German Language Course at the Goethe Institut

I am grateful to the European Studies Council for giving me the opportunity to advance my German language skills this summer. I spent seven weeks in Freiburg im Breisgau, a small city in the southwest of Germany, where I studied at the Goethe Institut and Berlitz. I participated in two consecutive sessions of the Goethe Institut’s intensive language program, which met for 4.5 hours five mornings a week. In addition, I took a number of private lessons at both the Goethe Institut and at Berlitz, where I was able to focus on the specific skills needed to read German philosophy and other material central to my doctoral project. 

Freiburg was a fantastic place to immerse myself in the language and culture. When I was not in class or completing homework, I was practicing German at restaurants and cafes, attending cultural events like classical music or organ concerts, and hiking in the Black Forest, which is adjacent to the city. I also had the opportunity to attend a conference in the theology department at the University of Freiburg, which was focused on themes related to my own research interests and served as another opportunity to practice academic German. Overall, I had a wonderful experience and am confident that the language skills I acquired this summer will help me immensely as I continue through my PhD program.