The Deutsches Haus’ language program is modeled after the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFRL) which provides for 6 levels of language proficiency. Our courses are all designated with the same A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 appellations used under the CERFL. A decimal is added to show where within each of the levels the specific class is. For example, A1.1 is a beginning class in the A1 level and A1.2 is the next class. The CEFRL estimates that each level requires 90 to 125 class hours to master.
Each of our courses provides 19.5 class hours, for a total of almost 80 class hours for the four specific classes at each level. In order to provide additional class hours without repeating the specific classes, we offer a Special Topics course at each level. This review is centered around a reading text at the correct level and includes review and exercises of the grammar and vocabulary for the level in addition to discussion of the text. The text is changed from session to session so the Special Topics class can be repeated as needed. We also encourage students to repeat courses at a level until they are ready to move to the next level.
In addition to the courses modeled after the CEFRL, we offer an Intermediate Conversational class for all students who have completed the A2 level and are interested in a conversational course rather than the exercise based curriculum of the specific classes.
A1 (Beginner: 5 parts from A1.1 through A1.4 and A1 Comprehensive Review)
Upon completion of the beginner level, A1, the student will be able to:
• understand what they hear in everyday situations, such as simple questions, instructions and messages, as well as messages on an answerphone, public announcements and brief conversations,
• obtain relevant information from short written messages, public notices and classified advertisements,
• state and understand figures, quantities, times and prices,
• fill in personal details and basic information on forms,
• write brief personal messages,
• introduce themselves in a conversation and answer simple personal questions,
• formulate and respond to common everyday queries and requests.
A2 (Elementary: 5 parts from A2.1 through A2.4 and A2 Comprehensive Review)
In the next level, A2, the students will be able to:
• extract relevant information from newspaper articles, emails, advertisements and public announcement boards,
• understand the main content of everyday conversations, announcements and interviews on the radio, messages on the telephone and public announcements,
• write messages related to their everyday environment,
• pose and answer questions in conversations about themselves, converse about their own life and make agreements or negotiate with a conversation partner.
B1 (Intermediate: 5 parts from B1.1 through B1.4 and B1 Comprehensive Review)
The next level is B1 in which the student learns to:
• understand key points of information about work, school and leisure time when standard language is being used.
• handle most situations that one would encounter when traveling in German-speaking countries.
• express themselves simply and coherently on familiar topics and areas of personal interest.
• talk about experiences and events, describe dreams, hopes and goals, and provide brief explanations and statements of purpose.
B2
The B2 level competency is required to study at most German universities. At this level the student will be able to:
• follow the main content of specific and abstract topics and obtain relevant information from them (i.e. radio broadcasts),
• understand a wide range of texts, both shorter simple texts (such as advertisements) and longer, more complex factual texts, commentaries and reports,
• express themselves clearly and in a structured way in writing on the subject of complex matters and also correct mistakes in texts written by other people,
• give clearly structured oral comments on general subjects and topics of particular interest to you,
• take an active part in discussions on subjects they know about, taking up a position and presenting your own point of view.
C1
At the C1 level, the student will be able to:
• understand a wide range of written texts, including longer, more complex factual texts, commentaries and reports,
• express t clearly and logically in essays on complex issues, choosing the right kind of expression to appeal to the reader,
• verbally express themselves spontaneously and fluently, state their own opinions, formulate their thoughts and views precisely and make detailed contributions of their own.
• easily understand relatively long radio talks and radio programs,
C2
At the C2 level, the most advanced level, the student will:
• understand everything in German that they read and hear effortlessly
• summarize information presented to them from a variety of sources, written and spoken, and, in doing so, synthesize correlating arguments as well as explanations
• organically express themselves in a fluent and precise manner and articulate the finer nuances of complex arguments.