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Methodology

The college's key concern is to get you to speak!

Of course you will cover the four core skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing, with plenty of grammar and vocabulary work included in order to develop all the essential German language skills.

All levels are taught all year round, with starting dates every Monday.  There is a placement test in Berlin to assess your level.  There is also a small test each Friday to assess student progress.  The school prepares and registers students for all officially recognised exams such as the Zertifikat Deutsch. 

Typical German course timetable:

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat
08.00/10.00	Tests &  orientation
09.00/10.30	German classes / Six different levels					Full-day excursion in Berlin or - twice a month - Hamburg, Dresden, Leipzig or Potsdam
10.30/11.00	Morning break
11.00/12.30	German classes / Six different levels
13.00/15.00	Intensive & Private classes
Afternoon		Excursion in Berlin: museum, city walk or cycling tour		2hr seminar on German culture	PM or evening excursion in Berlin: night out/ Prenzlauer berg
Evening	School Stammtisch

At the end of their course a student is provided with a Certificate, documenting course level, duration and describing the student's language skills in detail.  The certificate will also give information on course content. 

The school teachers are all native speakers, have an academic background with degrees - in either German language and/or literature plus additional teacher training.  Many of them have been with the school for many years, are enthusiastic and provide excellent communicative tuition.  They combine the roles of a teacher and a coach and have expertise in other fields, such as photography, journalism, business consultancy etc which inspires their teaching and make them interesting people.

The lessons are taught in tandem, with two teachers responsible for every class, and alternating at every break.  In this way students get to hear more than one voice and speaking style.  The school provides a communicative approach where teachers aim to animate the students and get them to speak as much as possible.  The teachers continuously correct students and encourage them to repeat, remember and do better next time. 

Grammar is never studied in isolation, rather, it is built in to informative and stimulating texts that provide valuable cultural, political and historical background (adding some zest to the joy that is grammar study!). Lessons revolve around free class discussion, role-playing and conversation to help develop verbal expression, vocabulary and good sentence construction. The work of each group is tailored to each class's ability level in German.

The college divides students into six theoretical levels of ability.

  A0 : Complete Beginner
  A1 : Elementary I
  A2 : Elementary II
  B1 : Intermediate I
  B2 : Intermediate II
  C1 : Advanced I
  C2 : Advanced II

Starting Point    Level description                          Time to reach next level

Level : A0        You don't speak German                80 lessons/4 wks

Level : A1        You understand and are                 80 lessons/4 wks  
                      able to give simple 
                      answers

Level : A2        You are able to participate             160 lessons/8 wks
                       in simple everyday
                       conversations

Level : B1        You express your opinions             160 lessons/8 wks
                       in general conversation and
                       discussions

Level : B2         You are able to follow and             200 lessons /10 wks
                       participate in discussions easily
                       You write and read simple texts

Level : C1        You are able to express your          200 lessons/10 wks
                      opinions articulately.  You can 
                      produce essays and read
                      newspapers and literature

Level : C2        You can easily participate               400 lessons/20 weeks
                      in all discussions and also
                      understand idiomatic expressions.
                      You speak German fluently

The above table assumes that you follow a Standard Course, the process can be speeded up by attending a more intensive language course, i.e. an Intensive or Combined Course instead.

In reality a student chooses to attend a short course or a longer "Languages for Life" or "Academic Year" course according to their linguistic goals, personal wishes and time constraints.

 

Return to: Learn German in Berlin

 

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