Merging a virtual classroom with online tutorials and other electronic media elements, Munich University’s unique DUO platform brings together several thousand German learners from around the world. Young Germany takes you on a tour of the “Language Shop.”

His first German word was “Klassenzimmer” – it gave him goose bumps. Today Wladimir Kaminer is so at home with German that he writes one bestseller after another. Yet why German is like a Lego construction kit – still remains a mystery.

Seven years of French in high school taught me one thing: I can’t speak French. Astounding, really, that I could sit through three one-hour lessons each week and manage to retain almost nothing. When I blamed the teacher my parents got me a tutor. Then I was up to four hours a week and learning even less.

On the eve of its one-year anniversary, Young Germany is launching Deutsch@YG, a platform for young people interested in the German language. Today we introduce you to Sandra Evans, the tutor and course architect of Deutsch@YG. Starting in early fall, Sandra – using a unique multimedia approach – will work with our users from around the world.

The Goethe-Institut is the biggest German language learning institution worldwide and is often the first address for people who want to learn German. With its network of the Goethe-Institutes, Goethe-Zentren (Goethe Centers), cultural societies, reading rooms and exam and language centers, it plays a central role in promoting German language and culture.