Today German is one of the most popular languages ??in Europe - over 90 million people speak it. In Ukraine, the German study 750 000 people. Throughout the Year, language and literature will become platforms for the transfer of modern culture, educational standards and European values.

"The decision to hold the Ukrainian-German Year of Languages ??was taken last year by the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Germany, so that 25 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations and through the language closer to rally the people of both countries," says Ernst Reichel, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine.

The first projects within the Year of Languages ??have already begun, among them: "Together to the goal" for representatives of national minorities of Ukraine, an international video project "Refugees. Past and Present "and interactive activities for teachers. Officially the Year of Languages ??will open with a two-day open-air festival in the center of Kiev on 9 and 10 September 2017. The program includes concerts of German and Ukrainian groups, poetic slam and break dance, author's readings, theater performances and a book fair.

From September 2017 until the summer of 2018, various events are planned across the country. Among them are musical tours of young German bands, professional symposiums, summer camps for schoolchildren and "German digital children's university" - online courses for children based on innovative methods.

"Ukraine ranks 5th in the world in terms of the number of people who study German. For many young people, German is the bridge to the heart of Europe and their path to professional success, says Goethe-Institut director in Ukraine Beate Kohler. - Thanks to the Ukrainian-German year of languages, we would like to build this bridge and increase the interest in German culture. In addition, we would like to create opportunities for the professional development of German teachers and cultural managers, for example, through olympiads and seminars. And also to address to a wide audience, after all the slogan of the Ukrainian-German year of languages ??sounds: "Take the next step!". And we hope that thousands of Ukrainians will take this next step in learning the German language ".

Organizers of the Ukrainian-German Year of Languages ??2017/2018 - Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Germany, German Embassy in Kiev, Goethe-Institut in Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

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