Learning German in Germany

German classes in Germany

 

Shortly after arriving in Esslingen in September 2016, I signed up for a B2 level German class at the Hochschule Esslingen. I had earlier finished my B2.1 level at The Languedge and wanted to further advance my German language skills. The course was arranged by the Hochschule free of charge with a private instructor.

Course fee and structure

Unpaid courses are not common in Germany, since taking up a course outside at a Sprachschule (Language Institute) usually costs 180-220 Euros/course (average) with around 50-60 learning units (All classes in Germany are mentioned as number of Learning Units (UE), each UE being 45 minutes). Few private tutors also offer classes that are charged on an hourly basis.

Another important point to bear in mind is, unlike in India, courses in Germany are not structured as A1, A2, etc. Instead each level is split into 2 courses and this means an A1 level comprises of a course in A1.1 and then an A1.2. Thus, completing one level as per the Common European Framework (CEFR) requires 2 courses.

Class frequency and peer group

My classes at the Hochschule were on average once a week for about 4 months, totalling to 40 UE. This is however only one-third of what is required for a B2 level. My peer group comprised of around 10 students among which were 2 Indians (including myself), an American, a Brazilian, a Russian and    2 other South-East Asians. And our teacher was of Italian-descent. Quite a mixed group!

At the Sprachschule outside, both Weekday and weekend batches are offered. Unlike India, Sunday is a complete non-working day in Germany and weekend batches mean classes on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Also, it is possible for full-time University students and working professionals to even sign up for weekday batches, since classes are held in the evenings with 1-2 class days/week. Batch sizes are generally limited to 20 and is usually an international mix with at least 6-8 nationalities.

Nature of activities

Activities in my class ranged from B2 course material to visiting the Theatre (Drama), a local Museum and reading a Novel plus discussing the story and its characters in class. Instructors strongly emphasize that self-preparation and practise outside the classroom plays a key role in the speed and success of language learning. This applies especially with familiarizing new words in German.

Evaluation & Certification

Every course participation is offered a certificate, provided the minimum attendance requirements are met. The official certification exams are to be signed up separately and are offered for most levels almost independently by every Institute.

Top 3 tips for an avid learner

• Plan in advance:

Life in Germany mostly begins with a plan and language learning is no exception. Have a clear idea of your weekly schedule, travel plans, etc. to make the right choices. Course bookings maybe necessary 3-4 months in advance to secure a slot in the desired batch (unlike in India where bookings can be done the previous month). Bookings and payments can usually be done online.

• Explore, meet people and make friends:

Make extra efforts to put yourself in new situations and to interact with native speakers. Make German friends (at University/workplace) with whom all topics can be discussed in German. This can be a great boost, but establishing the initial trust takes time. Opportunities to practise the Listening (Hoeren) and Reading (Lesen) skills are present almost every day. The Internet makes this easier. Challenges are fine tuning the Speaking (Sprechen) and Writing (Schreiben).

• Observe and Learn:

Learn the culture and lifestyle through observations – “Unspoken” way to learn. Everything around can be an indication about life in Germany (e.g. elderly friendly access ways, road rule adherence, way of celebrations, etc.)

What I enjoyed most

The most interesting thing about learning German in Germany is the international peer group, which makes the experiences shared by every learner quite unique. It brings the double benefit of learning a new culture in a foreign language. Also, the multi-cultural experience helps realize the uniqueness of our own culture (self-realization moments)

A key challenge as a learner is often you are able to understand what you hear, but despise that you cannot reply back your thoughts precisely (either due to lack of words and/or limited knowledge in content). This is an initial hurdle in the mind and can be overcome with regular practise ONLY. Also it may be necessary to embrace and tackle cultural perceptions/ignorance among the peer group.