The main task of the Goethe-Institut in Kyiv is to introduce the residents of Ukraine to all aspects of life in modern Germany. “The main strategy of the Goethe-Institut is the German-Ukrainian dialogue,” says the institute’s director, Barbara Kaulbach. “Our projects are born in Ukraine—we respond to the wishes of our Ukrainian colleagues. In the field of culture, this creates a very interesting phenomenon of mutual perception of each other. For example, an exhibition of works by two photographers will soon be held: one of them, a Ukrainian, will present his photographs of Germany, and the second, a German, will present photographs of Ukraine. We constantly cooperate with the Museum of Russian Art and the Center for Contemporary Art at NaUKMA. A large joint concert is being prepared by the Goethe-Institut, the French Cultural Center, and the National Philharmonic of Ukraine. This will be a real event for all music lovers. By the way, we recently discussed with the leadership of the French Cultural Center new ways to popularize the German and French languages. For young people now, learning English has become an urgent need, and gradually the question of studying a second language arises. We want to show that Europe is an amazing diversity of cultures, and by learning German or French, a young person will significantly broaden his or her horizons.
“I have not been in Ukraine long and am pleasantly surprised by the great interest your compatriots show in the culture of modern Germany. When the days of German cinema were recently held, the hall was packed, many spectators stood. The same happened during jazz concerts of German performers. So in the new year we plan to carry out active cultural activities not only in Kyiv. For example, in January, during the international festival of children’s puppet theaters, a troupe from Germany will present “Grimms’ Fairy Tales.” In 2003, it will be 200 years since the settlement of Germans in the south of Ukraine, in the Odesa area, and in 2004 this anniversary will be marked by the Germans of Crimea. And we, of course, will try to take part in the celebration of these historical dates. This autumn we plan to hold an exhibition of works by the famous expressionist artist Alexander Archipenko in Kyiv. He lived and worked in Germany for a long time, and it so happened that his works are better known abroad than in Ukraine. This will be a wonderful opportunity to present the artist’s works to the residents of his native country. And, of course, in the autumn, days of German culture will be held in Ukraine.”
A Single Cultural Space
One of the priority areas of the Goethe-Institut in Kyiv is the development of international cooperation in the field of culture. In this regard, the institute organizes and supports a wide range of events that present the culture of Germany.
“The basis of all our cultural projects is the joint activity of German and Ukrainian artists, musicians, directors, painters,” says Nina Goncharenko, assistant for cultural programs. “It is precisely shared creativity that gives mutual enrichment and interpenetration of cultures. Often we do not even think about some familiar things. But it turns out that Germans perform Beethoven in a completely different way—less pathetically, more penetratingly. This cannot be explained—understanding is born only during joint work. We try to pay attention not only to significant cultural events, but also to intimate encounters with German art.”
Among the permanent projects are movie evenings. Every last Saturday of the month, the Goethe-Institut library screens films by German directors for free. And on Wednesdays, lovers of German cinema are awaited by Art Club 44 (44 Khreshchatyk Street). Media exhibitions are very interesting. These are a kind of symbiosis of photo, film, and video elements that compositionally create a single image in mood and semantic content. An example of such an exhibition is “Come-in – Interior Design as a Medium of Contemporary Art in Germany.” Twenty-five authors, by demonstrating their unusual works, try to find points of contact between design and art. The space of culture is unified. But every artist’s gaze is unique. The Goethe-Institut gives us the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of contemporary German cultural figures.
Second in the World, First in Europe
Second in the world, first in Europe... What are we talking about? About the German language and its significance for modern business! That is how one can assess its importance in today’s business space. It is no coincidence that more and more people are turning to the study of this language. Why learn German? According to Goethe-Institut staff, there are serious reasons for this.
First, German is an important language of communication in Europe. Those who speak German can communicate with about a hundred million Europeans in their native language without any problems, because German is spoken not only in Germany but also in Austria, a large part of Switzerland, in Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, as well as in Northern Italy, Eastern Belgium, and Eastern France. German is among the ten most widely spoken languages in the world. So, when traveling and taking knowledge of German as baggage, you can be sure that you will be understood in almost any corner of Europe.
Second, knowledge of German increases your chances on the labor market. Many German, Austrian, and Swiss firms abroad, as well as foreign companies in Ukraine, are looking for employees with knowledge of German. In the countries of the European Union, specialists who master this language, as well as foreign students and researchers, will find many interesting opportunities in the fields of education and work.
Thirdly, knowing German, you will be able to read a large amount of literature in the original language. Every year, over 60,000 new publications appear on the German book market, which constitutes 18% of all books published annually in the world - this country ranks third in global book publishing. A large number of modern scientific materials are published in German. Those who know German open up a wide world of research results in all fields of science and technology. Over 40% of US scientists recommend their students to study this language.
Fourthly, by mastering German, you will feel more at ease in the world of international business. German-speaking countries are important trading partners of almost all European and many non-European states. Anyone who speaks German improves their business connections with partners, as they do not need to conduct negotiations in a third language.
And finally, German is the language of world culture. By studying it, you will discover one of the greatest European cultures in the original, because it is the language of Goethe, Nietzsche and Kafka, Mozart, Bach and Beethoven, Freud and Einstein.
We have already told about the German language courses of the Goethe-Institute more than once. Today in Ukraine it is difficult to find a better place to study it. Twenty-four experienced teachers teach German in the current semester to almost nine hundred students. The basic course involves 440 academic hours of study. The teaching is based on a communicative methodology, which facilitates the assimilation of the material. The Goethe-Institute offers German language courses at elementary, intermediate and advanced levels, as well as special courses for target groups. Here students can also take certification exams in German. Upon completion of four semesters of study, students receive knowledge sufficient to pass the test for the "German Language" certificate. Those who have mastered German very well can try to pass the central intermediate-level exam or the central advanced-level exam. Currently, enrollment is open for daytime groups. But you should hurry - there are many willing people!
I would like to draw your attention to another area of training - assistance in improving the language skills of German teachers in Ukraine. "The Goethe-Institute, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of Ukraine, is working to promote the teaching of German," says Olaf Bollbrinker, head of the pedagogical relations department. "Together with partners, we are working on reforming curricula, developing teaching materials, and working in the field of teacher training and professional development. We donate part of the educational literature to universities and schools free of charge. The Goethe-Institute has a special library for teachers of German. It contains excellent educational literature that can be studied and then ordered for your educational institution. Our traditional seminars for German teachers, held on Mondays, are open to everyone - teachers of public and private schools, instructors from institutes, colleges, and courses. However, due to limited spaces, we ask that you register for the seminar in advance, specifying the date and topic by phone."
About 1,500 teachers undergo professional development at the Goethe-Institute per year. We also conduct network seminars devoted to issues of methodology, didactics and regional studies. Their goal is to update the image of Germany in Ukraine. They are led by specialists invited by us from Germany. To date, about a thousand teachers have participated in these seminars. We send the seminar program to regional teacher improvement institutes, where you can clarify details and submit an application for participation. Currently, our work is aimed at preparing seminar participants in such a way that they themselves can conduct such events and pass on new pedagogical ideas to their colleagues.
Information center informs
The Goethe-Institute's information center-library provides information on current aspects of cultural, social and political life in Germany. What exactly is the information center and what are its possibilities?
First of all, it is a wonderful library with a collection of over 6,000 media items - books, magazines, newspapers, video cassettes, compact discs. In addition, there is the opportunity to listen to music CDs, view CD-ROMs, and search for necessary information on the Internet. Books and CDs are lent for two weeks, video cassettes for one week. Library services are free (except for 10 or 15 hryvnias for a reader's card).
"The entire collection of our information center - printed publications, audio and video materials - is presented on the Internet in the common electronic catalog of the Goethe-Institute libraries," notes Wiebke Weigand, head of the information center-library. "Our visitors can obtain any information concerning Germany. The work of the information center is organized in such a way that on our shelves are the same books, newspapers and magazines as on the shelves of German libraries. At the service of readers are four daily newspapers and about forty magazines. And the newspapers 'Süddeutsche Zeitung' and 'Frankfurter Allgemeine' we receive the day after their publication in Germany. The library has no textbooks or adapted texts - it is real 'living' literature. Our readers are happy to take both classics - Remarque, Grass, Böll - and contemporary authors such as Jenny Erpenbeck."
People often come to us with various information requests. We have up-to-date reference books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, CD-ROMs. Thanks to Internet access, you can find the answer to your request yourself. Many are interested in studying in Germany. We have about a hundred books devoted to new professions, qualification requirements, educational institutions. But for these questions, we advise contacting DAAD. The Goethe-Institut Information Center also helps libraries and other organizations establish contacts with German institutions. Together with Ukrainian libraries, we hold seminars for library workers once or twice a year. Topics considered include library equipment, library management, introduction of new technologies. We also support Ukrainian libraries in organizing collections related to Germany. One such project is the creation of German reading rooms in Odessa, Lviv, Donetsk, and Kharkiv, which are located in the main libraries of these cities. All of them operate according to the same quality standards as the Goethe-Institut Information Center-Library in Kyiv. There is also a "children's corner" - the Goethe-Institut provided about two hundred books to the Kyiv State Library of Ukraine for children".
Learning German in Germany
You can study German at the Goethe-Institut not only in Kyiv. Probably no one will argue that the secrets of a language are most easily mastered in its homeland. Therefore, the Goethe-Institut offers everyone who wants to start learning German, deepen or improve it, to go to Germany.
"We offer a wide variety of programs: for schoolchildren, businesspeople, elderly people," says Olga Stasyuk, who is in charge of Goethe-Institut German language courses in Germany. "There are intensive courses, and there are distance courses. You can learn a foreign language for a variety of purposes and at any age. For example, summer courses for young people are currently growing in popularity. As a rule, these are three weeks of study for schoolchildren. Groups are formed by age and initial language proficiency. The total cost (about 1,800 euros for three weeks) includes accommodation, meals, tuition, and a cultural and sports program. Study centers are located at schools, colleges, and universities in various cities across Germany. The first half of the day is spent learning the language, while after lunch various sports games, excursions, and cultural events are planned. There is, for example, a 'German plus Football' program. And the winter language program includes skiing lessons.
What will a child get from such a "study vacation" program? First, a good knowledge of the language; second, acquaintance with the amazing cities of Germany; third, a full-fledged rest and a wealth of impressions. Our children will have to live, study, and work in a multicultural and multilingual environment in the future. Therefore, the sooner they learn to communicate easily with their peers from different countries, the easier it will be for them later. It is important that we take care of all organizational matters - we arrange a visa, book a place, meet and send off the child in Germany. Paperwork takes about two months, so if you want to enroll your child in the summer program, you can contact us now for information and an application form. There are many people all over the world who want to study German in Germany!"
This year, the Goethe-Institut will move to a new, more spacious and convenient building. And you know, I feel a bit sorry: here, in the building of the library of the National Technical University of Ukraine, life is in full swing. And it is no accident that most visitors to the Goethe-Institut are Kyiv students. These are young, energetic, restless and terribly self-confident people. For them, for example, the idea of going to study in Germany does not seem unrealistic. And how about learning German? Good idea! Das ist gut!