Future translators participated in an educational seminar in Bad Kissingen: interesting, exciting, instructive

Students of the Faculty for Humanities and Pedagogics of NULES of Ukraine Kyrylo Vashchenko (2nd year of study), Olena Veselova (3rd year of study), Vyacheslav Annenkov (4th year of study) and Olha Iskova (1st year of magistracy) together with associate professor of the Department of Foreign Philology and Translation Natalia Olkhovska took part in an educational seminar on “Mutual Understanding in Central Europe”, which was held at the Academy of Central Europe in Bad Kissingen (Germany), in November 3-8, 2019.
Student groups from Ukraine (Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Mariupol, Odessa), from the Czech Republic and Romania with a total number of 60 participants were invited to participate in the seminar.
Lecturers of the seminar proposed topics such as "The Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989", "The Hitler-Stalin Pact", "The Peaceful Revolution in the GDR", "The Political Development of the Czech Republic", "Reasons to Love the German Language", "The Germans and the Czechs: What unites and divides them"," Reflection of the Bavarian-Bohemian Neighborhood","Germans in Ukraine: History, Present and Future","November 9 is a fateful day for the Germans", "Between west and east - the political culture of Romania", "Destiny of the Germans in Bad Kissingen," "The Importance of German in Eastern and Central Europe."

Students were given the opportunity to listen to a series of lectures in German, participate in workshops, and therefore improve their communication skills in German. While in Germany, our group also visited cities such as Nuremberg, Würzburg, Schweinfurt and Bamberg.
What are the students' opinions about attending the seminar, let's ask!

Kyrylo Vashchenko, “This trip left only good memories for me. The lectures and excursions were interesting and exciting because they contained a lot of new and useful information on the history of Germany, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Romania. Der Heiligenhof is a comfortable educational center with conference rooms and beautiful outdoor venues with stunning views. This is a great place not only for study but also for relaxation. The small resort town where the seminar was held - Bad Kissingen - cannot help but be a surprise due to its beauty. Everything was top notch! I would definitely like to attend this seminar again.”
Vyacheslav Annenkov, “I want to talk about the seminar in the first place, but the impressions about the cities of Germany once again cloud all other intentions. When we arrived on the plane to Nuremberg, we were greeted by the airport staff. The first impression is always remembered for a long time. Twice (on the day of arrival and departure), walking through the city, I can confirm that Nuremberg is a city of churches and fountains. We have seen not all things but many of them. I looked and marveled at the fact that during the war the city was destroyed by 90%, but the city center, its narrow streets were restored to look ancient, natural and historical. I liked the famous phrase of the city: in Nuremberg, Martin Beheim produced the first globe at a time when Columbus was still desperate to find his way to India.
We visited Würzburg with its fortress Marienberg, located on the western bank of the river Main; Bamberg with its famous building - a four-storey house of the same name - one of the former imperial cathedrals; Schweinfurt is a city that was completely destroyed by Allied aviation in 1945.
The resort town of Bad Kissingen, where the seminar was held - is unsurpassed: the first landscape is the ruins of the castle of Otto von Botenlauben, a Minesinger, who died in 1245, perched on a mountain above the city. The enormous Louispoldpark with enchanting Louispoldbad and Casino buildings (the largest ensemble of historic resort buildings in Europe) is fascinating, as well as the oldest spa garden built in 1738. The sights of this resort can be endlessly listed, but special attention is paid to attending a concert of classical music attended by our group and the Jewish Community House Museum with a permanent exhibition "Jewish Life".
Finally, I’d love to dwell upon a German-only workshop with the participation of students and instructors from the Czech Republic and Romania, apart from us and, accordingly, the host party. More than ten topics were discussed. In order to secure the material, the German organizers showed thematic documentaries.
We were accommodated in a wonderful hotel, and three meals a day, coffee breaks made the seminar pleasant and unforgettable.
Studying at the University when there are such seminars is the best that can be imagined for a student."
Let's join this thought and encourage students to learn German, be active, try to participate in various seminars and conferences!

Natalia Olkhovska,
Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Philology and Translation
Faculty for Humanities and Pedagogics