Malughas A1 & A2 German as a Foreign Language Course (A1 & A2 Level) is offered upon request and the syllabus is tailor-made to cover the basic essential grammar topics, while putting into consideration the learner's demands. This course is offered on part-time basis on the days/dates decided and agreed upon by the learner(s) at his/her/their convenience. However, learners are advised to attend at least three sessions per week. Learning is done through Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp and any other convenient social media platforms, however we strongly recommend Skype. What does the Language level mean? A1: Goethe Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 Ideal if you would like to: ? apply for a position as an au pair in Germany ? obtain evidence of the language skills required to be granted a visa to join your husband or wife in Germany ? prove that you have successfully reached level A1 ? be issued with an official and internationally recognized certificate The Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 is a German exam for adults. It certifies that candidates have acquired very basic language skills and corresponds to the first level (A1) on the six-level scale of competence laid down in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Passing the examination demonstrates you can: ? communicate in a simple manner if the person you are speaking to talks slowly and clearly, ? understand and use familiar, every day and common expressions and simple sentences (e.g. information about yourself and your family or about shopping, work and your immediate surroundings), ? introduce yourself and others, as well as ask others about themselves, e.g. where they live, who they know and what they own. ? understand and use familiar phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of concrete type. ? make personal introduction, as well as introduce others and can ask and answer questions about details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has or does. ? interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is willing to help. Beginner A1 Can recognize and use familiar words and simple phrases for concrete purposes. Can introduce himself or someone else. Can ask and answer basic questions about home, family, surroundings, etc. Can communicate in a basic way when the other person speaks slowly and clearly, and is ready to repeat or reformulate to help communication. A2: Goethe-Zertifikat A2 Ideal if you would like to: ? demonstrate that you have a basic knowledge of German ? prove that you have successfully reached level A2 ? be issued with an official and internationally recognized certificate The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 is a German exam for adults. It requires elementary language skills and corresponds to the second level (A2) on the six-level scale of competence laid down in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Passing the examination demonstrates that you can: ? understand and use sentences and common expressions in everyday situations, ? make yourself understood in simple, routine situations demanding an exchange of information on familiar and common topics, ? describe your background and education, immediate surroundings and other matters associated with your immediate needs in a simple way. ? understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment etc.) ? communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. ? describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of need. Elementary A2 Can understand isolated phrases and common expressions that relate to areas of high personal relevance (like personal or family information, shopping, immediate environment, work). Can communicate during easy or habitual tasks requiring a basic and direct information exchange on familiar subjects. Using simple words, can describe his or her surroundings and communicate immediate needs. How to learn German fast? How long does it take to learn German? This is perhaps the most common question from students who wish to learn German. How long a student needs to learn German will depend on several factors, with some taking a longer time than others. How long it finally takes will depend on several factors as discussed below. 1. Desired Proficiency level You can speak German or any other language at different proficiency levels. For instance, a German lawyer will use a much more sophisticated language (higher proficiency level) compared to a German child (lower proficiency level), although both of them are fluent in German! Consequently, if you simply wish to attain Beginner Level proficiency, 80-120 hours of learning will be sufficient. However, to reach an advanced level of proficiency, much more hours are needed! 2. Available time for learning The time that you can set aside for learning German will definitely affect your progress. Hence, it will take a busy person a much longer time to learn German compared to someone with much time at his disposal. 3. Gaps in between classes How long it takes to learn German also depends on gaps in between classes. Longer gaps between classes mean more chances to forget what you have previously learned. Ideally, we recommend a maximum of 2 days gap in between lessons for maximum retention. 4. Mother tongue influence Your mother tongue can deeply influence how long you take to learn German, especially German pronunciation. There is such a thing called mother tongue influence that mostly impact on your pronunciation of German words. 5. Knowledge of another Germanic language Those who know another foreign language (such as English and other Germanic languages) will be able to learn German much faster than others. That is because many German words share a similar root with English, as well as other Germanic language words, making it easier for learners to correctly guess the meaning of those words, especially in written German. Learn German Fast with our Accelerated Learning Method Here's an idea of the average hours required to attain different levels of German proficiency. I mention learning hours instead of time frame (weeks, months, etc.) as it is more accurate. Proficiency Level CEFR Average hours Lower Beginner A1 90-120 hours Upper Beginner A2 150-200 hours Who is the course for? ? The course is aimed at a wide range of students with a general interest in German. No prior knowledge of German is required for those wishing to pursue German A1 Level course, as the course is for complete beginners. ? For A2 Level, learners should have attempted and completed the course work of German A1 Level, and where possible sat for Goethe-Institut German A1 Level Exam. What are the objectives of the course? ? To acquire basic language skills and to achieve the equivalent A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) entry level of Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). ? By the end of the course the learner will: i. Be able to communicate in very basic everyday – life situations, including but not limited to greetings, daily activities, finding one's way, telling time and date, making simple purchases and related transactions, ordering and paying for meals and other items, etc. ii. Be able to understand very simple oral and written texts and ascertain specific information on simple topics. iii. Have developed an insight into German – speaking life, culture and society. How will the course be taught? ? A communicative approach will be used. All four skills (speaking, reading, listening and writing) will be practiced, with the main emphasis on speaking. ? Learners will engage in interactive language activities, participating in group and pair work according to a syllabus based on systematic grammatical progression. ? Where the learner is alone, enough interaction will be accorded to ensure complete comprehension of the course work. ? Due to the prevailing pandemic, lessons will be conducted online using such forums as WhatsApp/Skype/Zoom and any other relevant and convenient e-learning platform ? Students will also be offered guidance in self-study and set learning practice tasks. What is next after completing A1 course? ? After successful completion of A1 course, learners should be able to join a Level 2 (A2) Class. Functions ? Introducing oneself and greeting other people ? Giving and asking personal information ? Making travel arrangement ? Asking for and giving the time, the day ? Making polite requests ? Speaking about your everyday activities ? Asking and expressing needs ? Talking about present events ? Making propositions, accepting and refusing propositions Learning resources ? Students are expected to purchase their own textbooks where possible, including dictionaries. Writing material is also recommended. ? The teacher will supply additional material, both tailor-made and taken from other sources (textbooks, newspapers, internet etc.) to supplement the subject matter. Independent study ? Research indicates that successful language learners revise new material and review their progress on a regular basis. ? Intensive tuition is also available with double weekly hours and double monthly fees, for those who wish to complete their course within a short period. Study timetable/schedule ? The study (tuition) timetable is tailor-made to suit students' availability. Timings and days are negotiated prior to course commencement. Examinations ? After successful completion of the course, interested students will be assisted in booking and sitting for their end of course examination at Goethe-Institut. ? Note, however, final external international examinations will be a learner's discretion.
