Goethe Institut Kuala Lumpur

Goethe-Institut, Prague

Goethe Institut Oslo

The Goethe-Institut (GI) (German: [ˈɡøːtə ɪnstiˈtuːt]; English: Goethe Institute) is a non-profit German cultural association operational worldwide, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange and relations.

The Goethe-Institut fosters knowledge about Germany by providing information on German culture, society and politics. This includes the exchange of films, music, theatre, and literature. Goethe cultural societies, reading rooms, and exam and language centers have played a role in the cultural and educational policies of Germany for close to 60 years.^[1]

It is named after German polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The Goethe-Institut e.V. is autonomous and politically independent.

Partners of the institute and its centers are public and private cultural institutions, the federal states, local authorities and the world of commerce. Much of the Goethe-Institut's overall budget consists of yearly grants from the German Foreign Office and the German Press Office. The relationship with the Foreign Office is governed by general agreement. Self-generated income and contributions from sponsors and patrons, partners and friends broaden the scope of the work of the Goethe-Institut.

History[link]

1951 The Goethe-Institut was founded as successor to the German Academy (Deutsche Akademie/DA), which was founded in 1925. Its first task was to provide further training for foreign German teachers in Germany.

1953 The first language courses run by the Goethe-Institut began in Bad Reichenhall. Due to growing demand, new centres of learning were opened in Murnau and Kochel, the focus of selection being on towns which were small and idyllic and which show post-war Germany at its best. Lessons were taught from the first textbook developed by the Goethe-Institut, the now legendary "Schulz-Griesbach".

1953-55 The first foreign lectureships of what was the German Academy were taken on by the Goethe-Institut. Responsibilities include German tuition, teacher training and providing a program of cultural events to accompany courses.

1959-60 On the initiative of the head of the arts sector of the Foreign Office, Dieter Sattler, the Goethe-Institut gradually took over all of the German cultural institutes abroad.

1968 Influenced by the student revolts of the late 1960s the Goethe-Institut readjusted its program of cultural events to include socio-political topics and avant-garde art.

1970 Acting on behalf of the Foreign Office Ralf Dahrendorf developed his "guiding principles for foreign cultural policy". Cultural work involving dialog and partnership was declared the third pillar of German foreign policy. During the Willy Brandt era the concept of "extended culture" formed the basis of activities at the Goethe-Institut.

1976 The Foreign Office and the Goethe-Institut signed a general agreement governing the status of the Goethe-Institut, henceforth an independent cultural organization.

1980 A new concept regarding the location of institutes within Germany was drawn up. Places of instruction in small towns, mostly in Bavaria, were replaced by institutes in cities and university towns.

1989/90 The fall of the Berlin Wall marked a turning point for the Goethe-Institut. Its activities in the 1990s were centred on Eastern Europe. Numerous new institutes were set up as a result.

2001 The Goethe-Institut merges with Inter Nationes.

2004 The Goethe-Institut established the first Western information centre in Pyongyang, North Korea (closed in 2009).^[2]

The Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes reverted to its original and official name, Goethe-Institut (GI).

2005 The Goethe-Institut was honored with the Prince-of-Asturias Prize of Spain.

2007 For the first time in more than ten years the German parliament increased the funds of the Goethe-Institut.

2010 Bruno Bozzetto created a new Goethe-Institut film named "Va Bene".

Organization[link]

Goethe Institut headquarters, Munich

The Goethe-Institut is mainly financed by the national government of Germany, and has around 3,300 employees and an overall budget of approximately 278 million euros at its disposal, more than half of which is generated from language course tuition and examination fees. The Goethe-Institut offers scholarships, including tuition waiver, to students from foreign countries, who want to become teachers of German. One of the selection criteria for these scholarships is social or financial need.

The Goethe-Institut has its headquarters in Munich. Its president is Klaus-Dieter Lehmann, the General Secretary Dr. Hans-Georg Knopp; Financial Manager Mr. Jürgen Maier.

Exams[link]

The institute has developed a series of exams for learners of German as a foreign language (Deutsch als Fremdsprache, DaF) at all levels: A1 up to C2. These can be taken both in Germany and abroad, and have been adapted to fit into the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFL), the standard for European language testing. There is also one exam, the Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom, which is at a higher level than the highest CEFL level.^[3] Below is a table of the basic Goethe-Institut exams as they fit into the scheme:

In 2000, the Goethe-Institut helped to found the Society for Academic Test Development (Gesellschaft für Akademische Testentwicklung e.V.). The resulting TestDaF exams are run by the TestDaF-Institut in Hagen. The tests are supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and are aimed at people who would like to study at German universities, academics and scientists. The TestDaF can be taken in Germany as well as in 65 other countries.

Recognition[link]

In 2005, along with the Alliance française, the Società Dante Alighieri, the British Council, the Instituto Cervantes, and the Instituto Camões, the Goethe-Institut was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for achievements in communications and the humanities.

In 2007, it received a special Konrad Duden Prize for its work in the field of German language.^[4]

By country[link]

Goethe Institut located on Tonalá Street in Colonia Roma in Mexico City

German stamp, 2001

• In Iran, the Goethe-Institut opened in Tehran in 1958, but was forced to close in 1981 in a diplomatic row between the host country and Germany; the institut reopened under the German embassy in Tehran as a "point for dialogue."
• In Pakistan, the Lahore chapter of the Goethe-Institut is named "Annemarie Schimmel Haus", in honour of the well-known German Orientalist and scholar, who wrote extensively on Islam and Sufism; the Annemarie-Schimmel-Haus shares its premises with the Alliance française Lahore (AF), and together they organise joint cultural events.^[5]

• The Instituts in India are called Max Müller Bhavans, in honour of the German philologist and Indologist.
• In Indonesia, there are two Goethe-Institut: in Jakarta and Bandung, and a Goethe-Zentrum in Surabaya.

Virtual presence[link]

The Goethe-Institut offers e-learning courses.

See also[link]

• List of Goethe-Institut locations
• German American Partnership Program
• Goethe Medal

References[link]

1. ^ Goethe-Institut looks back on 60 years of cultural exchange, August 29, 2011, Deutsche Welle, accessed May 9, 2012.
2. ^ Goethe-Institut to close center in North Korea on censorship claim , November 26, 2009, Deutsche Welle, accessed May 9, 2012.
3. ^ "Goethe-Institut launches Tiruchi Centre". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/20/stories/2011012062010200.htm. Retrieved 2012-05-11. 
4. ^ 06.03.2007: Goethe-Institut erhält Konrad-Duden-Sonderpreis (German)
5. ^ "Goethe-Institut to start Tiruchi centre next year". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/10/stories/2010091065930300.htm. Retrieved 2012-05-11. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Goethe-Institut

• Official Goethe-Institut web site (in German and English)
  • List of locations from the Goethe-Institut web site (in German and English)
  • Learning German with the Goethe-Institut
  • Learning German in Germany – German courses and exams - Goethe-Institut in Germany
• TestDaF homepage

Bruno Bozzetto (born 3 March 1938 in Milan, Italy) is an Italian cartoon animator, creator of many short pieces, mainly of a political or satirical nature. He created his first animated short "Tapum! the weapons' story" in 1958 at the age of 20. His most famous character, a hapless little man named "Signor Rossi" (Mr. Rossi), has been featured in many animated shorts as well as starring in three feature films: "Mr. Rossi Looks for Happiness" (1976), "Mr. Rossi's Dreams" (1977), and "Mr. Rossi's Vacation" (1977).

In 1965, Bozzetto produced his first feature-length animated film: West and soda, a parody of American Western films. In 1968, Bozzetto released VIP my Brother Superman, a superhero spin-off. However, his best-known work is probably the 1976 feature film Allegro Non Troppo, a collection of short pieces set to classical music in the manner of Disney's Fantasia, but more humorous in nature, economical in execution and with more sophisticated narrative themes. After a long break, Bozzetto produced a live-action film in 1987, "Under the Chinese Restaurant", his last feature film work until assisting on the pilot for "Mammuk" (2002), an animated film set in prehistoric times (now being produced by Rai Cinema and The Animation Band).

1990 saw the release of Grasshoppers (Cavallette), which was a nominee for the Best Animated Short Oscar.

In 1995, he produced an animated short for Hanna Barbera's "What A Cartoon" series entitled "Help?" and in 1996, in cooperation with RAI and with the support of Cartoon (Media Programme of the European Union), he created "The Spaghetti Family" a 26-episode cartoon television series.

In recent years Bozzetto has turned his hand to flash cartoons, most notably with the award-winning "Europe and Italy", a witty and graphically elegant commentary on European vs. Italian sociocultural attributes.

Awards (selected recent)[link]

• (2003) Bergamo International Cinema Festival: Career award (Premio delle mura)
• (2001) Tehran Second International Animation Festival: Special Award of the Jury (“Europe and Italy”)
• (2000) Zagreb Film Festival: Special Jury Award "for original observation of human diversity"
• (1998) Zagreb 13th World Festival of Animated Films: Life Achievement Award "for outstanding and universal contribution to the development of the art of animation"

References[link]

External links[link]

• Bruno Bozzetto at the Internet Movie Database
• Bruno Bozzetto's home page
• "Yes/No" flash cartoon satire on safe driving
• Film teaser for Mammuk, Bozzetto's project in (34 mb)