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| July 2001 Newsletter | |
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| SUMMER CONVERSATION MEETINGS & OTHER LANGUAGE COURSES NEWS | |
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Conversation meetings in the German language will be held at our premises during the summer months until the last week in September. No pre-booking is necessary for these meetings which are free of charge and open only to members of the Circle. All sessions are of two hours and commence at 6.30p.m. The following timetable applies: Members having completed the Grundstufe IA: Every Tuesday (first meeting 10th July) Members having completed the Grundstufe IB: Every Wednesday (first meeting 11th July) Members having completed the Grundstufe II or the ZD levels or have an "O" level in German: Every Thursday (first meeting 12th July).
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| DAS ÄLTERWERDEN UND DIE ZEIT von Günter Schlichte | |
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| Auf Wiedersehen Gerhard und Milena Kunz | |
Messina Palace was the venue for a Soirée d'Honneur held to pay tribute to outgoing German Ambassador Gerhard Kunz and his wife Milena. A large audience led by the President of the Republic of Malta, H.E.Prof. Guido de Marco, was present for this evening which included a talk by Albert Friggieri on A German 16th Century description of Malta in verse: Duke Ludwig I of Anhalt-Köthen's account of his seven week stay in Malta 1598-1599, followed by interventions by the President of the Republic, by the Circle's Secretary, Victor Sammut and by Mr Kunz himself. The event included a delightful concert by The Vallette Clarinet Quartet. Mr Carmel Fenech, the President of the German Maltese Circle presented Mr & Mrs Kunz with a beautiful silver clock. Herewith we are reproducing Mr Sammut's speech dealing with his experiences with Gerhard and Milena Kunz."During the thirty years of service I have been rendering to the German-Maltese Circle, it has been my privilege to work very closely and directly with the different Ambassadors who would be occupying that post at the German Embassy in Malta. Naturally it is to be expected that all these gentlemen had their different personalities, different working attitudes and aptitudes and different backgrounds. But there was - I was going to say always - but to be precise, there was an exception - one common factor which made my relationship with the past (and present) German Ambassadors very smooth and very pleasant, namely their belief in the fact that the German-Maltese Circle has been and is doing sterling work in improving and in further promoting friendship between our two countries. Of course the different Ambassadors expressed their solidarity and involvement in their own particular style. There is no set yardstick, but one could say that some might have appeared more active than others. All, or to be more precise, almost all, of them have remained very close to our Association and even after the end of their tenure in office they kept close relations with us and have continued to offer their advice to us whenever it was asked of them. Ambassador Kunz and his amiable wife Milena, though have added a new dimension to my personal experiences of the different German diplomats I have met and worked with so far. Yes, thank you Mr Ambassador and Mrs Kunz for the sincere and warm-hearted personal friendship you have offered to me. Yes, thank you Mr Ambassador for the great faith you have shown in me and for the unlimited support you have given to my work within the German-Maltese Circle. How can I forget our regular meetings and open very frank discussions and exchange of ideas. How can I forget your telephone calls at my office after you return from abroad just to inform me that "I am reporting back to duty". How can I forget that time when you came to pick me and my wife Doreen from a hotel in Bonn to take us to your private residence in Bad-Honnef for a very intimate and vegetarian dinner prepared and served by Milena. I recollect that before we left the Hotel I asked you whether Bad-Honnef is far away from Bonn and you told me that it's not. Yet, we had been driving along for quite some time and naturally I remarked rather naively that after all Bad-Honnef is far away. With that inimitable smile you replied "No, Victor, Bad-Honnef is not far away but I am lost and I cannot get out of this blessed ring-road!" On this same occasion, I will relish for the rest of my life your comment after dinner when you told me and my wife, "my home in Lija is open to all, but my home in Bad-Honnef sees only very select close friends". Even from that first official meeting you had with my Committee in February 1996, it was clear that you had a strong desire to give prominence to the promotion of the German language here in Malta. During your five years you have worked without reserve to increase interest for the language among adults, to find solutions at edging up again the study of German in our Private and State Schools and to bridge over a gap which was going to threaten the continuation of the study of German at the University. Thanks to your diplomatic and private efforts, the latter problem seems to have been solved, while from statistics available we find that at present, 23 State Schools out of 34 are teaching German to a total of about 1700 students. This figure is not inclusive of the Junior College and the Private Schools. But perhaps the most daunting task during your term in office was the question of the recognition of the German language Certificates and Examinations of the Goethe Institute in Malta. You saw that this matter be placed very high up in the agenda of the Bilateral Cultural Co-operation Talks held in February 1997. Not only, but you took up this point as a personal commitment while in office and I can say that you left no stone unturned, you left no occasion pass, and you grabbed at any opportunity to have the recommendations of the Cultural Commissions ratified. It must be of certain satisfaction to you to note that in the Public Service sector, the Examinations and Certificates of the Goethe Institute will from now on be recognised as of right. The same cannot be said of the University of Malta which still refuses to award to the Goethe Institute Certificates their due recognition. It is not the platform tonight to enter into the merits or demerits of this problem but I can assure you that the German-Maltese Circle will continue your work in this area after your term in office expires. Mr Ambassador, it is not possible to list tonight your achievements, your work, your involvements, but I would like to mention just a few of these, even if for the record. I want to state how satisfied we have always been with your contributions in our Newsletter, I wish to recollect the succesful and fantastic idea of yours to have an open house on the occasion of the German General Election in 1998, and of the German Music Week also with the help of Mro Charles Camilleri, which was followed by a sizeable donation of music books to our Library. One should not forget your involvement in the Hompesch Commemorative Committee which culminated its work with the publication of the book "Hompesch & Malta - A New Evaluation". Mr Ambassador, you are held in esteem because you acknowledge the efforts done by my compatriots in the fostering of relations between the two countries and you demonstrated this by the recommendations you made for the bestowal of the Bundesverdienstkreuz on persons who you deemed fit to merit this prestigious honour. Milena, you have captured the hearts of all those who have had the chance to meet you and to speak to you. You have not been just Mrs Kunz, but, Mrs Kunz-Bijno. You had not been simply the first lady of the Embassy, but an individual in your own right whose love for art was amply apperant in all you did. Your Exhibitions "Fragments of Malta" at Messina Palace, "In Ballo in Maschera" at the Loggia of the Manoel Theatre and more recently "Angels in the Silent City" at the Mdina Museum will long be remembered by all those who visited these exhibitions. In the world of arts you have been an Ambassador in your own right by promoting Malta as a venue for German artists to exhibit here. One can mention the exhibitions held at our Messina Palace by the Gedok Group of artists, by the Bad-Honnef Kunstler Gruppe Arte, by Helena Moch and by Frequenzen. Your active involvement in the raising of funds for philantropic purposes is also worth mentioning. Milena thank you for being with us these last five years, we are going to miss you dearly. To complete the picture of my reminisences, I have to mention also your son's Alberto feat when he won the Xth Cycling Tour of Malta. Well done indeed. Mr Ambassdor and Mrs Kunz-Bijno, I wish both of you a very happy retirement in Bad-Honnef and may I on behalf of all of us here present say Auf Wiedersehen and soon."
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| DER BEMERKENSWERTE REISEPASS | |
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Goethe war eines Tages bei dem alten Voß zu Tisch geladen. Während des Essens stand Voß auf und holte einen jungen Dichter namens Kunz herbei, dem er in seiner Gutmütigkeit versprochen hatte, ihn Goethe vorzustellen. Dieser Dichter Kunz, der ein paar unscheinbare Verslein in irgendwelchen kaum beachteten Almanachen veröffentlich hatte, erzählte gleich, dass er aus einem winzigen Staat stamme. "Nun," sagte Goethe, "Ihr Fürst ist mir als ein strenger Herr bekannt; es soll schwer halten, in seinem Staate einen Pass zu bekommen. Könnten Sie mir wohl einen solchen zeigen?" "Jawohl! Sehr gern," rief Kunz aus und holte den Pass aus der Seitentasche seines Rockes hervor. Goethe nahm ihn und sagte: "Bitte leihen Sie ihn mir bis morgen, es ist doch ein merkwürdiges Stück, das ich mir ein wenig sorgfältiger anschauen möchte." Überglücklich verabschiedete sich der junge Dichter nach kurzer Zeit und sah sich schon im Geiste als einen der bevorzugtesten Schützlinge Goethes. Als er fort war, fragte Voß erstaunt seinen Gast, was er denn mit dem Kunzens Reisepass wollte. "Was ich damit will?," rief Goethe aus, "das ist doch ganz einfach. Ich sah aus Kunzens anderer Rocktasche ein Paket Gedichte gucken, und lieber will ich doch den Pass lesen als die." |
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1617 - Count Erbach's meeting with Grand Master Wignacourt Michael Galea (The Sunday Times, February 11th, 2001) |
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A visitor of note arrived in Malta on May 3, 1617: Count George Albert of Erbach. He was travelling with a party which included a young Heidelberg doctor, Reinhard Fink, son of an official in the Palatinate, his cousin Emerich, and a nobleman of Hesse, Wilhelm Conrad von Meissenbuch. Also accompanying the Count were Baron Wilhelm von Neipperg, Baron Kodwitz, ranger to the Count of Hanau, George von Diede zu Füstenstein, a nobleman of Hesse, Stefan Quadt, of Wickrat, Lord of Kreuzburg near Koblenz, a retired official of Bacharach, who was in his 60s, together with his son Stefan, two brothers by the name of Starschedel from Kassel, and Baron Johann von Studnitz, a nobleman from Silesia. The knights of different nationalities residing in Valletta were in the habit of going on the quay to meet any of their countrymen who visited the Island. On learning of the arrival of a considerable travelling party of distinguished Germans, Jacob Christopher von Andlau, a Knight Grand Cross and Seneschal of the Order, together with Heinrich Nicholas Faust von Stromberg, a knight, and Baron Conrad Rosenbach, Commander of Brandenburg, set forth at once to welcome the visitors. The visitors were lodged at the Auberge of Germany situated on the St Sebastian Bastion, overlooking Marsamxett Harbour. On the morrow, early at 7 o'clock, "to avoid the great heat", Baron Reinach conducted the guests "up the steep street to the Magistral Palace". They wore "the Spanish Court dress of black velvet and silk, and carried plain German swords, and broad-brimmed pointed hats with feather on their heads."The meeting with the Grand Master left a deep impression on Count Erbach: "Aloysius de Wignacourt was a fine, stalwart man of distinguished bearing, with a bouncy step for his 68 years. His fine regular features gave evidence of fairness and seriousness, but at the same time of that heavenly peace which the heart attains by conquering self. A thick, close-cut beard in the Henry IV fashion hid the lower part of his face." "Welcome to our lonely island," said the Grand Master in a stately manner, making a profound bow to the Count, and with a gracious gesture of his hand showing that he received him as an equal. The Grand Master expressed his great satisfaction at the fact that the count and his party had come so far since visitors from Germany were very rare. During the conversation which followed, Baron Neipperg said: "May it please your Serene Highness, much as my heart beats in sympathy with your Order, it is not I who proposed this voyage, for I dreaded the dangers from pirates for the Count, while he is entrusted to my care. Now that we are here, I am greatly pleased, and may the Almighty take us safely home." The Grand Master nodded in agreement, and took his cap in his other hand - a sign that the audience was at an end. But before the guests left the apartment, the Grand Master invited them to dine with him that evening. A short time before sunset the guests presented themselves at the Palace. At the table the Grand Master had the Count on his right, and on the left Arthur de Glaudenes Repin, Grand Preceptor of Provence. Other guests at the reception were a few German knights; who included the Seneschal von Andlau, Conrad von Rosenbach, Faust von Stonberg, and Johann Heinrich von Closen, a Bavarian. Among the knights who waited at the table, two were German: Eberhard von Stein, a Swabian and Johann Jacob von Westhausen. The Grand Master recited the Benedicte standing, and received the blessing from the Palace chaplain. After the first light course the Grand Master raised a golden cup, studded with rubies, to take the first draught of wine. All the guests made a low bow and said in an audible voice: "God bless you", upon which the Grand Master, uncovering his head, bowed in turn to each one present. From then on the conversation became lively. The Grand Master conversed at length with the Count. During their stay on the island the Count and his party visited several places of interest. The Grand Master deputed his Master of the Horse, Baron de Cambrini, who was formerly at the Imperial Court and could speak German, to escort the Count. Arabian and Andalusian horses, which the King of Spain had presented to the Grand Master the year before, were put at the disposal of the Count, who was delighted "to try these fiery steeds". The excursions included a visit the Armoury, the Portugese Auberge and that of Aragon, which was very close to the German Auberge. The Count expressed the wish to visit the site where St Paul landed after the shipwreck, so the Grand Master made available a felucca to take the Count and his party to that historic landing-place. The Count exclaimed that "the Apostle's shipwreck had been familiar to him as a child." On one occasion, "as a special mark of graciousness towards the Count, the Grand Master rode out with him to a hunt in the hills of Verdala". For the feast of Whitsuntide Valletta was beflagged and "beautiful silken banners were seen fluttering from the roofs of the knights' dwellings". In St John's church, the Count and his party attended the ceremony of investiture of 21 knights. The Count remarked: "I have never seen such a fine fortress church". When the German travellers' stay in Malta was about to end, the Grand Master took leave of the Count "with almost fatherly kindness" and offered him a magnificent Damascus sword, saying: "Wear it for your protection and the honour of God." With these words they parted. On May 12, at the hour of vespers, the German travellers were conducted on board ship by a large number of knights. A salute was fired. Soon after their departure the frigate on which they were travelling had to seek shelter in St Julian's Bay because of rough sea. As the storm abated the travellers wanted to set sail but the captian told them that as it was the anniversary of his child's death he would not weigh anchor because this would bring him bad luck. It was, indeed, an ill-fated crossing because before the travellers could reach Syracuse they were overtaken by a Barbary pirate brigantino di tredici banchi. A fight followed in which Baron Kodwitz lost his life, and several others were wounded. The travellers felt they were betrayed by the captain, and when the latter tried to escape, Starschedel plunged a dagger into his heart, and then threw the body overboard. Those who survived were taken prisoners. And when the prisoners were divided into two groups Meissenbuch, Fink and Emerich were with the Count's group. All prisoners were first landed in the pirates' harbour of Gerbi, and later transferred to Tunis. When news of these events reached Grand Master Wignacourt, negotiations were started for the Count's ransom. The news that Count Erbach was taken prisoner spread "with incredible rapidity throughout Germany, and even in other parts of Europe it created no small excitement". In a letter to his mother dated June 7, 1617 from Tunis, the Count signed the letter: "George Heidelberger - a poor slave in Barbary". In September Wignacourt again sent merchants to Tunis to ransom the Count and his surviving party. Two days before All Saints' Day (November 1) a galley of the Order with the Count on board was sighted off Grand Harbour as it fired a three-gun salute. There were cries of rejoicing. The Grand Master and many knights ceremoniously received the freed slaves in Valletta's harbour, leading them this time to the Palace, where they were entertained as guests of the Order. Count Erbach was nursed by the Knights with the greatest care at the Sacra Infermiera, the doctors declaring this to be necessary to enable him "to recover his health". He was positively impressed by the Hospital of the Order: "One hundred and fifty beds are constantly held ready for knights who might return from the expeditions, sick or wounded. Every bed had its special covering, on which the Cross of the Order was embroidered, and at the head was a board, on which the doctors' directions for the patient's food was written. At the end of the long apartment stood a small altar, at which Mass was said every day." The Grand Hospitaller, Simon Cheminée Boisbonest, who was the chief administrator of the Infirmary, came round to see the Count every morning and evening. On being admitted into hospital the Count was told: "As you are convalescing, you may pass your time with anything you like which does not make a noise, but games of dice, cards, or chess are forbidden. You may read history and chronicles, but not aloud, so as not to disturb or annoy other patients." Two visitors who were particularly welcomed by the Count were the Grand Master, and an old Spanish knight, who in his youth had seen service in Germany and the Netherlands. On St Margaret's Day (May 16), 1618 Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt personally conducted Count George Albert Erbach to the galley of the Order which was to take the Count to Messina. On September 27, 1618 the adventures of Count Erbach came to an end when he safely reached his homeland. |
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| Buskett Gardens und Verdala Palace von Ingrid Hüttmann | |
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Wie Sie, lieber Leser oder Bewohner Maltas wissen, ist die Insel noch immer ein reichlich baumloses Fleckchen. Es gibt zwar inzwischen zahlreiche Wiederaufforstungsprojekte, aber Bäume brauchen halt ihre Zeit, bis sie zu einer bestimmten Größe herangewachsen sind. Die wenigen Parks und Gärten, die man hier findet, sind deshalb, besonders im Sommer, auch hoffnungslos überfüllt. Zu den beliebtesten schattenspendenen Plätzen für die Malteser gehört der Buskett Garden - italiensch auch Boschetto genannt. Es ist ein Wäldchen aus Pinien, Zitrusbäumen und Steineichen und liegt in einem Tal zwischen Rabat und den Dingli Cliffs. Buskett Garden ist von Valletta aus mit dem Bus erreichbar und für Besucher ein durchaus lohnenswertes Ziel. Die Anlage wurde um 1570 als Jagdrevier der Großmeister des Ritterordens angelegt und Wild eigens für diese Zwecke aus Sizilien importiert. Das Wäldchen bietet zahlreiche Picknickplätze unter Baumschatten und ist auch deshalb eine überaus beliebte Sommerfrische bei den maltesischen Familien. Die heute etwas modrige und zugesperrte Grotte am Eingang erinnert noch an die italienischen Barockgärten des 16. Jahrhunderts. Für Kunstinteressierte gibt es gleich hinter dem Eingang eine weitere Besonderheit. In einem alten regierungseigenen Gebäude, genannt Sculptor's Lodge, lebt der Bildhauer Charles Sammut. Es gibt dort einen Workshop, wo Sie ihm bei der Arbeit zuschauen können, und eine ständige Ausstellung seiner Skulpturen. In der Regel findet man ihn dort nachmittags oder an Wochenenden vor. Ein Besuch ist lohnenswert, denn viele seiner Statuen sind überlebensgroß. Als Besucher bekommt man den Eindruck, dass seine künstlerische Tätigkeit mehr der eigenen Entspannung als dem Kommerz dient. Manche seiner Skulpturen sind ihm so ans Herz gewachsen, dass er sie eigentlich auch gar nicht verkaufen möchte. In diesem Park findet alljährlich am 29.6. das Mnarja-Lichterfest statt. Es ist den Aposteln Petrus und Paulus geweiht und lässt sich als das maltesische Erntedankfest bezeichnen. Vermutlich ist es der Ursprung aller Dorffestas. Am Vorabend des 29. Junis gehen Tausende von Maltesern - Touristen eingeschlossen - nach Buskett, wo nachts dann Kaninchen gegrillt werden. Volkssänger tragen die groben Ghana vor, eine Art Spottgesang, dessen Texte oft erst beim Singen entstehen. Mnarja war schon immer ein fröhliches Volksfest. Als Erntedank werden landwirtschaftliche Produkte und auch Vieh zur Schau gestellt. Am folgenden Morgen finden dann in der Umgebung von Buskett Eselrennen statt. Ebenso wie in Zejtun bei der St. Girjor Prozession findet sich auch hier in alten Ehekontrakten noch die Vereinbarung, dass der Bräutigam seine Braut zum Lichterfest nach Buskett mitzunehmen habe. Auf der Anhöhe über dem Park liegt der Verdala Palast, der 1586 unter dem Großmeister de Verdalle errichtet wurde. Er wurde 1858 von den Briten renoviert und 1975 zur Residenz für Staatsgäste umgebaut. Seit einigen Jahren ist er auch für die Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Die Öffnungszeiten sollten Sie erfragen, da sie nicht denen der Museen entsprechen. Das Gebäude ist eine befestigte Landvilla mit quadratischem Grundriss und vorspringenden Eckbastionen. Der Hauptsaal des Erdgeschosses ist an den Stirnseiten dekoriert mit Fresken des Italieners Palladino aus dem Jahre 1590. Sie stellen das Leben Verdalles vor seinem Eintritt in den Orden bis zur Verleihung der Kardinalswürde dar. Das Tonnengewölbe zeigt Szenen aus der griechischen Mythologie. Es führt eine breite Wendeltreppe mit flachen Stufen ins erste Obergeschoss. Beachtenswert ist die Treppenkonstruktion, denn jeder Stein des selbsttragenden Gewölbes musste der Rundung exakt angepasst werden. Hinzu kommt eine geschickte optische Täuschung. Man hat den Eindruck einer kreisförmigen Treppenführung - sie ist aber eine elliptische. Im Obergeschoss lagen die Privaträume des Großmeisters. Im Boden des Hauptsaales sind noch einige Originalbretter enthalten, in die verschiedene Spielbretter, u.a. ein Schachbrett, eingeschnitten sind. Sie stammen aus der Zeit nach der Eroberung Maltas durch die Briten (um 1800) als in dem Palast hochrangige französische Offiziere als Kriegsgefangene gehalten wurden. Aus dem Boudoir führte eine geheime Fluchttreppe in die Kellerräume. Aus dem Westflügel erreicht man eine Folterkammer der Großmeister. In dem Verlies sind noch die Ketten vorhanden, mit denen missliebige Untertanen gequält wurden. Auch das geschah im Namen des christlichen Ritterordens. |
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| EUROPEAN YEAR OF LANGUAGES 2001 CERTIFICATE & PRIZE GIVING CEREMONY | |
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The European Year of Languages was originally an idea that came from the Council of Europe's modern language project for the support of language learning. The Council's Committee of Ministers then adopted it in January 1999. The European Union Commission, the UNESCO and a wide range of other international organisations enthusiastically supported this proposal which this year saw 47 countries from Portugal to Azerbaijan and from Iceland to Malta promoting events aimed at highlighting the importance of language diversity and learning. Though different in cultural and educational traditions, all these countries are united by a view of language learning as a pathway to mutual understanding and tolerance. The German-Maltese Circle believes that in Malta we should make increased efforts to step up modern language learning. This was stated by the Circle's Secretary, Mr Victor Sammut, during the Certificate and Prize Giving Ceremony held at the Circle's premises in Valletta when the winners of the European Year of Languages Poster and Essay Competitions were announced. Language qualifications are attractive to prospective employers. Languages enhance the experience of travel since a tourist definitely gets more out of a place from being able to make himself understood in the local language. Language awareness by managers can make the difference in the business context. Internet material in other languages other than English is developing fast, and, as access to the Internet becomes ever wider, demand for material in other languages will grow. If, for example, Asian and Latin American trade and communications continue to grow in importance, Chinese, Russian and Spanish could come to rival even English. Within the objectives of the European Year of Languages, the German Maltese Circle has this year aimed to promote the objectives of the European Year of Languages and concurrently to enhance the study of German by schoolchildren and adults alike. Besides its normal German language courses at all levels to adults that are held at its centre in Valletta, German language courses have been introduced in Gozo. German language revision courses for schoolchildren attending Secondary Schools are to be held this summer. For Primary School children, the German-Maltese Circle will launch next month an induction course entitled "Learning German is Fun and Easy".  The German-Maltese Circle like in previous years is closely co-operating with the Staff Development Organisation to provide training in the German language to Civil Service employees. An Open Day was organised last month for all those interested to see the Circle's facilities in the field of language training. The German Maltese Circle screened with great success two novels by Bertold Brecht, which are included in the literature section of the MATSEC "A" level German language examination. Linguistic experts from Germany held seminars for teachers of German. The German Maltese Circle introduced the prestigious very high-level Großes Sprachdiplom course as a further training for teachers of German, while conversation meetings in the German language have and are still being organised regularly. Three one-month scholarships at a Goethe Institute in Germany were awarded to students attending the Circle's courses, while another two scholarships were awarded to its teachers.  Earlier this year, the German-Maltese Circle launched the European Year of Languages Essay Competition open to all Maltese citizens over eighteen year of age and the European Year of Languages Poster Competition open to all schoolchildren in Malta and Gozo. In the Essay Competition, entrants were asked to write in Maltese, in English or in German on one of three set topics. The judges had to assess entries for relevance of topic, originality, correctness of information and of language skills, unity, coherance and perspective. Ms Michele Xuereb from Zurrieq won the EYL Essay Competition with an entry on "Why I would choose German if I had to take up another foreign language", while Mr Malcolm Callus from Santa Venera and Mr Aaron Grech from Cospicua finished up second and third respectively with their essays which featured the German Capital, Berlin.201 students from 16 different State, Private and Church Schools in Malta and Gozo submitted their entries for the EYL Poster Competition. All posters submitted are presently on exhibit at Messina Palace, St Christopher Street, Valletta until the end of June. Participation was divided into three categories. Category One which was open to children attending Primary Schools attracted 186 entries mostly focusing on the set theme of "Hansel & Gretel". The remaining 15 posters came from Categories Two and Three, which were open to students in Secondary Schools. The latter Category was reserved to students studying German and focused on German proverbs. In order to promote creativity, no particular limitations were set regarding use of paper and media. The judges had to look for visual attractiveness, clarity of message, creativity, neatness and originality. The winners of the Poster Competition were: in Category One, Rachel Sammut from the Annibale Preca Primary School in Lija, and Kristina Tabone and Tara Darmanin both attending St Monica School, Gzira; in Category Two, the winning entries came from Stephen Micallef attending Stella Maris College, Gzira, Christian Micallef from the Dun Guzepp Zammit Brighella School and Daniela Vella from St Monica School, Gzira, while in Category Three, the winning posters were of Morgan and Marina Carabott both attending the Carlo Diacono Junior Lyceum at Zejtun and Lucienne Vella who attends the Maria Goretti Girls' Secondary School at Tarxien Mr Anthony DeGiovanni, Chairman of the National Committee for the European Year of Languages presented the certificates to all participants along with the prizes to the winners of the EYL Competitions. During this ceremony certificates were also presented to those who finished successfully the German Language for Hotels & Restaurants courses organised by the German-Maltese Circle at its Centre and in Gozo. |
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| News from the Library by Olaf Rieck | |
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Books If you want to keep in touch with German, we strongly suggest a visit to the Library during the summer. We can offer you some books especially for this time like some paperbacks with collected stories of different authors like, Das Urlaubslesebuch - 34 short stories, poems etc. between 2 and 24 pages, some are funny and some are serious; authors range from Böll, Dürrenmatt, Gustafsson, Heller, Torberg etc.; Sommerfestival - 26 exciting and masterly stories of for example Camus, Hesse, Neruda, Triolet etc.; Das große Italienlesebuch - 22 Italian stories of for example Calvino, Eco, Pasolini etc. and Irische Geschichten - 20 Irish stories of Böll, Uris, Wilde etc. Internet In 1964 the Institute for the German Language (IDS) was founded in Mannheim. Its aim is to study and to documentate the current usage and the recent history of the German language. The IDS is a central non-university institution, jointly financed by the Federal Government of Germany and the state of Baden-Württemberg. On it's webpage www.ids-mannheim.de you will find a lot of information about the German language like the word / bad word of the year, conferences, grammar, linguistic consultancy, professional journals, information about German courses for foreigners (the institute does not teach German!) and much more. |
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