Chinese and Foreign Experts Discuss “German as Foreign Language at Zhejiang University

September,12,2007,SIS
           
    September 7-9, the international academic conference on German as Foreign Language was held at Zhejiang University,
present at the conference were 150 scholars and experts from 17 countries and regions in Asia, Europe, Africa and
America. They had discussions about the regionalization and localization of German as a foreign language. The conference
was also meant to carry forward the academic achievements and international reputation of Prof. Steinmueller during
his over 20 years’ cooperation with Chinese universities and institutions, as well as his 4-year deanship at School
of International studies since 2003.       

 

 

    German as Foreign Language (DaF) is a major interdisciplinary research field within the range of Applied Linguistics.
In recent years, the authoritative definition of DaF research projects or obligations has not been limited to German-speaking
countries, although they are making standards and requirements. However, the research of DaF regionalization and
localization has won more and more attention. During the process of globalization, German-speaking countries
and non-German-speaking countries are no longer “providers” and “receivers”, but equal conversation is becoming
increasingly important. And German language experts in many countries have realized the necessity of developing
some methods typical of their own country. At the conference, experts from different countries and regions had many
discussions about “German as Foreign as a Major”, “Teaching of Literature of DaF”, “Area Studies”, “Foreign
Language and New Media”, “Germanic Linguistics: reforms and development”, “Intercultural Communication”,
as well as “Teaching Theory for DaF”. Sino-Germany intercultural communication features the DaF studies at
Zhejiang University. And the course of Economic German is being reported to the ministry of education for the
application of a state-level elite course. And the colleagues in the field have produced a series of academic achievements
in Swiss literature studies, German education thoughts as well as education system. On the evening of the opening
ceremony of the conference, the students of German language and literature of Zhejiang University directed and performed
a party in German. And as has been learned from the conference, successful academic papers of the conference would
be published in Germany by some major German press.