Logo Goethe-Institut

German Teachers
 Recruitment and qualification

Teacher with students © Goethe-Institut, Getty Images

We implement a broad-based policy for recruitment, qualification and professional development of German teachers, to ensure optimum use of the language course and exam capacities for qualification of skilled workers at locations with high potential for skilled workers.

We can reach relevant target groups with a variety of initiatives and programmes:

  • To ensure that German learning is promoted as early as possible, we support German teachers at PASCH schools and thereby improve the quality of German teaching at mainstream secondary schools.
  • Cooperative arrangements between universities and the Goethe-Institut are in place to offer students in-depth preparation for careers in teaching German as a Foreign Language (Deutsch als Fremdsprache; DaF) through “Deutsch Lehren Lernen” (DLL), a qualification and skills development programme delivered by the Goethe-Institut.
  • The Goethe-Institutes abroad qualify their own teachers through the standardised internal training programme known as the “Grünes Diplom” (Green Diploma).
  • We have a wide range of skills development opportunities in face-to-face or digital formats available worldwide for teachers of German as a second/foreign language to enhance their qualifications.
  • To cater for the individual needs of the skilled worker target audience, we offer German courses with a focus on specialist language and professional orientation at many Goethe-Institutes worldwide, and these are delivered by teachers with specialist training in that field.

Why do we enjoy teaching German

Ten German teachers from all around the world tell us why they chose this career.

Why we like teaching German - Ousmane Kaboré Foto: Goethe-Institut / Contextfilm Foto: Goethe-Institut / Contextfilm

Professional development

Every year the Goethe-Institut provides more than 1000 skills development courses for German teachers in all parts of the world and online. You can benefit from our expertise and exchange ideas with colleagues all over the world.

Zertifizierte Online-Fortbildungen für DaF/DaZ-Lehrkräfte im Bereich Methodik und Didaktik, Mediendidaktik und weitere Angebote. Weiterbildung auf höchstem Niveau - berufsbegleitend und praxisnah mit den Online-Fortbildungen des Goethe-Instituts. © Gettyimages © Gettyimages

Das Grüne Diplom

The “Green Diploma” is a standardised qualification for teachers at Goethe-Institutes abroad. It is recognised by all Goethe-Institutes worldwide as evidence of a teaching qualification in Deutsch als Fremdsprache (German as a Foreign Language).

Deutsch lehren lernen®

Deutsch Lehren Lernen (DLL) is the professional development series for international qualification in German as a foreign language as well as German as a second language.

DLL 1-17 © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

Cooperative arrangements with universities

The Deutsch Lehren Lernen (DLL) programme organises cooperative arrangements between universities and the Goethe-Institut for university-based DaF training and professional development.

Classroom in Melbourne © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

„Schools: Partners for the Future” initiative

PASCH is a worldwide network connecting more than 2000 PASCH schools with a particular link to Germany. The Goethe-Institut acts as mentor to around 700 PASCH schools in the national education systems of over 120 countries.

Initiative „Schulen: Partner der Zukunft“ (PASCH) © Kai Uwe Oesterhellweg © Kai Uwe Oesterhellweg

No skilled workers in Germany without German teachers abroad

In Jordan, Mexico and the Philippines, fewer and fewer German courses can be held. This also has an impact on the shortage of skilled workers in Germany. What to do about it.

A group of students gives a presentation on the blackboard in a classroom. They are all wearing nurses' clothes. © Nguyen Thanh Huong, Goethe-Institut Hanoi © Nguyen Thanh Huong, Goethe-Institut Hanoi

Keine Fachkräfte ohne Lehrkräfte

Bei der vom Goethe-Institut organisierten Konferenz am 10. und 11. Juni in Berlin diskutierten Akteur*innen aus Politik, Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Fachkreisen die Zusammenhänge zwischen der Gewinnung und Qualifizierung von Deutschlehrkräften im In- und Ausland und dem dringenden Fachkräftebedarf.

Back to Skilled workers from abroad

Follow us