Omani schools to have German as second language

Muscat: Oman became the first country in the Gulf region to introduce German as a second foreign language from the new academic year.

“German language plays an important role in economic development, and particularly in tourism for Oman,” said Dr. Madiha Bint Ahmad Al Shaibani, Minister of Education.

According to a press release issued on Tuesday by the Goethe-Institut, the Education Ministry in Oman introduced the German language at five schools as a pilot project. The two-year beginners level course is taught for Grade XI and XII pupils.

The ministry has chosen two girls and one boy’s school in Muscat and a girl’s and a boy’s school each in Batinah region for teaching German language. “About 100 pupils have opted for the German language in these school,” a spokesperson for the Goethe-Institue said.

“We are thankful to the Goethe-Institut for its active role in introducing German at Omani schools,” the Omani minister added.

She further said that the Goethe-Institut was involve in supervising quality of teaching as well as training German language teachers. “We hope to continue doing the collaboration with the Goethe-Institut in future,” she said.

“It is crucial for every society that young people learn different languages,” reckons Susanne Sporrer, Director of the Goethe Institute Gulf Region.

“Oman gives a very good example by qualifying its own teachers to teach German as a foreign language,” she pointed out.

“These teachers are role models for the next generation that learning a new language is not that difficult but opens new opportunities in life,” she added.

Ten English language teachers have been trained in German language for the last two years.