In Germany it appears that all work and no play still makes Hans a dull boy. That’s why German IT engineering students at the U. of Potsdam are leaving nothing to chance. Over 400 of them have signed up for a two-week course on the art of flirting.

The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that the quickie course will provide a broad overview of the topic, including “how to write flirtatious text messages and e-mails, impress people at parties, and cope with rejection.”

Local bon vivant Philip von Senftleben will be teaching the course, which seems to be a perfect avocation for the “”self-described jurist, composer, journalist and businessman . . . whose website, The Flirter, bills him as ‘the Womanizer.’”

While Herr von Senftleben makes no claims that all his students will attain Don Juan status, he says that a healthy understanding of body language and presentation skills will certainly arm them with the basic tools to succeed.

So far, the most difficult part of the course might be figuring out whether you passed or failed. After all, how in the world do you grade students’ progress if their “homework” consists of e-mails, instant messages or photos collected?

Deborah Lambert writes the Squeaky Chalk column for Accuracy in Academia.