Five things you didn’t know about the Goethe-Institut
JOBURG – As the Goethe-Institut turns 20, here are some things you may not know about it.
The Goethe-Institut celebrates its 20th anniversary on 27 February and invites you to get to know them a little better before partying with them for their 20-year anniversary celebration.
1. The Goethe-Institut is a German cultural institute which provides Gauteng with a library to facilitate the learning of the culture and the language, as well as a cafeteria for your dining pleasure.
2. As the cultural institute of Germany, the public is welcome to book blended learning courses to learn the language, which combine one classroom lesson a week with exercises on an online platform – which are even available on your cellphone.
3. The Institut was surrounded by brick walls which did not allow the Institut to be seen from Jan Smuts Avenue until 2009, when most of the walls were cracked down.
This was both to commemorate the fall of the Berlin wall (then 20 years ago), but also to ask questions about the social implications of all of societies wall-building.
4. The library inside the Goethe-Institut stocks translated works of German authors, German literature with a focus on Africa, German language learning materials, DVDs, music and children’s literature.
Their new e-library also allows you to borrow digital media such as e-books, e-audios or electronic newspapers.
5. In the last two decades, over 10 000 students enrolled for German language classes, and more than 2 000 of them have received exams.
International DJs João Orecchia, Miz Buttons and Mma Tseleng, as well as a special live performance by German-Chilean DJ and producer Matias Aguayo will make sure that the party celebration will be a great night.
Details at www.goethe.de/joburg
