Go like Silk
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Table of contents
What we do
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What does Go like Silk do?
Go like Silk offers Kindness Communication coaching for German and English. We’re different from language courses and other communication workshops: We work with people from a variety of professional domains and with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Our goal is communicative empowerment for everyone, regardless of how many words they know.
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I’m looking for language classes.
We do not offer language classes. But perhaps you don’t need one. Go like Silk offers in-depth communication coaching that will also improve your language skills, but we do not offer courses focussing on grammar and vocabulary.
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I need to prepare for a language exam.
Our workshops and individual coaching can help make you feel more confident in exam settings. For example, keeping your cool when making presentations and not getting stuck looking for words. However, we do not offer preparation classes for specific exams. We do not hold language classes for CERF-based exams (A2, B1 etc.).
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I’m looking for help with English or German at school.
We do not offer tuition for school curricula.
Our approach
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What makes Go like Silk different from other communication coaching?
We’re different from other language courses and communication workshops:
- We don’t worry about your grammar. We focus on getting the message across.
- We don’t tell you to get rid of your accent. We want you to speak like you.
- We don’t give you rules to follow. We show you how to let go of the rules.
- We don’t teach you words to learn. We want you to find your own words.
- We show you that Kindness Communication is the key.
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What does silk have to do with communication?
Silk is gentle to the touch. It keeps you warm when you need warmth. And it helps you to stay cool when things get hot. Silk is flexible to the needs of the moment. When we communicate, we need to be flexible, too. We might feel that others are cold to us. And we might worry when things get too hot. But to flow like silk, we need to stay gentle. Silk is always fluent. You can be, too.
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What is Kindness Communication ?
Communication is an cooperative relation. We all have our own needs, goals and insecurities. We never communicate in isolation. We always relate to other people; they affect who we are and what we do. Kindness Communication means that we respect the complexity of this relation. It’s not a question of who wins or who gives in. It’s about allowing ourselves and others to express what is important to us.
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How does it work exactly?
Successful communication requires more than just language skills. Kindness Communication strengthens our confidence on an emotional-cognitive level. This meta skill allows us to analyse different communication situations and identify our own communication goals and the communicative needs of others in order to communicate with awareness and clarity.
When we communicate with kindness, we connect with ourselves and with others. We don’t operate according to preconceived plans but adapt to the realities of the moment. We are no longer afraid of misunderstandings but know that they are part of the process. We don’t worry about what might go wrong but rely on the courage to say what we really mean.
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What’s your professional background?
Michèle has studied literature and languages, multilingual terminology management, translation and intercultural communication in Britain, the USA and Austria. She taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level in English and German at the University of Vienna for over 30 years. Her teaching includes translating, transcultural communication, academic and creative writing, Global English and research methodology as well as scientific and technical communication. As a professional translator, she ran her own creative translation agency. Michèle has published the insights from her research in numerous books and articles.
Michael has studied transcultural communication and critical sociolinguistics. In his research, Michael investigates how differences and borders are created in our minds and what effects they have on us. In his dissertation project, he takes a critical look at the concepts of ‘native speaker’ and ‘mother tongue’. He has also published on translation expertise and relationship models. He teaches creative academic communication and the sociopolitics of world languages and, in 2025, received the University of Vienna’s Teaching Award. As a language teacher, he has worked with companies, doctors and children in English and German courses. As a professional translator, he co-founded Qwir text + design mitgegründet.
Coaching
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Which is the right workshop for me in German?
That depends on your focus.
- Speak like Silk covers face-to-face interaction, spontaneous speaking and communication in general
- Read like Silk is all about understanding (formal) written texts from official bodies.
- Write like Silk explores ways to find your own writing style.
- Individual coaching can be designed to suit your specific personal requirements and time schedule.
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Which is the right workshop for me in English?
That depends on your focus.
- Professional like Silk increases your confidence when speaking English in professional and other contexts.
- Know like Silk focuses on how to engage your audience in presentations and academic publications.
- Write like Silk explores ways to find your own writing style.
- Individual coaching can be designed to suit your specific personal requirements and time schedule.
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When would individual coaching be better for me?
In our individual coaching, we focus on what is most relevant for you personally. In a one-to-one setting, you can look more closely at your communicative needs and explore how you can make the most of your creative potential.
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Is my English/German good enough to participate?
Our workshops are not suitable for complete beginners. To participate, you need to be able to speak and understand the language of the workshop on at least a basic level. This means understanding what we say and talking to the others in the group. If you understand these sentences here, then you understand enough to participate.
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Where does the coaching take place?
For our workshops, we invite you to our office in the 9th district of Vienna, Austria.
If you would like us to bring our workshops directly to your company or organisation, please get in touch.
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Do you offer child-care during the workshops?
Unfortunately not. We are unable to provide the necessary facilities.
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Can I bring my dog?
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate dogs during our workshops. If you need to bring your assistance dog, please let us know in advance.
Registration
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How do I register?
You can register directly online via the registration form on our website. If you have any questions or need help, feel free to contact us.
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When do I get confirmation that the workshop will take place?
After your registration is complete, we will let you know as soon as possible whether there are enough registrations for the workshop to take place. You will hear from us at the latest 7 working days before the start of the workshop. Please also note terms and conditions.
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What if I have to cancel?
If you know you have to cancel, please let us know as soon as possible. You can read more about your right of cancellation.
Payment
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Do you offer reduced prices?
We offer reduced rates for students, people doing their military service or Zivildienst as well as others on a reduced income.
- Speak like Silk: €840 incl. VAT (reduced)
- Write like Silk: €540 incl. VAT (reduced)
- Know like Silk: €540 incl. VAT (reduced)
- Read like Silk: €840 incl. VAT (reduced)
- Professional like Silk: €840 incl. VAT (reduced)
- Connect like Silk: €840 incl. VAT (reduced)
- Amtsdeutsch: free of charge
In general, we would like to offer our services to everyone who wants to learn more about Kindness Communication. If our regular prices exceed your financial resources, please get in touch with us. We wish to find a solution that works for us and for you.
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What is included in the price?
Prices cover coaching by Michèle and/or Michael for the duration of the workshop. They also include your personal piece of silk, a Go like Silk box, a ‘How to Go like Silk’ folder, various workshop materials as well as coffee, tea and snacks. Upon completion of the workshop, you will receive a certificate confirming your successful participation.
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Can I get funding for your workshops?
If you are interested in one of our workshops, you can discuss funding with your employer. If you are unemployed and live in Austria, you can submit an application for funding (‘Begehren’) with your facilitator at the AMS once you have received a quote from us.
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How can I get a quote?
If you need a quote for a specific workshop (e.g., to submit it to your work or to request funding from other parties), you can download it directly from our website by filling in our request form. You can also contact us.
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If I’m not satisfied, can I get my money back?
If you have already participated in a workshop, it will not be possible to refund your payment. You can read more about your right of cancellation and our refunding conditions.
Partners
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What can you offer for a potential cooperation?
We offer workshops and individual coaching covering a variety of different topics and target groups. We work in English or German; however, the skills we teach are transferable and can be applied to any language.