The Impact of Cultural Exchange Programmes on German Language Acquisition Among University Students in Ibadan

This study investigates the impact of cultural exchange programmes on the German language acquisition of undergraduate students at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, in the South West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Cultural exchange initiatives, including short-term study visits, language camps, and Goethe-Institut programmes, have been promoted as effective supplements to formal classroom instruction. However, empirical studies examining the measurable effect of such programmes on language proficiency within the Nigerian university context are limited. Employing a pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental design, the study compared German language proficiency scores of 80 students who participated in a structured cultural exchange programme with those of a matched control group of 80 students who received only conventional classroom instruction. Data were collected using a standardised language proficiency test and a reflective learning journal. Findings indicate that students in the exchange programme demonstrated statistically significant improvements in oral fluency and cultural comprehension, though gains in formal grammar were modest. The study also documents the motivational effects of cultural immersion, noting heightened engagement among participants. Recommendations include scaling up access to exchange programmes and integrating cultural content more systematically into the standard German language curriculum. Keywords: cultural exchange, German language acquisition, University of Ibadan, oral fluency, language motivation.