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Goethe-Institut
Non-profit German cultural association

The Goethe-Institut (German: [ˈɡøːtə ʔɪnstiˌtuːt]; GI, Goethe Institute) is a nonprofit German cultural organization operational worldwide with more than 150 cultural centres, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange and relations. Around 246,000 people have studied German in these courses per year. It is named after German poet and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. As a registered association, the Goethe-Institut e.V. is politically independent.

The Goethe-Institut fosters knowledge about Germany by providing information on German culture, society and socio-political affairs. This includes the promotion of German films, music, theatre, and literature. Goethe cultural societies, reading rooms, and examination and language centres have played an important role in the cultural and educational activities of Germany in many countries for more than 60 years.

Partners of the institute and its centres are public and private cultural institutions, the German federal states, local authorities and civil society. Much of the Goethe-Institut's overall budget consists of annual grants from the German Foreign Office and the German Press Office. The relationship with the Foreign Office is governed by a general agreement. Further, self-generated income and contributions from sponsors and patrons, partners and friends support the work of the Goethe-Institut.

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History

  • 1951: The government of the German Federal republic replaced the former Deutsche Akademie with the new Goethe-Institut.
  • 1952: The first Goethe-Institut opened in Athens.
  • 1953: The first language courses run by the Goethe-Institut began in Bad Reichenhall. Due to growing demand, new centres of learning were opened in Murnau and Kochel, the focus of selection being on towns which were small and idyllic and which showed post-war Germany at its best. Lessons were taught based on the first textbook developed by the Goethe-Institut, known by its authors' names "Schulz-Griesbach".
  • 1953–55: The first foreign lectureships of what was the German Academy were taken over by the Goethe-Institut. Responsibilities included German tuition, teacher training and providing a programme of cultural events to accompany courses.
  • 1959–60: On the initiative of the head of the arts sector of the Foreign Office, Dieter Sattler, the Goethe-Institut gradually took over all existing German cultural institutes abroad.
  • 1968: Influenced by the student revolts of the late 1960s the Goethe-Institut readjusted its programme of cultural events to include socio-political topics and avant-garde art.
  • 1970: Acting on behalf of the Foreign Office, German politician Ralf Dahrendorf developed his "guiding principles for foreign cultural policy". Cultural work involving dialogue and partnership was declared "the third pillar of German foreign policy". During the Willy Brandt era, the concept of "extended culture" formed the basis of activities at the Goethe-Institut.
  • 1976: The Foreign Office and the Goethe-Institut signed a general agreement governing the status of the Goethe-Institut, henceforth an independent cultural organisation.
  • 1980: A new plan regarding the location of institutes within Germany was drawn up. Course venues in small towns, mostly in Bavaria, were replaced by institutes in cities and university towns.
  • 1989/90: The fall of the Berlin Wall marked a turning point for the Goethe-Institut. Its activities in the 1990s were centered on Eastern Europe, where numerous new institutes were set up.
  • 2001: The Goethe-Institut merged with the cultural organization Inter Nationes.
  • 2004: The Goethe-Institut established the first Western information centre in Pyongyang, North Korea, operational until 2009.4 The Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes also reverted to its original and official name, Goethe-Institut (GI).
  • 2005: The Goethe-Institut was honoured with the Prince of Asturias Prize of Spain.
  • 2010: Italian cartoonist Bruno Bozzetto created the new cartoon film "Va Bene" for the institute
  • 2014: A Goethe-Institut opened in Myanmar's capital Yangon.

Organization

The Goethe-Institut is mainly financed by the federal government of Germany, and has around 1,000 employees and an overall budget of approximately 366 million euros, more than half of which is generated from tuition and examination fees. The institute offers training courses and scholarships, including tuition waivers, to students from foreign countries, who are or want to become teachers of German as a foreign language.

Locations by country

Main article: List of Goethe-Institut locations

Distance education

The Goethe-Institut offers courses in distance education.13 As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, when most governments imposed stay-at-home orders and/or COVID-19 lockdowns, Goethe-Institut introduced a series of "blended learning" courses.14

Examinations

The institute has developed a series of exams for learners of German as a foreign language (Deutsch als Fremdsprache, DaF) at all levels: A1 up to C2. These can be taken both in Germany and abroad and have been adapted to fit into the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the standard for European language testing. There is also one exam, the Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom, which is at a still higher level than the highest CEFR level.15 Below is a table of the basic Goethe-Institut exams as they fit into the scheme:16

CEFR levelGoethe-Institut examInstructional hours (45 minutes) needed
C2Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom1,000
C1Goethe-Zertifikat C1 (Prüfung Wirtschaftsdeutsch)800–1,000 (both)
B2Goethe-Zertifikat B2 (Zertifikat Deutsch für den Beruf)600–800
B1Goethe-Zertifikat B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch)350–650
A2Goethe-Zertifikat A2/ Fit In Deutsch 2200–350
A1Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1/Fit In Deutsch 180–200

In 2000, the Goethe-Institut helped to found the Society for Academic Test Development (Gesellschaft für Akademische Testentwicklung e.V.). The resulting TestDaF exams are run by the TestDaF-Institut in Hagen. The tests are supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and are aimed at people who would like to study at German universities, academics and scientists. The TestDaF can be taken in Germany as well as in 65 other countries. For language teachers, there is the "Green Diploma" to acquire and prove qualifications in teaching German as a foreign language.17

Awards and Residency programs

The two US-related annually granted awards for literature translations from German into English are the renowned Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize, and the Gutekunst Prize of the Friends of Goethe New York. The latter is open to college students and to all translators under the age of 35 who, at the time the prize is awarded, have not yet published.18

Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize

Main article: Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize

Goethe Medal

Main article: Goethe Medal

Once a year, the Goethe-Institut awards the Goethe Medal, an official decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It honours foreign personalities who have performed outstanding service for the German language and international cultural relations. The Goethe Medal was established by the executive committee of the Goethe-Institut in 1954 and acknowledged as an official decoration by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1975.

Goethe-Institut Award for New Translation

The Society of Authors and the Goethe-Institut, London, administer the biennial Goethe-Institut Award for New Translation.

Villa Kamogawa artist residency programme

Goethe-Institut Villa Kamogawa (Japanese: ゲーテ・インスティトゥート・ヴィラ鴨川), is a German institution hosting artist residencies in Kyoto, Japan. Established in 2011 with an opening ceremony conducted by Christian Wulff, then President of Germany,192021 it is located on the banks of the Kamo River in close vicinity to Kyoto Imperial Palace. Villa Kamogawa is one of three major German arts residency programmes abroad, together with Rome's Villa Massimo and Villa Aurora in Los Angeles.2223 It hosts three groups of four artists every year.24 Former fellows include Doris Dörrie,25 Jörg Koopmann26 and Stefan Goldmann.27

Notable students

Recognition

In 2005, along with the Alliance française, the Società Dante Alighieri, the British Council, the Instituto Cervantes, and the Instituto Camões, the Goethe-Institut was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for achievements in communications and the humanities. In 2007, it received a special Konrad Duden Prize for its work in the field of German language.32

See also

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Goethe-Institut.

References

  1. "Das Goethe-Institut" (PDF). Bundestag. Berlin: Bundestag, Wissenschaftliche Dienste. 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019. https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/414912/0568e39c4b0e2c59ab740dd792f7b8a7/wd-10-043-06-pdf-data.pdf ↩

  2. Bach, Aya (29 July 2011). "Cultural dialogue - Goethe-Institut looks back on 60 years of cultural Exchange". dw.com. Retrieved 7 February 2025. https://www.dw.com/en/goethe-institut-looks-back-on-60-years-of-cultural-exchange/a-15277312 ↩

  3. Goethe-Institut. "Mission and goals". www.goethe.de. Retrieved 7 February 2025. https://www.goethe.de/ins/de/en/uun/auf.html ↩

  4. Goethe-Institut to close center in North Korea on censorship claim Archived 8 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine, 26 November 2009, Deutsche Welle, accessed 9 May 2012. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4928516,00.html ↩

  5. "Institut Goethe - exemple cooperation culturelle". www.portalangop.co.ao. Retrieved 7 February 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) http://www.portalangop.co.ao/angola/fr_fr/noticias/lazer-e-cultura/institut-Goethe-exemple-cooperation-culturelle,2a92966b-8978-4f76-826e-7683b7032839.html ↩

  6. "About us – Goethe-Institut Bangladesh". www.goethe.de. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019. https://www.goethe.de/ins/bd/en/ueb.html ↩

  7. "Goethe-Institut to start Tiruchi centre next year". The Hindu. 10 September 2010. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20100919204105/http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/10/stories/2010091065930300.htm ↩

  8. "GOETHE-INSTITUT MAX MUELLER BHAVAN CHENNAI". Goethe.de. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2025. https://www.goethe.de/ins/in/en/sta/che.html?wt_sc=chennai ↩

  9. "GOETHE CENTRES". Goethe.de. https://www.goethe.de/ins/in/en/sta/koo/goz.html ↩

  10. "Goethe-Institut Hanoi". Goethe.de. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2025. https://www.goethe.de/ins/vn/vi/sta/han.html ↩

  11. "Goethe-Institut Ho Chi Minh City". Goethe.de. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2025. https://www.goethe.de/ins/vn/vi/sta/hcm.html ↩

  12. "Contact and opening hours – Goethe-Institut Kenia". www.goethe.de. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018. https://www.goethe.de/ins/ke/en/ueb/kon.html ↩

  13. John George. "Deutsche Sprache – Goethe-Institut". Goethe.de. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2015. http://www.goethe.de/lrn/prj/fnu/dln/a1/eld/enindex.htm ↩

  14. "Standard German Courses – A1-C2 – Goethe-Institut Singapur". Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020. https://www.goethe.de/ins/sg/en/kur/kur/gia/stk.html ↩

  15. "Goethe-Institut launches Tiruchi Centre". The Hindu. 20 January 2011. Archived from the original on 25 January 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110125012854/http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/20/stories/2011012062010200.htm ↩

  16. "Deutschprüfungen – Unsere Prüfungen – Goethe-Institut". Goethe.de. Retrieved 26 May 2015. http://www.goethe.de/lrn/prj/pba/bes/deindex.htm ↩

  17. "The Green diploma training programme – Goethe-Institut Libanon". www.goethe.de. Archived from the original on 8 January 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2019. https://www.goethe.de/ins/lb/en/spr/unt/for/gia/grd.html ↩

  18. "Gutekunst Prize of the Friends of Goethe New York". Goethe-Institut New York. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019. https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/kul/bks/uef/gut.html ↩

  19. "Die mit dem Wulff tanzen – Nun hat auch Asien eine Künstlerresidenz" (in German). 27 October 2011. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2025. https://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/christian-wulff/wulff-eroeffnet-deutsche-kuenstlerresidenz-in-kyoto-20679370.bild.html ↩

  20. "Wullf eröffnet deutsche Künstlerresidenz in Japan" (in German). Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210517222203/https://www.focus.de/politik/ausland/bundespraesident-wulff-eroeffnet-deutsche-kuenstlerresidenz-in-japan_aid_678277.html ↩

  21. "Villa Kamogawa opening" (in German). Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2025. https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Reden/DE/Christian-Wulff/Reden/2011/10/111026-Japan-Villa-Kamogawa.html?nn=2747918 ↩

  22. ""Kyoto ist ja die Stadt der Kunst und der Bildung"" (in German). Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2025. https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/kyoto-ist-ja-die-stadt-der-kunst-und-der-bildung.954.de.html?dram:article_id=146633 ↩

  23. ""Deutsche Künstlerresidenzen im Ausland"". Deutsche Welle (in German). Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2025. https://www.dw.com/de/deutsche-k%C3%BCnstlerresidenzen-im-ausland/g-16839808 ↩

  24. ""Deutsche Künstlerresidenzen im Ausland"". Deutsche Welle (in German). Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2025. https://www.dw.com/de/deutsche-k%C3%BCnstlerresidenzen-im-ausland/g-16839808 ↩

  25. "Kunst@Kamogawa ～ヴィラ鴨川で、ドイツのアートに親しもう！～" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2025. http://kyoto-artbox.jp/event/16786/ ↩

  26. "ドイツアート Bar Creators@Kamogawa" (PDF) (in Japanese). Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 July 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2025. http://www.kcua.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/STANDARD.pdf ↩

  27. Krex, Alexander (4 September 2012). "Alexander Krex: Das Berghain in Kyoto, Zeit Online". Die Zeit (in German). Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2025. https://www.zeit.de/kultur/musik/2012-09/techno-szene-japan ↩

  28. Pataczek, Anna (25 July 2013). "Deutsch lernen mit Schnäpschen". Der Tagesspiegel. Berlin. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019. https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/60-jahre-sprachkurse-des-goethe-instituts-deutsch-lernen-mit-schnaepschen/8549018.html ↩

  29. Pataczek, Anna (25 July 2013). "Deutsch lernen mit Schnäpschen". Der Tagesspiegel. Berlin. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019. https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/60-jahre-sprachkurse-des-goethe-instituts-deutsch-lernen-mit-schnaepschen/8549018.html ↩

  30. Barmé, Geremie R. (2000). In the Red: On Contemporary Chinese Culture. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-231-50245-0. 978-0-231-50245-0 ↩

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