Language Center

Students who have obtained the DSH 1 qualification from Freie Universität Berlin and who are enrolled on a temporary basis for max. two semesters are required to attend an Advanced Module during the semester alongside their regular studies.

Remaining course places may be given to people in the following groups provided they obtain a score within the appropriate range in the placement test:

• Exchange students
• Students in English-language degree programs
• Students in German-language degree programs who are fully enrolled and who have not obtained a DSH qualification from Freie Universität Berlin
• Doctoral candidates
• Researchers and employees

Students who have obtained the DSH 1 qualification from Freie Universität Berlin:

• Registration after passing the DSH examination via the online form on our website or by sending an email to: ABV-DAF@sprachenzentrum.fu-berlin.de

Exchange students, students in English-language degree programs, students in German-language degree programs who are fully enrolled and who have not obtained a DSH from Freie Universität Berlin, 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 credit points

Students who have obtained the DSH 1 qualification from Freie Universität Berlin:

• Regular attendance (85%)
• Active participation in the course (i.e., completion of a six-page portfolio of written texts/homework, featuring a first version and an edited version of each – as well as an analysis of the errors made)
• Successfully pass the DSH examination to level DSH 2 or DSH 3

 

10 credit points / ECTS

Exchange students, students in English-language degree programs, students in German-language degree programs who are fully enrolled and who have not obtained a DSH qualification from Freie Universität Berlin, doctoral candidates, researchers, employees:

• Regular attendance (85%)
• Active participation in the course (actively taking part and completing written assignments)
• Students are expected to complete six pages’ worth of written texts/homework over the duration of the course, featuring a first version and an edited version of each – as well as an analysis of the errors made

 

Bachelor students can complete the course as part of the “ABV” (General Professional Skills) section of their studies (foreign language skills).

General Focus:

Deal with and acquire knowledge of forms of oral and written communication relevant to university studies; make use of socially relevant, general interest texts to practice strategies for gaining and developing an understanding of written material

• Understand academic texts and identify their main points precisely and in a detailed manner
• Outline reasons, objections, and arguments
• Summarize and repeat information, present facts in a structured, balanced manner
• Give personal assessments and express a personal opinion
• Develop and expand academically relevant vocabulary and science-related means of expression

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, students will have the following

linguistic skills:

• The ability to understand complex factual texts in relative detail and understand the structure and thought process behind them
• The ability to rearrange texts based on other criteria (chronologically, systematically)
• The ability to identify an author’s perspective and opinion on a matter provided this is expressed explicitly and without the use of irony or insinuation
• The ability to summarize, organize, and weigh information from different sources
• The ability to express themselves orally and in writing in a clear and confident manner when it comes to topics of general interest
• The confidence to join in with conversations and discussions at university

strategic skills:

• A number of strategies for comparing expectations with what a text actually says
• A number of strategies for ensuring they understand references contained within a text
• A number of strategies for planning, organizing, and writing their own texts
• A number of strategies for managing their own learning processes

intercultural skills:

• The sensitivity to examine differences in behavior, communication, and approaches to a problem based on different cultural backgrounds

Course Topics:

Language acquisition – Illiteracy – Nonverbal communication – Interculturalism – Language and how we perceive space – Biographies – Women in science and research – Biotechnology – Genetic engineering – Games – Laughter – Aggression – Time – Society and Crises – Stress – Sleep – Animal testing for research purposes – Media and communication, etc.