Three steps forward and six steps back - the provocative question aims at a (self-)critical reflection on the subject of German as a foreign language. The works compiled in this festschrift honor Dietmar Rösler's research and his commitment to the field of German as a foreign language both within and outside the German-speaking world. On the occasion of his 60th birthday, international experts describe and discuss developments in three areas that are important for foreign language teaching, which play a prominent role in Dietmar Rösler's research: grammar, intercultural learning, and digital media. Frequently referencing theses and findings from Dietmar Rösler's decades-long, intensive work in the field, the articles illuminate specific phenomena, discuss central aspects, describe current trends, and subject them to critical analysis.