At which level will I start my German course?

In order for your German language course to be a success, you absolutely have to participate in a group that has your level of German. Therefore correct course placement is a real priority for us. Before courses start, you will receive a placement test from us. On the first day of your course you will be placed in a class corresponding to your level according to your test results.

Please indicate your level together with your application, so we will have an idea of where to place you. Below you will find a course description to help you with this task.

The levels correspond to the Common European Framework of the European Council for the study of languages.

In our small groups every level takes approximately 160 class units to complete, i.e. with 20 class units per week the course for completion of one level will take approximately 8 weeks.

Description of levels — from beginner stage to advanced stage:

Level A1: On completion of this level you will be able to

• understand and use everyday expressions and simple sentences,
• introduce yourself and others, ask everyday questions and answer them — e.g. where you come from, where you live, the people you know, or the things you own,
• communicate in a simple way, if the persons you are talking to, speak slowly and clearly and are prepared to help you.

Level A2: On completion of this level you will be able to

• understand and use frequently used expressions concerning all areas of everyday life, e.g. you are able to give information about yourself and your family, go shopping, describe your work and close environment,
• communicate in simple routine situations during which you have to directly exchange information on familiar subjects.
• describe with the aid of simple means your own background and education and your immediate environment and needs.
   

Level B1: On completion of this level you will be able to

• understand the main issues if standard language is used clearly and if the conversation is about familiar aspects of work, school, leisure etc., you can manage most situations while travelling in a German-speaking country,
• give your opinion on familiar subjects and personal interest in a simple and coherent way,
• relate experiences and events, describe dreams, hopes and goals and give short explanations regarding plans and opinions.
   

Level B2: On completion of this level you will be able to

• understand the main contents of complex texts on specific or abstract subjects and specialist discussions in your own field of knowledge
• communicate so spontaneously and fluently that a normal conversation with native speakers is possible without great effort on both sides,
• express yourself on a broad range of topics in a clear and precise way, explain your point of view on a current issue and enumerate advantages and disadvantages of several possibilities.
   

Level C1: On completion of this level you will be able to

• understand a broad range of sophisticated longer texts and also acknowledge implied meanings,
• express yourself spontaneously and fluently without having to obviously grope for words,
• use the language effectively and in a flexible way in your social and professional life or in training and studies,
• express yourself clearly, extensively and in a structured manner on complex subjects and use several means of combining text in an adequate manner.
   

Level C2: On completion of this level you will be able to

• understand practically everything that you read and hear without any effort
• summarize information from different written and oral sources and give explanations on it in a coherent way,
• express yourself very spontaneously, very fluently and precisely and make subtly remark on complex subjects.