The Philippine German Language Teachers’ Conference 2020 marked a historic milestone as the first fully digital edition due to the pandemic. Held virtually last
May 30, 2020 under the theme "Trotzdem! DLT goes Digital!", the event brought together educators to explore innovative strategies for digital German language teaching.
The conference began with an Opening Ceremony moderated by Katja Becker-Sliwa (DAAD). Participants engaged in the "Marktplatz der Ideen", a networking session where they exchanged best practices on reading comprehension, vocabulary teaching, online teaching strategies, and exam preparation.
A series of expert-led webinars covered diverse topics:
- Grammar reinforcement through classroom projects (Marta Komicz, GESM)
- Games and songs for A1-level German teaching (Andreas Eggert, GESM)
- Scenario-based methods for teaching German in the medical field (Dr. N. Sheytanova, HTW Saar)
- Teaching cultural and intercultural aspects online (Jennifer M. Swanda, Ernst Klett Sprachen)
- Targeted B2 exam preparation with “Sicher aktuell” (Lukas Mayrhofer, Hueber Verlag)
- Integrating literature in beginner-level German courses (Tanja Schwarzmeier, Cornelsen Verlag)
Throughout the day, participants had the opportunity to visit virtual booths from publishing houses such as Ernst Klett Sprachen, Hueber, and Cornelsen, as well as interact with DAAD representatives to learn about study and scholarship opportunities in Germany.
The conference concluded with a closing ceremony and raffle, leaving educators with valuable insights, new resources, and strengthened professional connections. As the first digital edition, this event successfully demonstrated how virtual platforms can be leveraged to foster collaboration and innovation in German language education.
