Abstract

This article examines the representation of students learning German at higher education institutions in Zagreb. The aim of this research is to describe the share of students learning German and to explore both their motives for choosing a foreign language and their attitudes towards the importance of learning German. The introductory section discusses the importance of learning foreign languages in view of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union. Plurilingualism and multilingualism are both a goal and a means within the framework of life-long learning and workforce mobility in a new social context. An overview of the lecture hours of foreign language courses offered by the surveyed institutions is then presented with information on the ECTS credits allocated to each course. The research methodology presents the research goals and the data collection method, followed by the newly designed measuring instruments, data analysis and results. The conclusion presents survey results with the aim of indicating specific students’ needs with respect to learning German at higher education institutions in Zagreb.