Language Center – Course Levels

Course Levels

Use of language in simple everyday situations: understand common words and phrases; ask simple questions and make statements and react to them, make simple statements about people and places; write short texts; elementary grammatical structures; vocabulary of approximately 500 words.

Communication in enough high frequency everyday or job-related language to be able to meet concrete needs: understanding of frequently recurring texts and phrases; communicating in predictable situations and simple, short routine exchanges; direct exchange of information on everyday and job-related matters; oral and written production of short, simple texts about everyday events and personal experiences; differentiation of grammatical structures, vocabulary of about 1200 words.

Understanding of factual information, general messages and assessments concerning everyday situations and matters related to his/her professional field; ability to communicate about routine matters; exchanging, checking and commenting on information; taking part in discussions about familiar topics, expressing personal opinions and talking about topics of the student’s interest; production of simple accounts and descriptions in these fields; understanding and usage of more complex grammatical structures, vocabulary of about 2000 words.

Understanding of complex language, even of unfamiliar topics; recognizing the line of argument and identifying points of emphasis of argumentation; understanding of straightforward texts on subjects related to the student’s field and interests; communication on a wide range of vocational, cultural and general topics, even in extended discussions, appropriate to the circumstances, according to each individual student’s language capability; accounting for and sustaining personal views by explanations and arguments; systematic presentation and discussion of topics related to the student’s interests and professional field after appropriate preparation; understanding and production of texts on general topics; understanding of texts related to the student’s professional field; repetition of grammatical structures.

Understanding the full range of the German language in all its complexities; recognizing implied relationships and appreciating distinctions of style; spontaneous communication; effortless and fluent complex contributions to discussions, even about demanding topics; mastering a differentiated vocabulary and using circumlocutions; production of detailed and clearly structured texts on complex topics, efficiently presenting personal points of view; repetition of grammatical structures.

Understanding, analyzing and interpreting all sorts of written and oral language; command of a wide range of idiomatic expressions; command of a wide range of modification devices to convey finer shades of meaning; ability to circumvent expressive or comprehension difficulties; production of clear, smooth and complex speeches or contributions to discussions; production of elaborate written texts with an effective logical structure, mastering a wide range of written matter; repetition of grammatical structures.

Required Tuition Units (TU) per Level

How quickly a certain language level can be reached depends on a range of factors: diligence, motivation, interest, learning background, age of the learner, teaching intensity, type of course etc.

The information in the following table is therefore only a rough guide.

Level
TU
Course Weeks  (Intensive-Courses)
Semesters (ULG DaF)
Semesters (VAAU)
A0 → A1 100 – 150 approx. 6 1
A1 → A2 100 – 150 approx. 6 1 – 2
A2 → B1 100 – 150 approx. 6 1 – 2 1
B1 → B2 200 – 300 approx. 12 2 – 3 1
B2 → C1 200 – 300 approx. 12 2 – 3 1
C1 → C2 300 – 400 approx. 16 3 – 4
  • Intensive Course 3 weeks = 72 TU (24 TU per week)
  • Semester Evening Course “German as a Foreign and Second Language” (DaF/DaZ) = ca. 75 – 85 TU per semester
  • Preparatory Program for Supplementary Examinations (VAAU) = 216 or 288 TU per semester

1 tuition unit = 45 minutes