Lesia Ovsiienko, Associate Professor at the Department of German Philology at Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy, completed a training programme at the Goethe-Institut in Dresden entitled “Sprache, Landeskunde und kulturelles Lernen”.

The programme combined modern approaches to teaching German, country studies, cultural learning, and practical experience.

The programme was intensive and diverse, featuring group work, experience sharing, presentations of the participants’ own educational projects, city tours, work with authentic materials, modern textbooks, and digital tools, as well as the use of AI in German language teaching.

A key component of the programme was the opportunity to explore Dresden and its culture firsthand, as real-life experience is one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of a country.

The international composition of the group was particularly valuable. Teachers from Egypt, Iraq, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Bangladesh, and Ukraine took part in the programme.

“We became part of a large international team, with each member bringing their own pedagogical experience, traditions, and perspective on teaching German,” the participants noted.

“Meetings like these demonstrate that the German language unites people from different continents, while professional dialogue helps generate new ideas and find inspiration for our own teaching. Dresden gave me new knowledge, international connections, professional insights, and a wealth of inspiration that I would like to bring back to my Ukrainian classroom. I thank the Goethe-Institut Ukraine for the invitation and look forward to further fruitful cooperation,” said Lesia Ovsiienko.

Lesia Ovsiienko, Associate Professor at the Department of German Philology