Fubis Language Classes

Here in Berlin I am taking a semi-intensive German language course. When signing up for the class you write down what you wish to take, but just because you choose this class it does not mean that you will get into it. When taking a language course here they want to ensure that you will understand the information and will be able to keep up so they make you go through three different placement tests before you find out which class you will really be in. Before you come to Berlin, you have to take a vocab and a reading placement test. Then on your first day of class you are required to have an interview where they test your speaking skills. After all of this is completed, they go over your results and decide which level class will be best for you. However, if you are placed in a class and you and the teacher both think you should be in a higher or lower class they will switch you out within the first couple of days.

When I first went to class I was completely surprised by it because it was nothing like I expected. I thought that I would be attending class at the main building of Frei Universitat and be in a normal sized classroom. However I soon found out that this was not the case. Instead of being on the main campus we are 3 or so U-bahn stops away from it and we are in a building that one would consider being a house. Then instead of having 20 or so people in my class like I am use to there are only 7 of us. This I thought was crazy, but I actually really like it because I learn more in smaller settings because I get to know the other students and the teacher on a much more personal level and therefore feel more comfortable. Another thing that I like is that my teacher is very young. She is only 26 and therefore she tries to relate to us as much as possible and tells/shows us all the “cool” places to go.

            I have class on Mondays, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9-3. We have a half hour break at 10:30 and almost everyone walks down to the corner to a little store that sells coffee, fruit, bratwurst, croissants, etc and hangs out and talks. Then, we have an hour break at 12:30 where we go either to the cafeteria or a local restaurant for lunch.

Our classes are split up into 6 sections each 45 minutes long, but I couldn’t tell you what those sections are. Oops. What we do in a typical class is play at least one game, do worksheets out of our text book, listen to a tape and then answer questions about what we heard, we learn new sentence structures, tenses, endings, etc and then do worksheets to practice them. We do a lot more than just this, but that’s a basic idea of a normal day. Also, our class is completely taught in German so one must really pay attention to understand what is going. My favorite class day though is Wednesday. Every Wednesday we have excursion days. On these days we meet somewhere around town and then we explore, learn the history of places, interact with people, and do little scavenger hunts to fill out our worksheets. Today was out first one and it was so fun except it is hard to focus because you rather just talk and explore rather than do work.
            Along with what we do in class on a normal basis, we also have to write in a Journal that is due every Monday. Our teacher does not correct anything in it she just wants us to write and practice. Then, we have two individual presentations we have to complete and a group presentation. Also, we have to write two papers, only 150-200, and we have two exams.
            The last thing that I really like about our class is that it is a very friendly environment and we do not have to be serious all the time. On my first day of class a kid in my class said he knew how to swing dance and really wanted to teach people. After hearing this I instantly wanted to learn something, so in the middle of class he just started to teach me. My teacher had no problem with this and actually encouraged it. She liked seeing us interact with each other and was intrigued by some of our culture.

            Overall I think my class experience here is way different than it is back home. There are different things I like and dislike about classes here in Germany and back home in the U.S. However, I actually think I enjoy classes here more than at home. The atmosphere is just completely different