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How can one inspire young people to learn German as a foreign language now and in the future? For example with an Olympiad for German-language pupils, a parliament for young people or the global networking of more than 1,400 schools. Foreign Minister Westerwelle hosted the launch of a special campaign.

The initiative focuses on the German language and its promotion throughout the world. The Foreign Office is organisingGerman – Language of Ideas together with several partners: the Goethe-Institut, the German Academic Exchange Service, the Central Office for Schools Abroad, the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations, Deutsche Welle and the Pedagogical Exchange Service.

At the opening event of the campaign in Berlin’s Radialsystem V Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle emphasised the importance of learning German: “German is the language at the heart of Europe. It is spoken by more people as a native tongue than any other European language. It is the key to more than 350 German universities and colleges and to the largest economy in Europe. Our campaign, which starts today, seeks to inspire young people to learn German.”

Germany, said the Foreign Minister, stood for technology and design, creativity and quality, factors making it internationally attractive. Learning German offered people access to one of the world’s best education and training systems. “It opens the door to German literature, music, philosophy and science, to the wealth of great European cultural traditions and, not least, allows you to realise your own aims and ideas.”

More enthusiasm!

The president of the Goethe-Institut, Klaus-Dieter Lehmann, stressed the connection between the passion for German and the promotion of German: “Indifference to our own language makes it less attractive for us and for others. Some more passion is called for. Hence the focussed language campaign now being launched sets the right emphasis. In addition to our own considerations and ideas, however, we should also be acquainted with the motives and arguments of our friends and partners abroad. They are instructive and helpful.”

The annual award of the Goethe medal in Weimar, he said, revealed over and again the great interest and enthusiasm for the German language throughout the world. Bearing in mind these external perspectives, there was every reason to promote the German language. “We can do a great deal to give the German language its position in the various spheres of its use.”

Inspiring people to learn German

At the launch event of German – Language of Ideas artists from four nations showed how much fun German can be, how diverse and expressive the language is. They themselves are border-hoppers, at home in several cultures. Thus the evening in the Radialsystem V in Berlin developed into an international homage to the German language.

The Japanese writer Yoko Tawada - who lives in Germany and has been awarded the Goethe Medal and the Adelbert von Chamisso Prize – described German as a language of a dazzling nature with all its loveable features and peculiarities. The Hungarian Péter Esterházy, winner of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, presented an (auto) biographical and adventurous approach to the German language.

The tenor Christoph Prégardien and the slam poet and rap artist Nina “Fiva” Sonnenberg showed that music in German can offer just about everything from classic to hip-hop. Together with DJ Phekt, “Fiva” demonstrated how the German language has become an accepted part of contemporary club culture all over the world. The launch event also featured an audio-visual installation by the artist Babak Saed, who originates from Iran.

Partner schools and a parliament for young people

For the Foreign Office and for the German culture mediators abroad the promotion of the German language is an important instrument in developing long-term ties, in particular of future top executives, to Germany and thus strengthening Germany as an economic, scientific and academic location. To this end language projects are seen as generation projects and require long-term and continual investments. This is the launching pad of the campaign German – Language of Ideas. It will focus on events and projects concerning the German language as a cycle of events at home and abroad

With the initiative Schools – Partners of the Future (PASCH), for example, the Foreign Office and its partners have created a world-wide network of over 1,400 schools that inspires young people to learn the German language and opens doors to them in the spheres of German culture, science and the economy.

Goethe-Institut, together with other organisations, is contributing to the language campaign with a great number of further programmes: for example, in the Deutscholympiade pupils from five continents have the opportunity to display their language skills and their creativity. At the final event in Hamburg in summer pupils from 50 countries will be taking part.

Jugend debattiert International (Young people in international debate) is not only about German, but also highlights political and societal activity and the culture of discussion. In October the finalists from Germany, Central and Eastern Europe will gather for the final competition in Berlin. The International Parliament for Young People was inspired by an initiative from the Goethe-Institut in Montevideo. Some 4,000 young people from Latin America, Europe and Africa are taking part in the project. In July 100 of them will discuss and pass resolutions in the house of Uruguay’s parliament on the future themes of the globalised world. The working language is German.