This course is primarily aimed at doctoral candidates and regular students in master’s degree programs that are taught in English. However, it may also be attended by employees and exchange students (Erasmus+, direct exchange).

• 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

5 ECTS

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

General Focus:

• Introduction to basic grammatical structures
• Consistently developing a basic vocabulary
• Practice listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills in specific everyday situations
• Simple exercises to improve students’ ability to express themselves orally and in writing
• Introduction to different forms of independent learning and working
• Discussing and reflecting upon cultural differences in everyday situations in Germany, Berlin, and at the university

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, students are able to

• understand the content of informative texts on familiar topics that are written in everyday language with a limited vocabulary, international terms, and visual context clues;
• understand simple instructions in everyday situations and understand information provided in clear, slow, standard German;
• introduce themselves and others and carry out short, familiar conversations using established structures;
• add specific information to short texts (e.g., notes, messages, and forms) and write short texts on familiar topics.

Course Topics:

Personal information; social environment; shopping; free time; work; living situation; institutions; transportation