Passau welcomes language students from all over the world

Many young students from all over the world have been coming to Passau each year since the summer courses started in 2002 to learn German on our lovely campus. On 4 August, the University welcomed this year's 125 summer-course students with a Bavarian buffet and Bavarian folk music.

This year's summer course students, Vice President Ursula Reutner, Vice-Mayor Urban Mangold, Deputy Head of the Language Centre Dott. Mag. Cristina Pontalti Ehrhardt, and the Team Coordinator for German as a Foreign Language, Dieter Müller.

This year's summer course students and, in the second row, Vice President Ursula Reutner, Vice-Mayor Urban Mangold, Deputy Head of the Language Centre Dott. Mag. Cristina Pontalti Ehrhardt, and the Team Coordinator for German as a Foreign Language, Dieter Müller (from left to right). Photo: Weichselbaumer/University of Passau

The first welcome speech was delivered by Professor Ursula Reutner, Vice President for International Relations and Director of the Language Centre, which holds the 13th instalment of the summer courses this year. "Azerbaijan, India, Canada – guests from some 37 countries have come to Passau this year to study the GCP’s summer programme," she said. Urban Mangold, Vice-Mayor of Passau emphasised in his speech that it is particularly the international students at the University who make Passau a colourful and youthful place, before giving the floor to Dott. Mag. Cristina Pontalti Ehrhardt, Deputy Head of the Language Centre. After the speeches there was a buffet with traditional Bavarian food, and a folk dance troupe performed traditional Bavarian dances.

The largest group, numbering 35, comes from Russia, followed by Hungary, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, China, Poland and India. The language students will attend a range of different German language courses at beginner, intermediate or advanced level or the Legal German course. The courses offered by the University of Passau comprise 80 teaching hours in total and conclude with a language test. Students who pass the test are then awarded a German language certificate. "This offering allows our guests to perfect their German language skills and the rich cultural supporting programme provides ample opportunities to get acquainted with German culture."

The summer courses are accompanied by additional training seminars such as 'Writing German Job Applications'. The planned extracurricular activities ensure that the language students get to know Passau and the region, as it includes day trips to Munich, Salzburg and ?eský Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other events include a boat cruise on the Danube, an organ concert on the world's largest cathedral organ in the Passauer Dom, and a visit to the Gäubodenfest festival in Straubing.

Of the 125 students, 80 are here on a scholarship. 64 of these are funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). "As the scholarship recipients can choose from a number of destinations, it is just a wonderful sign of the excellent reputation and popularity of our University that so many have chosen Passau," said Vice President Reutner. "German Courses Passau play no small role in making the University of Passau better known abroad and attracting future full-time students and foreign talent to the region."

In addition to the summer courses, German Courses Passau offer programmes that run for one semester or a full academic year to provide optimal German language training to students about to start on a German-taught degree programme. Finally, the 'German Courses on demand' offering also allows for individually-arranged German courses.

Please visit www.gcp.uni-passau.de/en/ for more information.

Notice for editors:
Please address your media enquiries to Simone Unverricht of the Language Centre of the University of Passau/German Courses Passau, phone: +49 851 509 1733, e-mail simone.unverricht@uni-passau.de or contact the Media Relations Section of the University of Passau, phone +49 851 509 1437.

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