Department
Slavic Languages and Literatures in Giessen – a strong profile with history and future
Anyone interested in Slavic languages, cultures and literature will find a traditional yet modern place to study at the Institute of Slavic Studies at Justus Liebig University Giessen. A seminar for ‘Slavic Languages’ was founded in Giessen as early as 1916, which became an independent institute in 1961. Since the closure of the Slavic Studies Institutes in Frankfurt am Main and Marburg and the founding of the Giessen Centre for Eastern Europe in 2006, Giessen has been the central centre of excellence for Slavic Studies in Hesse.
The institute offers a sound education in linguistics and cultural studies, covering both the breadth and depth of the Slavic world. A particular focus is placed on teacher training in Russian, as Russian is taught as a school subject in Hesse. Giessen is thus the central training centre for Russian teachers in the federal state.
In addition, the institute strives to represent the entire spectrum of Slavic studies. Research and teaching cover the three major areas of Eastern, Western and Southern Slavic studies. A declared goal is to highlight the richness and diversity of Slavic languages: from established standard languages such as Czech, Polish and Serbian to regional variants such as Rusyn, Kashubian and even Molise Slavic, which is spoken in Italy.
The historical dimension of Slavic languages is not neglected either: traces of West Slavic linguistic history can still be found today in many German place names (e.g. ‘Leipzig’ from lipa = lime tree).
Contact and advice:
You can expect a dedicated team of experienced professors and research assistants who combine personal support with academic excellence. The institute's secretariats are happy to answer any organisational and study-related questions. You can find the current contact details on the institute's website.
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