visiting scientists and scholars.The WCC@MIT is now located in building E18-233 at 50 Ames Street.

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies/Writing, Writing and Communication Center
Contact: Steven Strang, E18-233 B, 617 253-4459, SMSTRANG@MIT.EDU

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Jan/09	Mon	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/10	Tue	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/11	Wed	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/12	Thu	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/13	Fri	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/17	Tue	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/18	Wed	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/19	Thu	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/20	Fri	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/23	Mon	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/24	Tue	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/24	Tue	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/25	Wed	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/26	Thu	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233
Jan/27	Fri	10:00AM-04:00PM	E18-233

Sign up online for individual consultations with professional communication experts at mit.mywconline.com

Steven Strang

Jan/27

Fri

01:00PM-02:00PM

E19-202

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

Informational interviewing is an effective, low-pressure form of networking, and a valuable tool for both career exploration and job search. Come learn the basics of informational interviewing, including who to speak with, how to set one up, potential questions to ask, and tips on how to make the most of informational interviews.  

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Christine Malinowski, Research Data Librarian

Jan/12

Thu

03:00PM-04:00PM

14N-132 (DIRC)

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/11
Limited to 25 participants

​EndNote is a software package designed to help you organize citations and create bibliographies. In this workshop we'll cover how to search for citations in databases (such as PubMed and Web of Science) and library catalogs (such as Barton), import and organize them in EndNote, and build your bibliographies and inline citations in Word.

Register for this workshop at: http://libcal.mit.edu/event/2980712 

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Christine Malinowski, E53-100, 617 324-6394, CMALIN@MIT.EDU

Christine Malinowski, Research Data Librarian

Jan/26

Thu

04:00PM-05:00PM

14N-132 (DIRC)

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/26
Limited to 25 participants

Are you using LaTeX to create your documents? Are you looking for more guidance on integrating Zotero or Mendeley into your workflow? Do you keep running into issues with your citations or your .bib files? If you have a working knowledge of LaTeX and are looking to optimize how you manage citations and integrate your favorite citation management tools like Zotero, Mendeley or JabRef, this is the workshop for you!

Note, this is not an introduction to LaTeX or BibTeX – a working knowledge of LaTeX is assumed. Bring your laptop with your LaTeX setup to follow along. 

Register for this session at: http://libcal.mit.edu/event/2980742

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Christine Malinowski, E53-100, 617 324-6394, CMALIN@MIT.EDU

CPT Emily Hannenberg, Asst Professor of Military Science

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/25
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: None

The MIT Department of Military Science (Army ROTC) hosts a leadership development workshop in order to expose aspiring student leaders to leadership theory, techniques, experiences, and skills. Army ROTC specializes in leadership development, preparing students to become successful Army Officers who must be confident, decisive leaders in the midst of chaos and ambiguity. Join us for this leadership development seminar where our subject matter experts expose you to leadership concepts and theories, arm you with effective leadership skills and tools, and immerse you in hands on small group leadership and problem solving. February 1st – February 3rd, 8am – 1pm, meets at W59-192. Target workshop size is 16 students.

Sponsor(s): Military Science/Army ROTC
Contact: CPT Emily Hannenberg, W59-192, 617-253-4471, hannenbe@mit.edu

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Leader Development Workshop Day 1

Feb/01

Wed

08:00AM-01:00PM

W59-192, Wear athletic attire

Day 1: Introductions, Ice Breaker, Leadership Concepts, Goal Setting

CPT Emily Hannenberg - Asst Professor of Military Science

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Leader Development Workshop Day 2

Feb/02

Thu

08:00AM-01:00PM

W59-192, Wear athletic attire

Day 2: Concrete learning activity, Bases of Power, Influencing Tactics, Supportive Communication

CPT Emily Hannenberg - Asst Professor of Military Science

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Leader Development Workshop Day 3

Feb/03

Fri

08:00AM-01:00PM

W59-192, Wear athletic attire

Day 3: Capstone, Lessons Learned from Capstone + Workshop

CPT Emily Hannenberg - Asst Professor of Military Science

Jan/18

Wed

03:00PM-04:00PM

E19-202, Bring your laptop.

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

Bring your laptop to explore the many ways LinkedIn can help you in your career exploration and job or internship search. We will begin with an overview of LinkedIn and some of the key areas of a complete LinkedIn profile. We’ll also cover some ways LinkedIn can be used as job search tool. This will be followed by individual work on your profile, with Career Services staff available to answer your questions.

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Ann Marie Willer, Preservation Librarian

Feb/02

Thu

03:00PM-04:30PM

14N-132

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 02/02
Limited to 10 participants
Prereq: ability to handle needle & thread

Exercise your mind and your hands by learning to assemble and sew your own journal, then get in touch with your heart through a journaling exercise.

Participants will stitch a colorful pamphlet booklet to use as a blank book for journaling. Information will be shared about different writing techniques, and time will be set aside for silent journaling.

All materials will be provided, but you can bring your favorite pen or pencil if you like.

REGISTER HERE: http://176.v1.libcal.com/event.php?id=1180155

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Ann Marie Willer, 14-0513, 617 253-5692, WILLER@MIT.EDU

Jan/19

Thu

02:00PM-04:00PM

10-250

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

Strong oral presentation skills are a key to success for engineers, scientists, and other professionals, yet many speakers are at a loss to tackle the task. Systematic as they otherwise can be in their work, they go at it intuitively, sometimes haphazardly, with much good will but seldom good results. Based on Dr Doumont’s book Trees, maps, and theorems, about “effective communication for rational minds” this lecture proposes a systematic way to prepare and deliver presentations.  Among others, it covers structure, slides, and delivery, as well as stage fright.  Dr. Doumont holds an engineering degree from the Louvain School of Engineering and a PhD in applied physics from Stanford. He specializes in professional speaking, writing, and graphing, and incorporates a unique engineering perspective.  More at www.principiae.be.

 Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge. 

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Jan/30

Mon

02:00PM-04:00PM

E19-202

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

We all hold multiple identities and they interact in our lives in different ways. At home, in the classroom, at the office, the words we use to describe ourselves have power and can change the way we see ourselves in these environments. What words have you used to describe your identity? How have others described you? How do our perceptions of ourselves impact the roles we play in our daily lives and the roles we hope to play in our professional careers? This interactive workshop will explore these questions and give you the opportunity to refine your sense of self as you step into your daily life and your career.

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge.

Open to students, alumni and postdocs.

 

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Meghan Kenney, Assistant Dean, Leslie Bottari, Staff Associate

Jan/31	Tue	12:00PM-01:00PM	4-153
Feb/02	Thu	04:00PM-05:00PM	4-153

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Repeating event, participants welcome at any session
Prereq: freshmen, sophomores and juniors welcome

The Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming offers two fantastic leadership opportunities for undergraduates—orientation leader (OL) and associate advisor (AA). Both positions play a key role in helping first year students make a successful transition to MIT. Hear from students in these positions speak about their roles and responsibilities, the opportunities to work with faculty and staff, and the leadership skills they gained that will help them in the future. UAAP representatives will be available to give an overview of the application process and important dates. Light refreshments will be served. Bring any and all questions! 

Sponsor(s): Office of Undergrad. Advising/Academic Programming
Contact: Meghan Kenney, 7-103, 617 253-9764, MKENNEY@MIT.EDU

Brindha Muniappan, Director of Programs, MIT Museum, Jennifer Novotney, Public Programs Coordinator, MIT Museum

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 02/02
Attendance: 30-min slot on Friday, Feb. 3 and finals on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Do you have a silver tongue or the gift of the gab? Are you the one always picked out to share out the small group’s discussion? Do you never back down from a dinner discussion? Then show your stuff at the MIT Can Talk oratory competition!

Participants will give a 5-minute speech on the topic “How Change Happens”. Material must be original but can include excerpts from elsewhere, including poems, stories, songs, etc. as long as sources are properly attributed. A panel of judges will determine who wins the top prizes! The contest is open to everyone in the MIT community; competitors must attend at least one of the MIT Museum's IAP 2017 science communication workshops in order to participate in the preliminaries on Friday, February 3 from 5-8pm. The final competition will be from 1-3pm on Saturday, February 4 in the MIT Museum.

**Competition registration and details will be sent by email to science communication workshop participants. Please contact Jennifer Novotney (novotney@mit.edu) with questions.

Sponsor(s): MIT Museum
Contact: Jennifer Novotney, x4-7313, novotney@mit.edu

MIT Language Conversation Team

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

Get a taste of a new language - have you always wanted to try to learn Russian, Hebrew, French or Italian hand gestures? Now is your chance!

The MIT Language Conversation Exchange is committed to building a community that helps language enthusiasts meet native speakers and exchange languages and cultures. All MIT community members welcome. Visit us at lce.scripts.mit.edu.

Contact: MIT Language Conversation Team, E23-441, 617-253-1614, lce-coordinator@mit.edu

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Intro to Italian Hand Gestures

Jan/09

Mon

03:00PM-04:00PM

8-219

Learn the most important aspect of communicating in Italian - using your hands! You'll learn the most useful, unique and fun ways to express yourself without ever speaking a word.

Sylvie Scholvin

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Old and New in Hebrew

Jan/17

Tue

03:00PM-04:00PM

8-219

Hear how this biblical language came back to life and learn some words, old and new, in Hebrew.

Timna Churges

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From Russia with Love

Jan/23

Mon

03:00PM-04:00PM

8-219

Learn how Russian is more related to other European languages than you would think.

Sylvie Scholvin

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Excuse My French

Jan/30

Mon

03:00PM-04:00PM

8-219

Perfect your pronunciation and pick up a few more key words in French.

Charly Jouve

MIT Language Conversation Exchange team

Jan/11	Wed	01:00PM-02:00PM	14N-417
Jan/18	Wed	01:00PM-02:00PM	16-644
Jan/25	Wed	01:00PM-02:00PM	16-644
Feb/01	Wed	01:00PM-02:00PM	16-644

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Repeating event, participants welcome at any session
Prereq: none

Weekly lunch mixer for language enthusiasts to meet native speakers and exchange about language and culture! All MIT community members welcome. Native speakers of the following language will be present: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Hebrew, Punjabi.

Please let us know if you are coming at http://bit.ly/2hR59qV

Sponsored by Graduate Student Life Grants, Committee on Race and Diversity, and Global Studies and Languages

Sponsor(s): Global Studies and Languages
Contact: The MIT Language Conversation Exchange Team, E23-441, 617 253-1614, lce-coordinator@mit.edu

Steven Strang

Jan/09	Mon	12:00PM-01:00PM	66-148
Jan/23	Mon	12:00PM-01:00PM	66-148
Jan/30	Mon	12:00PM-01:00PM	66-148

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: none

Calling all creative writers! Want to write something creative but need some motivation or support or some thoughtful readers?  Join other MIT writers to get advice about your own writing, to be a reader of other writers' work, and/or to get inspiration to write something. Any type of creative writing is welcomed:  e.g., fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction, memoirs, personal essays, plays, blog entries, book reviews. We help each other get started on a creative writing project, we help each other develop ideas and style, and we function as engaged and encouraging readers of each other's material.  The Group includes emerging and established writers. We meet every Monday from noon-1:00 p.m. Location TBA. Open to MIT undergraduate and graduate students, post-docs, lecturers, staff, faculty, spouses and partners. Please note that this is not a class and not a group for technical writing or for thesis writing.

Please email <smstrang@mit.edu> to register.

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies/Writing, Writing and Communication Center
Contact: Steven Strang, E18-233 B, 617 253-4459, SMSTRANG@MIT.EDU

Jan/24

Tue

01:30PM-03:00PM

E19-202

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

This workshop will examine the many variables that exist during the evaluation and negotiation process of Job Offers.  How do you know if this job is right for you?  Salary vs. Total Compensation will be looked at.  Strategies on the negotiation process will be discussed along with should you negotiate and “What Can” and “What Can Not” be negotiated.  These strategies are used throughout your career.

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge.

Open to students, alumni and postdocs.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Elizabeth Fox, Lecturer, Writing and Communication Center and WRAP

Jan/18

Wed

03:00PM-04:30PM

E17-136

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/16
Limited to 20 participants
Prereq: none

 

                                             Wed., Jan. 18, E17-136, 3-4:30 p.m.

While writing a dissertation in many ways continues the work you do in graduate school (reviewing literature, conducting research, and writing up results), it also takes you into new territory.  Dissertation writers have more independence, less structure, softer deadlines, meetings with an advisor, lack of classmates, and (sometimes) different expectations about managing time.  We’ll talk about adjusting to this stage, identify challenges and ways to overcome them, and offer ideas about starting a dissertation buddy system or small group.  Elizabeth Fox from MIT’s Writing and Communication Center will offer resources and an exercise to get your writing going.  Please register by emailing emfox@mit.edu

Sponsor(s): Writing and Communication Center
Contact: Elizabeth Fox, E18-233, 617-253-3090, emfox@mit.edu

Eric Grunwald, Lecturer, English Language Studies

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Limited to 15 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: None

"Everyone is creative. Everyone has something to say." —Brenda Ueland

“English was the novelist Joseph Conrad’s third language, and much that seems piquant in his use of English was no doubt colored by his first language, which was Polish. . . . No matter what your first language, you should treasure it all your life. If it happens not to be standard English, and if it shows itself when you write standard English, the result is usually delightful, like a very pretty girl with one eye that is green and one that is blue.” —Kurt Vonnegut

Are you a bilingual student who has wanted to polish your English? Do you like writing fiction, poetry, or personal essays, or have you always wanted to try?  Why not combine the two?!

In this workshop, you will both explore what innovations you have to offer to the English language and find places where you need to conform more to standard English. Through reading works by immigrant writers as well as imagining, writing, and workshopping your own, you can engage your imagination and polish your English at the same time.

All genres welcome! (Except, of course—well, you know...)

Sponsor(s): Global Studies and Languages
Contact: Eric Grunwald, 14N-236, 617 253-2647, EGRUNWAL@MIT.EDU

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Jan/10	Tue	04:00PM-05:45PM	14N-313, Bring paper, pen, and laptop
Jan/17	Tue	04:00PM-05:45PM	14N-313, Bring paper, pen, and laptop
Jan/24	Tue	04:00PM-05:45PM	14N-313, Bring paper, pen, and laptop
Jan/31	Tue	04:00PM-05:45PM	14N-313, Bring paper, pen, and laptop

Eric Grunwald - Lecturer, English Language Studies

Brian Aull, Baha'i Chaplain

Jan/23

Mon

12:00PM-01:00PM

W11 Main Dining Room, Bring your lunch, drinks provided

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

YOU’VE INVITED THE PRESIDENT OUT TO DINNER.
HE ACCEPTS!
IT’S JUST THE TWO OF YOU.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
WHAT DO YOU SAY?

Join the MIT Chaplains as we explore
Tweeting, Treating, Toasting, and Roasting
Practicing an Etiquette of Disagreement

A Buddhist, a Christian, a Muslim, and a Jew walk into a Tavern...
“What would Buddha say to Donald Trump?”
“What would Jesus say to Donald Trump?”
“What would Mohammad say to Donald Trump?"
“What would Moses say to Donald Trump?”

“What would YOU say to Donald Trump?”

Contact: Brian Aull, 781-981-4676, aull@ll.mit.edu

Jan/10

Tue

03:00PM-04:00PM

4-145

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

Come hear about the different international opportunities available to MIT students, and learn how to leverage your abroad experience for your medical applications and interviews. We will discuss how to plan your study abroad journey and highlight MIT prehealth student stories.

Pre-Registration is requested on Careerbridge.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Suzanne Lane, Director, Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication

Feb/01

Wed

01:00PM-03:00PM

E17-136

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 02/01
Limited to 30 participants

The free exchange of ideas is central to democracy and to academic work.  Yet often this exchange can be fraught with misunderstanding, anxiety about how our ideas or positions will be received, and unnecessary conflict.  This workshop will teach participants central concepts of rhetoric and argumentation that can aid in generating useful debate that fosters open dialogue towards understanding and problem solving.  Open to the entire MIT community, but space is limited to 30. 

 

For more information, or to reserve a space, pleace contact the Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication program (WRAP)

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies/Writing
Contact: WRAP, E18-228a, 617-253-3039, wrap@mit.edu

Brindha Muniappan, Director of Programs, MIT Museum, Jennifer Novotney, Public Programs Coordinator, MIT Museum

Feb/03

Fri

02:00PM-04:00PM

MIT Museum (N51)

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 02/02
Limited to 30 participants

Take part in a series of 5 independent IAP workshop sessions on public speaking during the last week of IAP. The sessions are meant to be practical and interactive, and are open to all members of the MIT community. Each session is limited to 30 participants. Pre-registration is encouraged but drop-ins are welcome if space is available.

What's the secret to effective and successful public speaking? In this workshop, we'll consider some of the keys to success, including often overlooked factors like your attitude: to the material you're presenting, to your audience, and even - surprise, surprise! - to yourself. The session will be illustrated with examples of good and bad practice, and led by John Durant, Director of the MIT Museum and Adjunct Professor in the Science, Technology, & Society Program.

Pre-register here to attend this session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mit-can-talk-effective-delivery-tickets-29868836494

* Participants of this session are encouraged to take part in the “MIT Can Talk” oratory competition on Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4 at the MIT Museum (see IAP listing for more details).

Sponsor(s): MIT Museum
Contact: Jennifer Novotney, x4-7313, novotney@MIT.EDU

Brindha Muniappan, Director of Programs, MIT Museum, Jennifery Novotney, Public Programs Coordinator, MIT Museum

Jan/30

Mon

02:00PM-04:00PM

MIT Museum (N51)

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/29
Limited to 30 participants

Take part in a series of 5 independent IAP workshop sessions on public speaking during the last week of IAP. The sessions are meant to be practical and interactive, and are open to all members of the MIT community. Each session is limited to 30 participants. Pre-registration is encouraged but drop-ins are welcome if space is available.

In this first workshop on January 30, participants will explore how to loosen their minds and bodies though a series of improv games and activities. Please wear clothing you feel comfortable moving in. This session will be led by Dr. Jennifer Novotney, the American Chemical Society's 2014 Chemistry Champion.

Pre-register here to attend this session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mit-can-talk-loosening-up-tickets-29868545624

* Participants of this session are encouraged to take part in the “MIT Can Talk” oratory competition on Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4 at the MIT Museum (see IAP listing for more details).

Sponsor(s): MIT Museum
Contact: Jennifer Novotney, x4-7313, novotney@MIT.EDU

Brindha Muniappan, Director of Programs, MIT Museum, Jennifer Novotney, Public Programs Coordinator, MIT Museum

Jan/31

Tue

02:00PM-04:00PM

MIT Museum (N51)

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/30
Limited to 30 participants

Take part in a series of 5 independent IAP workshop sessions on public speaking during the last week of IAP. The sessions are meant to be practical and interactive, and are open to all members of the MIT community. Each session is limited to 30 participants. Pre-registration is encouraged but drop-ins are welcome if space is available.

Being able to express your ideas clearly to others is a key element in successful communication. During this interactive workshop will help you to transform your thoughts into a succinct presentation with a solid structure, with a focus on telling a good story. This session will be led by Dr. Faith Dukes, StoryCollider presenter and boxing instructor.

Pre-register here to attend this session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mit-can-talk-story-telling-organizing-your-thoughts-tickets-29868636897

* Participants of this session are encouraged to take part in the “MIT Can Talk” oratory competition on Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4 at the MIT Museum (see IAP listing for more details).

Sponsor(s): MIT Museum
Contact: Jennifer Novotney, x4-7313, novotney@MIT.EDU

Brindha Muniappan, Director of Programs, MIT Museum, Jennifer Novotney, Public Programs Coordinator, MIT Museum

Feb/02

Thu

02:00PM-04:00PM

MIT Museum (N51)

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 02/01
Limited to 30 participants

Take part in a series of 5 independent IAP workshop sessions on public speaking during the last week of IAP. The sessions are meant to be practical and interactive, and are open to all members of the MIT community. Each session is limited to 30 participants. Pre-registration is encouraged but drop-ins are welcome if space is available.

You’re prepared, you know what you want to say and you even practiced. But when it comes time to perform, you'll want to be engaging and not sound like you are reciting a memorized script. As an audience member, I want you to connect with me! Come to this session to learn some ideas for how to do that. Tony Eng, creator of the MIT Can Talk competition and EECS Senior Lecturer will lead this session.

Pre-register here to attend this session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mit-can-talk-audience-engagement-tickets-29868787347

* Participants of this session are encouraged to take part in the “MIT Can Talk” oratory competition on Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4 at the MIT Museum (see IAP listing for more details).

Sponsor(s): MIT Museum
Contact: Jennifer Novotney, x4-7313, novotney@MIT.EDU

Brindha Muniappan, Director of Programs, MIT Museum, Jennifer Novotney, Public Programs Coordinator, MIT Museum

Feb/01

Wed

02:00PM-04:00PM

MIT Museum (N51)

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/31
Limited to 30 participants

Take part in a series of 5 independent IAP workshop sessions on public speaking during the last week of IAP. The sessions are meant to be practical and interactive, and are open to all members of the MIT community. Each session is limited to 30 participants. Pre-registration is encouraged but drop-ins are welcome if space is available.

Are you tired of reading tiny font and listening to a presenter in the background? Then come to this workshop to learn how to make yourself stand out from your slides! Work with a professional actor to practice effective body language, and explore how to use your body to emphasize and enhance your presentation. Please wear loose clothing conducive for physical movement. This session will be led by Debra Wise, Artistic Director of the Underground Railway Theater.

Pre-register here to attend this session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mit-can-talk-your-presence-in-space-tickets-29868670999

* Participants of this session are encouraged to take part in the “MIT Can Talk” oratory competition on Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4 at the MIT Museum (see IAP listing for more details).

Sponsor(s): MIT Museum
Contact: Jennifer Novotney, x4-7313, novotney@MIT.EDU

Jan/23

Mon

02:00PM-04:00PM

10-250

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

Papers are one of the few deliverables of the work of researchers. Well-designed, they efficiently allow each reader to learn only what he or she needs to. Poorly designed, by contrast, they confuse readers, fail to prompt decisions, or remain unread. Based on Dr Doumont's book Trees, maps, and theorems, about effective communication for rational minds, the lecture shows how to structure scientific papers, theses, and technical reports effectively at all levels to get the readers' attention, facilitate navigation, and, in this way, get the message across optimally.  Dr. Doumont holds an engineering degree from the Louvain School of Engineering and a PhD in applied physics from Stanford. He specializes in professional speaking, writing, and graphing, and incorporates a unique engineering perspective.  More at www.principiae.be.

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge. 

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Amy Carleton, Lecturer: Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication, Jane Kokernak, Lecturer: Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication

Feb/02	Thu	10:00AM-01:00PM	1-190
Feb/03	Fri	10:00AM-01:00PM	3-370

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 60 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

Embarking on any research-based writing project, like the undergraduate thesis or a technical report, can often seem daunting. How does one choose a suitable topic or focus? What is an approach for conducting and cataloguing a literature search? What are strategies for outlining and drafting your final document? What are the qualities of effective technical prose?

This IAP workshop will offer students a strategic and intense opportunity to prepare for their upcoming thesis or other large writing project by

 - conducting genre analysis of sample theses and reports,
 - formulating a viable research question,
 - generating a preliminary research bibliography,
 - examining the features of effective prose, and
 - designing a realistic timeline keyed to the chief writing tasks.

Day one will focus on the components of thesis and report writing, the research question, and background research with help from an MIT research Librarian.  On day two, we will isolate features of technical prose and their application to your writing, design a project timeline and get quick feedback, and address questions specific to your project.  Participants are asked to bring laptops and any project guidelines to the meetings. Note: while the emphasis is on undergraduate research in MechE, anyone is welcome to attend.

Attendance capped at 60.

To register, fill out the Google form here: http://bit.ly/2ijWgXK

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies/Writing, Mechanical Engineering, Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication
Contact: Amy Carleton, amymarie@mit.edu

Jan/20

Fri

02:00PM-03:30PM

E25-117

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 20 participants

Participants will engage in improv activities with others. This session will focus on how doing improv can improve one’s confidence, especially regarding communication skills and meeting new people. 

Pre-registration is requested on CareerBridge.

Open to students, alumni and postdocs only.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: GECD-IAP, gecd-iap@mit.edu

Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze, Lecturer, Writing and Communication Center & CMS/W, Amy Carleton, Lecturer, CMS/W

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/17
Limited to 20 participants
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

Recent events have caused us to question, more than ever before, the validity of information gathered from the web. But Wikipedia, now in its 15th year, remains an online space where accuracy, neutrality, and fair representation matters. Growing the network of volunteer editors to contribute to Wikipedia (the largest collaborative writing project in history!) is one way to ensure that high quality information is freely available to all.

Students:

- Would you like to build solid research skills?
- Get practice communicating complex ideas to a broad audience?
- Improve access to quality information and knowledge?

Faculty & Instructors:

- Would you like to support knowledge transfer in your courses?
- Build students’ confidence in reading and analyzing complex texts?
- Increase students’ proficiency in communicating technical content?

This three-day workshop will train participants to become competent Wikipedia editors, and along the way they will cultivate a greater understanding of how to evaluate a range of sources, from the popular news media, to institutional archives, to peer reviewed journals.

Please bring your laptop!

To reserve your spot, please contact Amy Carleton (amymarie@mit.edu) and Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze (rtb@mit.edu).

Sponsor(s): Libraries, Writing and Communication Center, Comparative Media Studies/Writing
Contact: Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze, E18-233, 617-253-3090, RTB@MIT.EDU

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Introduction to Wikipedia

Jan/17

Tue

10:00AM-12:00PM

4-251, Bring your laptop

Introduction to Wikipedia community philosophy and guidelines. Participants will learn about ways to contribute, including how to enhance diversity of content. Also, create user account, make your first edit, and begin brainstorming your first article.

Amy Carleton - Lecturer, CMS/W, Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze - Lecturer, Writing and Communication Center & CMS/W

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What makes a good Wikipedia article?

Jan/18

Wed

10:00AM-12:00PM

4-251, Bring your laptop

What makes a good Wikipedia article? Learn about best practices and common pitfalls. Get started on research and initial drafting of your first article.

Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze - Lecturer, Writing and Communication Center & CMS/W, Amy Carleton - Lecturer, CMS/W

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Wikipedia Editing Salon

Jan/19

Thu

01:00PM-05:00PM

4-251, Bring your laptop

Editing Salon with MIT Libraries and Archives -- an in-person editing session focused on training new editors and improving Wikipedia articles. Continue working on your article or start a new one, and work with others to improve Wikipedia. Stop by anytime throughout the session.

Amy Carleton - Lecturer, CMS/W, Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze - Lecturer, Writing and Communication Center & CMS/W, Phoebe Ayers - Librarian, Greta Suiter - Collections Archivist

Greta Suiter, Collections Archivist

Jan/19

Thu

01:00PM-05:00PM

4-251, Bring your laptop

Enrollment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/Boston/Women_In_Politics_IAP

The Wikipedia community, as a body, is well aware that it is missing the diversity of perspectives necessary to meet their mandate to curate and share the sum of all human knowledge with all people, the world over. In the last six years or so, a number of outreach initiatives and WikiProjects have emerged within the Wikipedia community to address this systemic problem. One such project is WikiProject Women in Red -- an ongoing project dedicated to increasing articles about notable women from a wide range of professions.

Inspired both by this project and the tremendous strides women in politics have made this year (e.g., Hillary Clinton’s historic run for president, and Kamala Harris, Maggie Hassan, and Catherine Cortez Masto were newly elected to the U.S. Senate in November, 2016), MIT Libraries and CMS/W are sponsoring this Women in Politics edit-a-thon.

Sign up for the event via the Wikipedia Meetup page.

Sponsor(s): Libraries, Comparative Media Studies/Writing
Contact: Greta Suiter, 14N-118, 617 258-5533, GSUITER@MIT.EDU

Andreas Karatsolis, Assoc. Director, Writing, Rhetoric, & Prof. Communication

Jan/31

Tue

01:00PM-03:00PM

E17-136

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/30
Limited to 30 participants

This workshop uses a genre-based approach to help researchers produce effective grant proposals which make a strong case for the potential of their work. At the heart of this workshop is a conceptual framework for proposal writing, centered on the baseline logic of the proposal as a genre, and the associated rhetorical moves within proposal sections. In addition, participants will be presented with a model to effectively develop methodology sections, project timelines and budgets. In the second half of the workshop, participants will work on applying the baseline logic model into their own project ideas, and learn how to integrate visuals and discourse for the different sections. Finally, we will discuss how to create a persuasive line of argument through the use of themes that the potential sponsors will feel compelled  to consider for funding.  Geared towards junior faculty and graduate students.

Space is limited to 30 participants.

For more information, and to reserve a space in the workshop, email the Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication (WRAP). 

 

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies/Writing
Contact: WRAP, E18-228a, 617-253-3039, wrap@mit.edu

Rhonda Kauffman, Bibliographic Metadata Associate, MIT Libraries

Jan/10

Tue

04:00PM-06:00PM

4-253, Bring writing/art/supplies

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/04
Limited to 25 participants

Zines (rhymes with “beans”) are independently- and often self-published, photocopied, cut and paste publications created for passion rather than profit. They have roots in 1950s sci-fi, punk rock, riot grrrl, and underground scenes. They are made for trading, communicating and sharing and cover any topic under the sun, including Dr. Who’s Authority Record, cats, social justice, cooking, parenting, and Morrissey.

In this workshop, we will explore the instructor's personal zine collection from the 1990s to today, and learn about the history of zines, their use in academic research, current trends in zine librarianship, the mechanics of making zines, and, of course, we’ll make a zine!

Attendees are encouraged to bring writings/art/craft supplies, etc. that can be used to create a zine. The instructor will provide supplies (paper, stamps, markers, stickers, old magazines, craft paper, pens, staplers, glue sticks).

Register here: http://libcal.mit.edu/event/3004993

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Rhonda Kauffman, 14E-210, 617 253-0695, RHONDA@MIT.EDU