Language Policy

Twelve universities have already signed agreements and 14 more higher education institutions are about to follow suit: over the past three years, a network has been growing across Europe to improve education programmes for teachers of German as a Foreign Language (GFL).  The aim of these partnerships is to strengthen the German language by ensuring an adequate supply of well-qualified teachers. 

Opening in Mannheim in 2028, the Forum Deutsche Sprache will be part language museum, part science centre – a place where visitors can discover, explore and actively engage with the German language. Prof. Dr Henning Lobin, scientific director of the Leibniz Institute for the German Language (IDS) and the main force behind the project, explains what makes the Forum so significant and previews the fascinating programme ahead.

At the Vorbereiten, Begleiten, Ankommen (Prepare. Support. Arrive.) forum at the Pfefferberg Theatre in Berlin, participants in the “Pre-integration and Transition Management” project came together to take stock of their efforts after three years. One thing’s for sure: they plan to include more countries in the project going forward.
 

Since 2020 the Goethe-Institut USA has been expanding its nationwide network to boost German teaching by working together with American schools. “SPARK for German” is a joint project of the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) and the Goethe-Institut. The acronym stands for “Strukturiertes Programm zum Aufbau von Ressourcen und Kompetenzen” or “Structured Programme for the Development of Resources and Skills”.

Who learns German and why? And what can governments, institutions and teachers do to ensure that languages are accorded equal importance? We asked Hans-Jürgen Krumm, a professor of German studies and author of a recently published book entitled “Sprachenpolitik Deutsch als Fremd- und Zweitsprache”(Language Politics in German Teaching).

Well-trained German language teachers are a prerequisite for effective German teaching programs. Which is why a score of universities in South America are joining forces to shore up their German teacher training programmes – with help from the Goethe-Institut.

What role does foreign language learning play in German schools and universities? Despite some positive developments, in practice there are still some challenges to be overcome.