Exchange students, regular students in English-language degree programs, doctoral candidates, researchers, employees

• Application to register for a course submitted in good time using the online form on our website
• Completion of Language Center placement test or grade from language course previously attended at Freie Universität

10 ECTS

• Regular and active participation
• Completion of coursework (grammar tests, reading and listening comprehension exercises, writing short texts)
• Successful completion of final exam (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, grammatical structures)

General Focus:

• Introduction to, expansion upon, and reinforcement of basic grammatical structures
• Systematic work on building vocabulary
• Improving listening and reading comprehension skills
• Exercises to practice oral and written expression
• Introduction to different forms of independent learning and working
• Reflecting upon experiences in Germany, Berlin, and at the university

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, students are able to

• understand the main message and some details of factual texts that have been adapted for the classroom, as well as of short texts taken from real-world contexts (e.g., university life) and understand the line of reasoning throughout, albeit not necessarily in detail;
• understand the main points of a text containing familiar subject matter when it is spoken in a clearly articulated manner;
• take part in routine formal discussions on familiar topics, the purpose of which is to exchange information or discuss potential solutions to practical problems, provided clear, standard German is used;
• express and ask for personal views and opinions;
• prepare and carry out a short presentation on a familiar topic within their own field of interest in a clear and comprehensible manner, with the main points generally explained concisely and clearly;
• paraphrase short text passages orally or in writing by using the wording and structure of the original text and compose simple, coherent texts on familiar topics within their own fields of interest;
• put listening and reading strategies into practice and utilize appropriate resources (dictionaries, knowledge of grammar).

Course Topics:

Daily life at a university; city life; the history of Berlin; consumption, advertising, and new media; vocational training, studies, and career; travel and mobility