As part of the annual Summer Course on German Language and Culture, committed students came together again this summer (19 July-16 August 2017) to deepen their German language skills. Our US partners Florida State University, the University of South Dakota and the University of Wyoming sent students to spend four weeks gaining a better understanding of Germany and our university.

In addition to developing foreign language skills in the more than 100 lessons of the German course, the focus of the course was on developing a sharpened cultural view of Germany. Weekly excursions (to Bremen and Bremerhaven, to Groningen and to the North Sea island of Langeoog) enriched the programme with practical insights into German geography and culture. The students also met weekly in the evenings to speak German with their Oldenburg buddies at the Stammtisch in Oldenburg city centre or at the Intercultural Meeting Point at the university.

The summer course has been running for many years and is an effective way for us to keep student exchanges with partners active, to recruit students via a short-term programme and to secure exchange places at partner universities.

The students found the summer course very enriching, and we were also enriched by their visit. We hope to welcome many students here again next year.