Your First Course Day

If you decided to participate in one of our intensive courses, there will be several interesting events waiting for you on the first course day: you will get important information on the structure and schedule of the course; take the placement test or start lessons immediately being an absolute beginner; or your language level has recently been determined by us and you’re scheduled for our alternative program. In any case you will learn a lot about us and our work and get to know many future classmates from all over the world.

 

What the first course day looks like exactly depends on your language level (absolute beginner or advanced); on having attended a former course or sat an exam recently.

 

It’s your first time with us and you already have some language knowledge

After you all gathered at the meeting point that was indicated in your booking confirmation and our teachers have checked if all participants are present, you will be given information on how the placement test is administered and what steps will follow next. It is one of our most important quality principles to conduct tests also with participants who are in possession of current language certificates issued by other institutions. Please don’t be surprised. It is in your and your future classmates’ interest and ensures that you form a homogeneous group. This is the only way to guarantee optimal learning success.

The placement test comprises a written part of around 100 minutes and an oral part of around 15 minutes. While the written part consists of four gap texts, the oral part includes a personal one-to-one interview. You absolutely do not have to fear this conversation: it will be an informal dialogue that will help us to determine your pronunciation, your listening and understanding skills, your vocabulary and, last but not least, your knowledge of grammar. Tools such as dictionaries, mobile phones etc. must not be used as they would falsify the test result. The test begins at around 9:30 a.m. and lasts, including a short break, until around 1:00 p.m.

After the placement test, you will receive information on the same day or the following day as to which class you have been assigned, where the classroom is and when your lessons will start.

If you’ve chosen a summer course: After the placement test, usually around 1.30 p.m., we will meet again to inform you of the placement results and the class allocation. Afterwards you will get to know our teachers and other course participants and of course in the course of our “welcome drink”, our leisure team who will take you to our obligatory city tour through Klagenfurt.

 

If you’re an absolute beginner or we do know about your language level already

If you have no previous knowledge, your lessons will start without delay. If you register as an absolute beginner when called, the teacher assigned to this level will guide you straight to the corresponding classroom. After all, we don’t want to waste valuable teaching time.

If we already know you and your language skills, your lessons – if you wish – also start on the first course day. We almost always have alternative programs planned for the levels A1+, A2 + B1 and B2+. The alternative program is not to be confused with the regular classes that start on the second day. While the regular lessons are aimed precisely at your language level, in the alternative program there will also be participants whose language level is slightly higher or lower than yours. In contrast to the “normal” course, the course content in the alternative program is chosen in such a way that it covers interesting aspects for all participants. So, as the name suggests, this really is an alternative that ensures that the first day of the course isn’t a waste for those who don’t have to sit the placement test again.

 

Last but not least: What should you bring with you?

On the first day you’ll only need writing utensils, preferably a ballpoint pen and maybe a pad or exercise book to make some notes; from the second day of the course, and this is very important, please bring your own dictionary (mother tongue <-> German). All other teaching materials (course and work books, copies, etc.) will be made available to you by us and are included in the course fee.