The subject “German as a Foreign Language – Teaching Cultural Studies” deals with the study of language acquisition processes by people whose native language is not German. Language acquisition involves the interaction of linguistic, cultural, and didactic issues. In our department, German as a foreign language covers both research and teaching, with a focus on cultural studies. Some of the questions we pursue are: How are language achievement and cultural learning connected? How can learners of German be enabled to participate in discourses held in German or in several languages? How can literature and media contribute to cultural and language learning?

Our focus is on the education of adults in German as both a foreign language and a second language. Furthermore, we examine German as a foreign language in the context of its study in other countries. Our department offers the master’s program “German as a Foreign Language – Teaching Cultural Studies” as well as a module in the inter-institutional bachelor’s program “Language and Society”.