Languages at Leicester

German

German is one of the world’s most important languages, with over 100 million speakers around the globe. It is spoken not only in Germany, Austria and parts of Switzerland, but also throughout Eastern Europe, where it is the language most commonly used for business, diplomacy and tourism. A key player in the EU, Germany is at the heart of European trade and technology. German has traditionally been an important medium of communication in engineering and the natural sciences, philosophy, literature and sport.

This year we are offering German at the following levels:

Beginners – This is for learners with little or no prior knowledge of German or for those who are happy to start all over again. You will learn basic skills to enable you to make yourself understood and to find out information in everyday situations.

Post-beginners – Is for those who can already manage in everyday situations using the present tense. You will probably have reached level A1 in the European Language Portfolio or completed a beginners course.

Intermediate – These learners will have some knowledge of past and future tenses. Your level in the European Language Portfolio will be around A2/B1 or the equivalent to a good grade GCSE.

Advanced – Is for learners who can understand the main points of everyday spoken and written material and are quite confident in the past and future tenses.

See levels for more detailed information.

Textbook:  For beginners and post-beginners the book used over the two years is:  "Willkommen!", A course in German for Adult Beginners by Paul Coggle and Heiner Schenke.  ISBN:  0-340-64808-2

For Intermediate we are using:  Berliner Platz 2, Deutsch Im Alltag Fuer Erwachsene by Christiane Lemcke, Lutz Rohrmann and Theo Scherling, Langenscheidt.

There is no set textbook for Advanced level.

Block Content

Beginners:  Blocks 1+2 - a choice of topics to include:  Personal identification; family; hobbies; jobs; towns and cities (describing places and directions); shopping and prices; going out (arranging dates); ordering in restaurants and cafes; telling the time; talking about the weather.

Post beginners:  Blocks 1+2 - a choice of  topics to include: Food; travel; holidays; free time; small talk; routines; media; health; lifestyles; work.

Intermediate:  Blocks 1+2 - a choice of  topics to include:  Holidays in German towns (cultural and geographical); world of work (advertisements and applications); topical subjects; health and fitness (exercise; eating habits); illness; smoking, drugs, alcohol.

Advanced:  Blocks 1+2 - a choice of  topics to include:  Current affairs; aspects of German life and regional studies; subjects of general interest; aspects of German film, literature, music.

Tutors

Ed Parnell (BA Essex, PGCE London), Alexandra Murphy, (First degree Leicester, Interpreting and Translating qualification, Leicester), Irma Roberts (First degree Bremen, MA in Applied Linguistics, Leicester), Petra Wilson (MPhil and teaching qualification Salzburg).

Please click the timetable link above left for details of when classes take place.  Attendance is once per week for all courses.