Department of Germanic and Eastern Languages and Translation

The Department of Germanic and Oriental Languages was established on June 14, 2012, by Order No. 178a “On the Establishment of the Department of Germanic and Oriental Languages of the School of Linguistics and Translation”. In 2020, the department was renamed the Department of Germanic and Oriental Languages and Translation. Since September 05, 2023, the department has been headed by PhD in Philology, Associate Professor Arina Leonivna Frumkina.

The high level of training of the teaching staff, including graduates of leading European universities, specialists in various fields of philology (comparative and historical and typological linguistics, languages of Asia, Africa, Aboriginal America and Australia, Germanic languages) and those who have completed advanced training in Germany, Austria and China, allows us to say with confidence that the Department of Germanic and Oriental Languages and Translation takes a worthy place in the large family of the International Humanitarian University.

The Department's academic staff is constantly searching for new methods, ways and techniques of teaching translation and foreign languages, in particular Germanic and Oriental languages, and helps students to realize the cultural values and ethical norms of behavior inherent in native speakers of a particular language.

This year, the department's research topic is “Communicative Approach as an Optimal Means of Learning a Foreign Language at a University.”

The Department of Germanic and Oriental Languages and Translation offers the opportunity to obtain a bachelor's degree in philology, translation, and teaching of English and German (Chinese). On the basis of this level, you can continue your studies and obtain a master's degree in philology, translation, and teaching of English and German (Chinese). Having received high-quality training at the department, some of our graduates continue their studies in master's and postgraduate programs at leading universities in Ukraine and abroad.

On November 14, 2023, at the initiative of the Department of Germanic and Oriental Languages and Translation, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the International Humanitarian University and the StartDeutsch School. The agreement is aimed at improving the level of German language proficiency, and it provides for the possibility of student internships at the German language school, thematic events and lectures.

The department has a speaking club with native speakers of German, German language courses for different levels of language training (from A1 to C1 for successful completion of exams and obtaining ÖSD, TestDaF diplomas) for education, professional internships and employment, including for scientists. The department also offers courses for those wishing to learn Chinese.
German is the second most widely taught language in Ukrainian schools after English, and 52% of students choose it as a second foreign language. German language proficiency means studying in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), as well as programs for professional internships and employment. For scientists, it means more chances to receive grants for their research. Many students go to Germany to continue their education because it is free for foreigners, and after graduation, students have even more opportunities.

The department maintains ties with the DAAD and the Goethe Institute in Ukraine. Associate Professor Ihor Valeriyovych Peresada took part in the seminar for German language teachers “Austrian Days in Chisinau” organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education. The program of the seminar covered various aspects of teaching and learning German, including the peculiarities of the Austrian variant of German; computer programs for teaching German; and a country studies workshop dedicated to the Austrian capital, Vienna. It is also worth noting that the teachers of the Department of Germanic and Oriental Languages and Translation are members of the Association of Ukrainian Germanists.
Our students have a unique opportunity to continue their studies or do internships in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and China. For example, in 2015, our student Anastasiia Apaliaieva did an internship in Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany, under the exchange program “Experten-Praktika Ukraine-Moldau in Nordbayern”. The internship program was organized by the NGO Dekabristen e.V. with the support of the German Ministry of Finance.

The Department of Germanic and Oriental Languages actively cooperates with the Confucius Institute in Odesa. The department employs volunteers who are native speakers. Our Chinese colleagues constantly inform students about scholarship programs for studying in China, about summer and winter language camps at leading universities in Beijing and Harbin. It is worth mentioning that all expenses for staying in the country (accommodation, meals, excursion program) are covered by the Chinese side.

The Confucius Institute holds an international contest called “Bridge of Chinese”, and the winner represents Ukraine in the final in Beijing among more than 50 countries. Chinese colleagues noted the high level of language training of our students. Ruban Elizaveta, who took 1st place in the semifinals and 2nd place in the final of this competition, received a scholarship to study in China. The winners of 2016 and 2017 were again our students - Shemet Diana and Ruban Elizaveta. Diana also demonstrated her skills in playing the ancient Chinese musical instrument guzheng.