German Language School in Germany - Berlin Study Abroad Programs

Akademie für Fremdsprachen GmbH, Berlin:
The Akademie für Fremdsprachen GmbH - private Fachschule was founded in 1971, and has established itself since then as one of Berlin’s leading language schools. Our school is situated in the heart of the western part of Berlin, ten minutes walk from the famous Kurfürstendamm shopping street. Our school has a very friendly, welcoming atmosphere and offers a wide range of German language courses, from regular day classes to more intensive courses and one-to-one tuition. We provide the entire range of proficiency levels, from beginner through to advanced. We are a recognised centre for a number of Cambridge and London Chamber of Commerce examinations and prepares candidates for professional qualifications in translation.

German Language Courses:

We offer a wide range of courses in German, from regular day classes to more intensive courses and one-to-one tuition, and we offer the full range of proficiency levels, from beginner, intermediate, to advanced. Our German courses usually run in sequence, progressing from one level to the next. However, we do also offer our students the opportunity to take an external examination: Deutsch als Fremdsprache (DaF).

The official Freie University, Berlin 'Deutsch als Fremdsprache' examination is open to all the students at the Akademie, but is intended more specifically for those completing the Intermediate Level. Passing this exam is a requirement for all foreign-speaking students wishing to do a course of study at the Freie University in Berlin.

Beginners & Elementary German Language Courses:
Notions and functions, spoken exercises, pronunciation exercises, listening comprehension (dialogues, authentic texts), reading comprehension (reading for gist, reading for specifics), grammar and structures, orthography and simple written exercises.

Intermediate I German Language Courses:
Listening comprehension (nonfiction texts), reading comprehension (texts about German life and civilisation and about current topics), grammar, various means of expressions of the written language, discussion and conversation, vocabulary expansion and idioms, preparation for the language examinations of the universities.

Intermediate II German Language Courses:
Reading of difficult texts in standard language, listening comprehension (spoken texts), various types of texts (nonfiction, fiction and scientific), word formation, essays and reports, idioms, discussion and preparation for the language examinations of the universities.

Advanced German Language Courses:
Fine points of grammar, idiomatic expressions, style, composition and oral production, social, economic, cultural, technical and political texts (evaluation), preparation for "Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom".

German as a Foreign Language (DaF) Exam Preparation Courses:
We prepare you for the following exams:

DSH:
DSH stands for "Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang ausländischer Studienbewerber" (German language exam for foreign students applying to a German university).

Freie Universität Berlin (FU), Humboldt Universität Zu Berlin (HU), Technische Universität Berlin (Technical University of Berlin - TUB), Universität Der Künste Berlin (Berlin University of the Arts - UDK), Universität Potsdam (University of Potsdam), German Language Proficiency Exam; only for foreign students applying to a German university!

Test DaF:
- German as a Foreign Language Test
- All areas of study for prospective University students.

Quality Teaching:
Here in the Akademie, we believe that human contact is of foremost importance when learning a language, so we always try to keep the class sizes small. We provide a wide number of classes at all levels, so that you will be placed with the right group of people. This is important for us, so that we can gauge the correct pace and level at which to direct our teaching, but also, we hope, it will help you to feel comfortable with a group of people with similar experience and with a view to the same goals.

All our teachers are experienced and motivated. Most of all we aim to be approachable. Productive learning is best built upon on a direct, easy-going and friendly relationship with your teacher.

The school is very international and has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. You are welcome wherever you come from. We think it is important to have a wide variety of nationalities coming into our school, so you will feel included whatever your place of origin. Coming here is a great opportunity to mix with people from all across the world, expand your horizons, and perhaps even make some contacts that you will cherish for ever.

We expect you will be able to go away from Berlin, not only having mastered your German, but also with a real sense of having gained an invaluable and highly memorable experience for life! Studying languages abroad is as much about what you learn outside the classroom as what you learn from your textbooks.

Why Learn German in Berlin?
Engaging with a country’s culture is one of the most important and beneficial ways to develop your language skills. Culture and language are intimately related. A few weeks in a foreign land lifts language learning out of the stale confines of the classroom and gives it a new sense of immediacy and vitality. Students have the chance to speak the language in an exciting new environment can be really rewarding and satisfying.

Learning German in Germany provides the context for what can otherwise seem a distant and complex language. When here, you can see the language in action in everyday life, functioning down to a very basic level. As we say here in Germany: “Übung macht den Meister!” - “Practice makes perfect”. What is more: as you will come to see, language learning can be a fun and liberating experience!

Additional language courses:  We also offer General English, Commercial & Business English, Spanish, French, Italian and Russian language courses.