Anyone who’s taught youngsters will certainly confirm several of the observations listed here—and probably add some more. But learning a foreign language isn’t always easy for grownups either, as teachers in adult education—and adult learners—know all too well. We need to be in the right frame of mind—otherwise learning can be a painstaking ordeal!

Can we learn new things on the go, whilst going for a walk, exercising or doing household chores? Yes, with podcasts! 

How important is language acquisition to the integration of skilled immigrants? This is the subject of “Deutsch lernen für ein Leben in Deutschland” (Learning German for a Life in Germany), a report on the latest research findings. The bottom line: Early and well-tailored language-learning programmes are a must for a modern host country.

With a lively mix of personal stories, podcasts, learning material, entertaining games and useful information, this web portal provides helpful information about living and working in Germany, including important information about how to contact administrative offices and counselling services. It also features plenty of German-learning exercises for levels A1 through B2.

The latest annual report by the German Expert Council on Integration and Migration clearly shows that the German healthcare system can’t function without skilled personnel from abroad. What language skills do doctors, nurses and other health professionals need to communicate effectively in the workplace?

The Goethe-Institut's "My Way to Germany" web portal provides German language exercises as well as useful information about living and working in Germany. We show four ways in which teachers of German as a foreign language can use the collection of materials for their teaching and independent learning.

Digital media are indispensable in the working world, but their use in schools is still a matter of some controversy. This makes the question of how educators should approach this topic in future all the more pressing.

Teachers working with literacy courses need special skills and methodical approaches in order to teach these learners successfully.

The professional context has become an increasingly important component of German tests. Some of these tests have already become established.

Sites of memory play a central role in forming a collective memory of history. Precisely because they appear unambiguous only at first glance, they are ideally suited to lessons in German as a foreign or second language.

Teachers around the world look forward to embarking on a continuing education course, as it gives them the chance to get out of the classroom for once, learn something new themselves and give their own lessons new impetus. It is not always easy to find the right course, however, as there are so many different ones on offer.

Anyone who wants to teach schoolchildren needs to go back to school themselves from time to time. But what makes for good continuing education? What can it actually achieve? And how is continuing education changing in the digital age? We put these questions to education expert Frank Lipowsky.