Language institute a window on a culture

THE GOETHE-INSTITUT is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to promote the German language and culture, and in its dual function as promoter of both language and culture, is comparable to The British Council, Alliance Francaise and Portugal's Instituto Cam?es.

German is the ninth most widely spoken language, with more than 100 million native speakers. Outside Germany, the language enjoys official status in seven other countries.

Beyond Germany, the language is the native tongue of Austria, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, two-thirds of Switzerland, a part of Italy (the province of South Tyrol) and the parts of Belgium and Denmark adjoining Germany.

German-speaking communities are also found in Romania, Russia and the former German colony of Namibia, in southwest Africa.

Internationally, the demand for German-language instruction remains strong, especially with business people keen to increase their access to the German-speaking nations of the European Union.

According to Singapore-based linguist Otto Seltsamliebe: 'German is not considered hard to learn, especially as it is 100 per cent phonetic, unlike many of its continental cousins, such as English and French.

'It is generally a straightforward language, but learners do need to remember, when writing, to start every noun with a capital.'