Discrimination when looking for accommodation is still commonplace

Good old Max Mustermann - he would probably have little problem getting a rented apartment in Germany. Others, on the other hand, do. An exotic name, a light accent - and the dream of the new four walls can fail. You think that's a rumour?

Apartment searches were conducted as such in several different districts. Migration seems to be a delicate issue that can influence lives in Bremen as well. How much and in what form was part of the experience made by Bremen linguist Inke Du Bois and her students. Even if an apartment had already been promised to a Turkish woman, a German nurse was assured a viewing appointment shortly afterwards.

In cooperation with the Research Network – to which the University of Sheffield also belongs – the Bremen linguist was able to secure a research grant of 50,000 Euro from the British Academy. Sociolinguistics is her specialized field. Given that there were not only selective reactions but also genuinely friendly ones, allowed for all class participants to have fun during their work. The area English-Speaking Cultures in the Department of Linguistics and Literary Studies at the University of Bremen was able to give its students a lifelike practical experience with this project.