German Language

Teaching Approach

The success of the German language program of the Sommerhochschule is based on careful student placement, teachers well-trained in methodology and with a special training in teaching German as a foreign language, as well as balanced communicative teaching methods. These methods help you to learn quickly and gain confidence in your communicative skills while having fun at the same time.

Our teaching approach for effective language learning:

  • German will be the only language spoken in class.
  • You will be actively involved all the time.
  • Pair work and role play will be used to simulate real life situations.

Class Sizes

Three students sitting at a table on a terrace listening to the lecturer's demonstration.

Tutorials are held in small groups with native speakers

Students will learn German in small groups. If the number of students in a German class exceeds 16, this class will be split up into two smaller sections. The minimum number of students per class is ten. The Sommerhochschule reserves the right to cancel a class should there not be enough participants.

The German language course was a true inspiration for me and in Strobl I actually got an impetus to continue learning the language. The lectures were very good; the group was small so the teacher had the opportunity to teach us almost individually."

Ljubica Djordjevic (Serbia)

Tutorials

Ample opportunity for informal conversation and discussion in German will be provided by tutorials conducted by fellow Austrian students. The tutorial groups will consist of three to five students. The tutorials are part of the German language courses and attendance is obligatory.

Levels

Five students sitting around a table playing an eucational game.

Interactive group work in an integral part of the German courses

The German courses are available on four levels: A1, A2, B1 and B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Each German course corresponds to 6 ECTS credits (60 credit hours). One credit hour consists of 50 minutes lecture time.

German A1: For participants with no or very little previous competence in the German language. This course leads up to Level A1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

German A2: This course leads up to Level A2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

German B1: This course leads up to Level B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

German B2: This course leads up to Level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Student Placement

Please make sure you have read the description/definition of the levels A1 to B2 within the CEFR before selecting your German level on the application form. The following website might help you to evaluate your language proficiency: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/LanguageSelfAssessmentGrid/en

All students registered for a German course will have to do an online placement test after their acceptance. The test will assess the student’s language proficiency and help place the student in the level that best suits their needs.