Excursion of French Studies of the TUD to Strasbourg (07.10. - 12.10.2024)
Table of contents
Report
From 7 to 12 October 2024, the Chair of French Studies organized an excursion to Dresden's twin city Strasbourg with 11 students. This excursion was accompanied by PD Dr. Bettina Lindorfer, Imke Heine, Florence Walter and Dr. Matthias Kern. The main interest of this excursion was the establishment of new cooperation and exchange contacts with the Université de Strasbourg, but also the exploration of the capital of the Grand Est region, the deepening understanding of the changing Franco-German relations in Alsace as well as insights into the work of international organizations such as the European Parliament were made possible.
After the journey, which started at 10:45 a.m. on Monday, 7 October 2024 at Dresden Central Station and saw the excursion group arrive in Strasbourg at 7 p.m. after changing trains in Leipzig and Karlsruhe, the official program began on Tuesday morning at the Université de Strasbourg. Here, our students met French students of German studies and took part in a workshop led by Dr. Gilles Buscot, which was based on the "Thealingua" method: theatrical and interactive elements were used to encourage the Strasbourg and Dresden participants to come together, thus creating initial contacts between the students from the two universities and paving the way for a return visit by the French students to Dresden in May 2025. The establishment of contacts was so successful that some students spontaneously agreed to guide the German group through the city, focusing on central buildings of cultural life, after the originally scheduled boat trip had been canceled due to flooding.
Another joint activity took place the very next day: A city rally through the city center planned by the Strasbourg students started at 9:30 am and ended at 11:30 am at the city hall. Here, both university groups were warmly welcomed by the Deputy Mayor Hülliya Turan and the German Consul Thomas Kern. In the evening, the German students visited the "Théâtre national" to get to know the city's rich cultural life. Under the title "Beretta 68", a young female theater group performed a play they had devised themselves based on the assassination of Andy Warhol in 1968.
On Thursday, the TU Dresden students were invited to the Lycée "Marcel Rudloff" to give a German lesson in an Abibac class. They were welcomed there at 8:45 a.m. not only by the German teacher, Mme. Bretel-André, but also by the deputy principal and were given a short tour of the school (library and special integration groups) following their lesson. This part of the program enabled the student teachers in particular to demonstrate their skills by teaching a German class in France, giving them not only practical experience but also a change of perspective.
This was followed by a visit to the European Parliament, where the group was able to attend a plenary session and experience international work in Strasbourg at first hand. After a short break in the European Quarter, the group visited the ARTE headquarters, where they were not only welcomed by a TU Dresden alumna, but were also given an insight into the broadcaster's work in the form of a presentation and a tour of the studios.
On the last day in Strasbourg, the students were then able to spend the morning at leisure; in the afternoon, the planned boat tour could finally be made up for. The group was then taken on a guided tour of the Musée historique de Strasbourg with some of the participants from the Strasbourg side in order to delve deeper into the Franco-German history of the city using the exhibits there. A joint dinner with the German and French student groups finally brought both sides together again and marked the end of the trip - but not of the exchange with the Université de Strasbourg, which will be further intensified in May 2025.
The dates of the return visit have already been set: 25-31 May 2025.
Photo impressions
Impressions of the theater workshop by Gilles Buscot © CFF
Eindrücke vom Theaterworkshop von Gilles Buscot © CFF
Students in the café after the workshop © CFF
Group photo in the Mairie de Strasbourg with French and German students; in the middle Hülliya Turan, adjointe à la maire, and Thomas Kern, German consul © CFF
The German students accompanied by the Chair's team in the European Parliament © CFF
The European Parliament from the outside © CFF
Group photo of the excursion participants in the ARTE news studio © CFF
The Ponts couverts in Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cathedral in the background © CFF
Closing evening at "Flam's" restaurant © CFF
Closing evening at "Flam's" restaurant © CFF
The excursion was kindly sponsored by (in alphabetical order):
- Franco-German Youth Office
- Faculty of Linguistics, Literature and Cultural Studies
- Society of Friends and Supporters of TU Dresden e.V.
- City of Dresden, Office for Urban Strategy, International Affairs and Citizenship, Department of European and International Affairs
