University

The University of Namibia (UNAM) is Namibia’s largest university, with campuses at 12 locations across the country. The university comprises four faculties and 16 so-called schools, where 2,200 lecturers and staff work.

In addition to the fine arts and history, the Language Sections of the Humanities and Arts Department offer courses in 10 Namibian and European languages, including the German Section. While students who have learnt German as a first or foreign language up to school-leaving level study literature, linguistics, applied linguistics, intercultural communication and Namibian-German perspectives in the German Studies programme, the German as Applied and Business Language programme focuses on German as a business and economic language. In addition, the German Department also provides methodological and didactic training for student teachers.

The German Department is currently staffed by an emerita professor, two lecturers and a DAAD teaching assistant. The team includes Dr. Gerda Wittmann (Section Head; teaching and research focus: Teacher training and further education and DaF), Ms Sylvia Schlettwein (teaching and research focus: modern German literature and creative writing), Prof. Marianne Zappen-Thomson (professor emerita; teaching and research focus: intercultural communication and German in Namibia), and, as well as Viviane Jochum (teaching assistant).