Under the theme “The Role of Global Citizenship in Foreign Language and Intercultural Education,” the conference explored how language education can foster learners who are linguistically, culturally, and ethically equipped to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future. More than 80 participants from various parts of the world, including Peru and South Africa, took part in the event.
The programme included a welcome reception celebrating the 10th anniversary of the event; daily research presentations and workshops held in the new AUAS campus buildings (only a few months old!); visits to the local Christmas market; a traditional German Christmas roasted goose meal in the middle of the Spessart Forest (participants had to walk through the dark forest with a torch!); and an excursion to the Snow White Castle in the nearby town of Lohr am Main.
At the event, Mariya presented her paper titled “Promoting Intercultural Competence and Sustainable Communities Through Online Collaboration: Japanese as a Lingua Franca."
Mariya pictured in front of the Snow White Castle with one of the keynote speakers, Jens Alwood (Professor Emeritus, Gothenburg University, Sweden).