In Vitebsk, more than 50 schoolchildren from the region received German language diplomas from the German Embassy
A total of five schools in the Vitebsk region have chosen German as their specialized foreign language: these are Polotsk Secondary Schools No. 16 and 18, Vitebsk Secondary Schools No. 34 and 45, and Gymnasium No. 4.
As part of the "Schools: Partners of the Future" initiative of the Goethe-Institut, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2018, students study not only the linguistic heritage but also the culture, history of Germany, get acquainted with its modern life, and communicate with peers from this country. In total, this initiative unites about 1800 schools in 120 countries worldwide.
Students of Secondary School No. 45, where the diploma awarding ceremony took place this year, told guests from the FRG how the German language learning process is organized in their educational institution: here, teachers, in addition to using the developments of their predecessors, apply modern methods, including conducting online lessons that allow children to self-educate even at home.
The school also has a rich German-language library, the main collection of which was replenished with books received from the Goethe-Institut. In addition, in German, the children and their teachers stage performances and sing songs, which helps to engage young people in learning a foreign language.
As noted by Deputy Head of the German Diplomatic Mission in Belarus Anna Luther, schoolchildren in the Dvina region have a high level of German proficiency, and she is very proud that they have chosen this discipline for study, as she considers their native language to be difficult but promising.
The cooperation between our countries, she is sure, can expand not only in the field of education but also in the field of culture: joint exhibitions, competitions, and exchange of library collections will enrich intercultural communication between people and bring them closer.
Ms. Luther and her colleagues also expressed their desire to visit one of the most significant cultural festivals of the northern capital – "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk".