Program Implementation Task Assigned to the Commission
In a groundbreaking event at the University of Innsbruck, the Phil.KULTIG - Creative on Campus event showcased the transformative power of music in language learning, community building, and memory retention. Initiated and implemented by Doris Eibl and Birgit Mertz-Baumgartner from the Institute of Romance Studies, the event featured hip-hop artist Napoleon Maddox and attracted approximately 100 students from Innsbruck and Hall.
The two-day event, which took place on 5 and 6 June 2025, was a resounding success, with students praising its atmosphere, fun, and unique connection between language learning and music. The focus of Phil.KULTIG - Creative on Campus is on the joy of collaborative action and creation, and on creative language use.
One of the key highlights of the event was the interaction between students and Napoleon Maddox, who engaged in conversations in English, French, and Italian. Through these interactions, students were able to apply their language skills in a creative and engaging way, as seen in the creation of multilingual sound documents. These documents incorporated central ideas and terms from their favourite songs or breaks, with students speaking or rapping these terms in various languages.
The event demonstrated the multifaceted role of music in language acquisition. Music, especially hip-hop, uses rhythm, rhyme, and repetition, which can make language learning more accessible and enjoyable. Napoleon Maddox demonstrated how lyrical flow and wordplay encourage learners to notice linguistic nuances, vocabulary, and pronunciation naturally and creatively.
In addition to its focus on creative language use and collaborative action, the event also explored the role of music in collective memory and community building. Hip-hop culture is inherently communal, often rooted in storytelling, shared experiences, and collective voices. At the event, music served as a unifying tool that fostered connection among participants from diverse backgrounds. By collaborating in musical creation and performance, attendees built a sense of belonging and mutual respect, highlighting music's power to bridge social and cultural divides and strengthen communal identity.
The event also shed light on the power of music in enhancing memory retention. Melody, rhythm, and repetition act as mnemonic devices, making it easier to remember language content. Napoleon Maddox’s interactive sessions showed that setting words to music creates strong mental associations, improves recall, and supports long-term learning. These techniques are especially effective in embedding complex linguistic concepts in both children and adults.
The organisers of Phil.KULTIG - Creative on Campus, Doris Eibl and Birgit Mertz-Baumgartner, are already planning for the event in 2026, with the hope of continuing to inspire and educate students through the power of music and language. Foreign language instruction in Austria is now competency- and task-oriented, focusing on communication skills. Events like Phil.KULTIG - Creative on Campus are a testament to the potential of incorporating creative and engaging activities into language learning, making the process more enjoyable and effective for students.
The success of Phil.KULTIG - Creative on Campus event at the University of Innsbruck not only emphasized its role in fostering a unique connection between language learning and music but also highlighted how it promotes a vibrant education-and-self-development lifestyle on campus. The collaboration between students and Napoleon Maddox, combining linguistic skills with music, showcased the transformative impact of this kind of learning environment on the campus lifestyle.
Moreover, the event underscored the essence of music as a key player in community building and memory retention, reinforcing the notion that it can positively contribute to an enriching campus lifestyle, combining education-and-self-development aspects with a lively and engaging campus culture.
