Olga Monastyrna and Anastasia Kuznetsova, students of the Faculty of Foreign Languages of Mariupol State University took part in a seminar on German Literary Studies, organized by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and they visited the International Literary Festival in Odessa, which brought together more than 30 writers from Europe, Asia and America.

During the week, from September 23 to September 28, third-year-students of the major “Philology. Language and Literature (German)” studied theoretical concepts and terminology of literature. After that they analyzed texts presented at the festival by the authors. The students visited readings of famous German and Ukrainian writers and poets, and also met with Franz Holler, popular Swiss writer.

During the seminar we learned a lot of new literary concepts and specific examples for its understanding. In addition, my reading list has been expanded with a bunch of new books and writers' names, and I have been able to know more about the authors I have already known,

– Olga Monastyrna. 

Roni Mebius was our lecturer at the seminar. He is very nice and interesting person. Thanks to him and Nina Coyer for a well-organized conference. There were days when we could be out until late in the evening. These were mostly poetic evenings, which lasted until 23-00 o'clock. They made an unforgettable impression on me. At first, it was kind of strange thing for me - to be outstretched with so many famous people, ask them questions, listen to their version of a novel or poem. After all, I am used to the fact that the author whose books I read has already passed away, and in Odessa I was lucky to communicate with contemporary authors,

– Anastasia Kuznetsova.