The staff is committed to teaching the languages of today, as they are actually spoken and written. Language courses also cover geographical and cultural aspects of the country concerned, familiarizing participants with both everyday and professional life and promoting understanding of current cultural, economic and political developments. Instructors employ only state-of-the-art pedagogical materials and tailor their curricula and instructional approaches to participants' specific needs and interests and level of language ability. The IIK offers:

• basic language courses at elementary, intermediate and advanced levels: German, English, French, Spanish, Swedish and Russian
• business language courses with special attention to the needs of medium-sized companies: German, English, French, Spanish and Russian
• specialized German language courses for a variety of industries and trades, including the hotel industry, catering and tourism
• conference language courses: German, English, French, Russian and Swedish
• booster courses in German as a native language and in the foreign languages taught at German-speaking schools
• compact, crash and refresher courses for small groups (10-15) and individuals

The IIK's second main area of activity is the training and further education of language and information technology teachers as well as students of German in the fields of linguistics, didactics and regional studies. Seminars and workshops are offered in:

• current trends of contemporary German
• teaching German as a foreign/second language
• language policy and German culture with emphasis on German literature
• group language exercises for different levels
• increasing vocabulary and grammatical accuracy
• improving listening, reading, speaking and writing skills
• teaching business German
• regional studies, German literature, phonetics, rhetoric
• evaluation and application of multimedia and video technology, and on-line services

To enhance their individual programs and as part of project work, participants also attend German and foreign language classes at local schools, and visit various institutions and cultural and economic centers. The IIK's courses, workshops and conferences are conducted by dedicated professors and lecturers who draw upon a vast body of experience teaching and researching in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. Among them, five have post-doctoral qualifications and ten have written theses on native or foreign language didactics or linguistics. In collaboration with TGFL teachers from the Bielefeld and Jena universities, IIK wrote the two-volume Einführung in die Didaktik Deutsch als Fremdsprache mit Videobeispielen published by Schneiderverlag Hohengehren.

The development and application of interactive multimedia and video software, IIK's third main area of activity, profits from the research of team members in the form of theses, monographs and field studies. The team has put together an extensive monograph, "Multimedia-eine neue Herausforderung für den Sprachunterricht" (published by Peter Lang in 1996) which contains both methodological instructions for the generation of multimedia software and suggestions for the use of interactive media in language instruction, education in general and in economy and trade.
Field studies coordinated and carried out by the team within the framework of an EU LINGUA project analyzed the need of small- and medium-sized companies in Germany, Denmark, France and Spain to learn foreign languages. These studies formed the basis of the first CD ROM produced by the IIK research group, "Multimedia" that deals specifically with the business German used in small- and medium-sized companies and which is part of a multimedia package including a video and a textbook. This CD ROM has served as a model for the production of other CD ROMs for business French, business Spanish and business Danish. The CD ROM "Geschäftssprache Deutsch" is distributed by Inter Nationes (via AATG in the USA).

The IIK is also either coordinator or partner in the following EU-projects:

1. development of a multimedia language learning program on CD-ROM in German, English and Finnish for employees of small and medium-sized advertising firms
2. use of on-line services in companies and training
3. theoretical and practical introduction to the uses of interactive media for executive personnel and multipliers
4. use of modern strategies, methods and technologies to secure occupation and location
5. empowerment of youth through life skills training and the development of concepts of equal opportunity for underprivileged young persons and
6. development of a language training module for business Italian

In conjunction with Inter Nationes and other publishing houses, the IIK produces interactive software for language training (e.g. "Von Aachen bis Zwickau").

The knowledge gained through the production and application of multimedia software is immediately applied to language teaching at the IIK self-learning centers at Ansbach, Berlin, Dinkelsbühl, Erfurt, Jena, Rothenburg, Rudolstadt and Weimar. The IIK team is aware of the importance of training teachers and tutors in the use of the latest interactive media so they will be able to give students and colleagues sound advice on the selection of appropriate software and its application. Since 1994 the IIK has, therefore, regularly held workshops on the use of multimedia in schools, universities and companies. Together with the Europauniversität Viadrina, Frankfurt/Oder and the Institut für Medienintegration, the IIK held an international expert conference titled "Learning foreign languages and interactive media".

The necessity of preparing students to meet the needs of today's high-tech communication society is indisputable. The importance the IIK attaches to interactive media is reflected in its training schemes. In cooperation with the labor offices of North Bavaria, and the Chambers of Industry and Commerce of East Thuringia and Nuremberg, it has held workshops on the role of interactive media in the information age, especially their potential for government administration and for small- and medium-sized companies.

Recently the IIK has been offering organized culture and language excursions for adults, children and young people in Berlin and Brandenburg, along the Klassikerstraße in Thuringia and the Romantikerstraße and Burgenstraße in Bavaria. The IIK is involved in organizing youth exchanges between Germany and Northern Europe within the framework of the SOKRATES Program of the European Community. It coordinates the exchange between schools from Oskarshamn (Sweden) and Jyväskylä (Finland) and Berlin and Jena.

The IIK takes on the challenging task of providing a comprehensive cultural and historical backdrop to the 185-mile long Klassikerstraße (the road linking towns associated with famous German classical literary figures), located in Thuringia in central Germany and stretching from Luther's and Bach's Eisenach to the theater and skat town of Altenburg. It is the road along which:

• Goethe and Schiller met and wrote some of the greatest works of Western literature,
• the "Musenhof" of Dowager Duchess Anna Amalia shaped the intellectual and cultural history of Europe,
• Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss, Max Reger and many other great musicians composed, conducted and performed,
• distinguished philosophers, natural scientists, writers and pedagogues such as Wieland, Brentano, Fichte, Hegel, Schelling, Nietsche, the Humboldt brothers, GutsMuths, Fröbel and Salzmann have left their marks,
• great architects built castles, fortresses, churches and monasteries which still inspire our awe,
• one can admire the paintings by such famous artists as Lucas Cranach the Elder, Otto Dix and Lionel Feininger,
• one can find a colorful and diverse array of historical folk art,
• the broad range of theaters and concert halls, museums and memorials reflect the rich Thuringian cultural scene,
• hills and valleys, forests and meadows, beautiful parks and gardens offer ample opportunity for recreation,
• and where hospitality and excellent cuisine abound.

The above description was taken from the brochure "Klassikerstraße Thüringen" published by the Thuringian Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure that includes a CD ROM offering a wide spectrum of information. We hope that you will recognize therein that the IIK is a superior organizer of culture and language excursions-"Wo finden Sie auf einem so engen Fleck noch so viel Gutes?" (Goethe to his late secretary Eckermann)

The members of the Institute are distinguished German and foreign university Professors and lecturers all of whom have extensively taught, lectured and researched at institutions in Germany and abroad. The foreign members-professors, lecturers, journalists and public figures-play key roles in education, the media and the economy, e.g. in Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, Russia, Sweden, the Slovak Republic, Spain and the USA.

Teacher Training & Continuing Education partners and affiliates:
Pädagogischer Austauschdienst der Ständigen Kultusministerkonferenz
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
Education offices and institutions for teacher training in Bavaria, Berlin and Thuringia
Universities of Frankfurt/ Oder and Karlsruhe Lehrerfortbildungsakademie Dillingen
Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache and Sprachverband für ausländische Arbeitnehmer
IIK sister institutes in Ancona, Budapest, Düsseldorf and Zurich
Internationaler Arbeitskreis Sonnenberg
St. Andreasberg Associations of German language teachers of Belgium, Spain, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Austria, Denmark, France and the USA
Department of teacher training of Uppsala University, Sweden
Universities of Pisa, Florence, Atlanta, Sofia, Debrecen, Oxford/Ohio, Manchester, Monterey, Jyväskylä, Queensland, Ljubljana, Vermillion, Yokohama and Graz
Colleges/faculties of education in Orenburg, Presov and Bratislava
Academy for further training of teachers in de la Creuse in Guéret
School of Economics, Helsinki and Bratislava

EU LINGUA Projects partners and affiliates:
Institut für Medien in der Aus- und Weiterbildung, Berlin
Industrie- und Handelskammer Ostthüringen
Spanish association of German language teachers (SEPA)
School of Commerce, Aarhus, Denmark
Langues et Communication Tournon, France
IHK Industrie- und Handelskammer Ostthüringen Gera/Jena
Central language institute of the Finnish universities and colleges
advertising agency "www Finland" (Helsinki)
Gründerzentrum Gunzenhausen
Metropolitan University of Manchester
The Flemish Society in Brussels
Lenteleven Brussels
Unidad de Promocion y Desarrolo in Granada
Zenneio Pilot Secondary School in Moschato
ASSET Association for Education and Technology Transfer in Athens
Acon Associates in Dublin
Zeeland College in Vlissingen
Dr DH Groen College in Almeto
Staffside Secretariat (N. W. Provincial Council) in Manchester
N. W. local authorities Great Britain
Employees Organisation in Salford Greater Manchester
Dow Stoker in Bishop's Stortford
INSTITUTO PER LA COMMUNICAZIONE INTERNAZIONALE in Ancona
Agricultural Faculty Ancona
Assindustiria Ancona
ASSOCORCE Roma
CCIAA Ancona
IHK Glauchau

Multimedia Workshops & Conferences partners and affiliates:
Governmental school offices and institutions for further education in Bavaria, Berlin/Brandenburg and Thuringia
US association of German language teachers (AATG)
Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache
Klett publishing house
Pädagogischer Austauschdienst bei der Ständigen Kultusministerkonferenz, Bonn
Universities and other educational institutions in the FRG and abroad

The IIK agreed on Training courses as well as seminars for management personnel in industry, trade and the telecommunication sector and for economics and law students with the following institutions:
International Institute of Economics and Law, Moscow
Town council and regional administration of Orenburg
Lauder Institute of Pennsylvania University
Georgia Tech University, Atlanta