International Journal of Education

This study aims to analyze the practices and insights of international language and culture promotion organizations in the field of intercultural communication, using the Goethe-Institut as a case study to examine its cultural theme classifications and communication strategies. Data was collected through web crawling technology, automatically extracting thematic classifications and cultural activity information from the cultural sections of the Goethe-Institut’s official websites in Germany and 16 other countries worldwide. The analysis reveals that the Goethe-Institut’s official websites focus less on high culture ("Big C" culture, referring to academic or intellectual culture) and more on low culture ("small c" culture, referring to popular or communicative culture). Literature, art, and film form the main types of its cultural activities, with attention also given to international trends and avant-garde culture. The Goethe-Institut not only exports its national culture but also emphasizes fostering dialogue, exchange, and collaboration between cultures, bridging spatial and psychological distances to achieve a smooth "soft landing" in intercultural communication. These practices provide valuable insights and references for Chinese language and culture promotion organizations in the realm of intercultural communication.

Intercultural communication; Cultural classification; Goethe-Institut; Language and culture promotion organizations