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An international conference focused on the place and role of German language teaching and German studies in the global environment will be held at The University of Western Australia this month.

Topics to be discussed include Hollywood's representations of the Holocaust;  developments in Germany since the Fall of the Berlin Wall;  German identity and multiculturalism;  and the historical, cultural and religious dimensions of German migration to Australia.

The German economy is the powerhouse of Europe; Germany is home to the latest renewable energy developments; and German thinkers influence the agenda in Europe. Yet since the 1990s the German language has fought for survival in an environment of increasing scepticism about learning languages other than English.

The conference will canvass the latest views on German language teaching and keynote speakers from Germany and Australia will address questions of globalisation and national languages and cultures.

The perspective of the German language on the world stage will be presented by Professor Ulrich Ammon, a leading commentator on the German language, from the University of Duisburg, Germany.

The German Studies Association of Australia will host the conference, with participants from India, Asia, Africa, Europe, the United States and Australia.

WHAT: German Studies Association of Australia Biennial Conference and associated free public lectures

WHEN: Wednesday to Friday November 18-20

WHERE: University Club (Carpark 3, Hackett Entrance 1, Crawley)

FREE PUBLIC LECTURE (in German) Thursday November 19, 4.30-5.30 pm, Professor Ulrich Ammon, ‘Deutsch in aller Welt', Fox Lecture Theatre, UWA

Media references

Winthrop Professor Peter Morgan (UWA School of Humanities)  (+61 8)  9386 2367
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716