Interest in Kurdish language learning grows in Germany, forum says

BERLIN, Germany — Interest in learning Kurdish is rising in Germany, where residents from different backgrounds are taking up the language through adult education courses and online lessons, according to a Deutsche Welle report. A young German woman named Brita said she began learning Kurdish to build cultural ties with her partner, enrolling in courses offered through the Volkshochschule adult education network. Two other German learners, Luisa and Anne Kathrin, said they started studying the language through Kurdish friendships and, despite difficulties with certain sounds and letters, found it a way to engage with Kurdish music and traditional culture. Social worker Monika said knowing Kurdish has improved communication in her professional contacts. Mehmed Kılış, a Kurdish-language teacher, said reading and grammar are relatively accessible for learners, but daily speaking practice remains limited and a shortage of printed and digital materials slows progress. Yunus Bahram, head of the German Kurdish Forum, said Kurdish classes are currently offered in roughly 50 schools across six German states, but participation is mostly limited to about 3,500 students who already speak the language as a mother tongue. Bahram added that efforts are underway to establish an international university in Dresden focused on Kurdish language, culture and historical research.