Future of Romance Studies: New technologies in focus of the 39th Romance Studies Day

Future of Romance Studies: New technologies in focus of the 39th Romance Studies Day

The 39th Romance Studies Day will take place at the University of Konstanz on September 15, 2025. Under the motto “Possibilities and opportunities of new technologies from book printing to artificial intelligence,” the organizers, Anne Kraume and Georg Kaiser, cordially invite you to a discussion about the productive use of new technologies in Romance studies. This event aims to promote a broad exchange about the integration of digital media into language and literature lessons.

The plenary lectures of the Romance Studies Day are open to the public and offer a good opportunity for those interested to engage with current developments in Romance studies. Particularly noteworthy is Almut Steinlein's lecture, which deals with foreign language teaching in the age of generative AI. This will take place on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in lecture hall A 704.

Discussion about artificial intelligence in foreign language teaching

On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, an interactive discussion on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in foreign language teaching will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room A 701. Experts such as Susanne Lange, Christof Schöch, Steffen Albrecht and Juan Guse will shed light on the possible uses of AI and address the challenges associated with this disruptive technology. According to a study by De Gruyter Brill, AI is developing new models for personalized teaching systems and intelligent agents that could support learning.

Another program item is the Science Slam on the same day at 2:00 p.m., where young scientists give insights into their current research. The event is complemented by innovative approaches such as RomLabs, which specifically deal with the discovery and promotion of Romance languages ​​for high school students. In collaboration with the Humboldt-Gymnasium and the Ellenrieder-Gymnasium in Konstanz, the potential of digital media in foreign language teaching is to be researched.

Integration of digital media into teaching

The long-standing discussion about the use of digital media to support language learning will be further intensified on September 22, 2025 as part of RomLab 4. The focus here is on topics such as digital skills, digital communication and VR and AR scenarios. Access to digital media via smartphones and tablets has significantly expanded the communication potential in lessons, but conventional teaching methods are still often retained. This tension between modern technologies and traditional teaching concepts requires the active integration of digital media into curricula.

Despite the challenge of introducing digital media into lessons, the need is clear: the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs has already anchored so-called “foreign language-specific digital skills” in the educational standards in 2023. Participants are invited to submit their contributions on these topics as part of the RomLab, which serves as a platform for exchange between subject didactics and teachers.

At a time when AI-supported applications such as language learning software and intelligent tutoring systems are increasingly being used, new questions arise: It is important to reflect on the role of these technologies in teaching and to develop didactic methods that promote both the creative expression and the digital media competence of the learners. Educational institutions are required to actively address the opportunities and risks of AI and to adapt to changes in learning research that, although progressing more slowly than in the technology world, are nevertheless unavoidable.

Media representatives are cordially invited to the events; however, registration is required at kum@uni-konstanz.de.