Learning is not a spectator sport! Active learning with our teachers at ADK means:

• Our teachers are “student-oriented” and enhance the lessons with additional practice material  
• Our students participate in goal setting
  
• The climate at our school is very collegial and supportive
• The activities in the classroom are also student-driven
• The assessment is continuous and supportive
• Teaching is “developmental” rather than “directive” and “presentational.”

Our Intensive courses run throughout the year, and can be booked for anything between 1 week as well as for 12 months. We work with current textbooks in several volumes [“Themen aktuell” at elementary level and “em” at intermediate level] so that you can continuously progress through the different course levels.

Our teachers enhance the lessons with material which is individually drawn up – didactically and methodically.

Advanced pupils can join, at any point, a course which is already underway.

Please ask for our specially reduced long term fees!

 ADK brochure in English

 Students who already possess some degree of proficiency in German, sit a placement test which, along with a personal interview, will ensure that you end up on the “right” course. You should look at the process of learning German to be an active one on which we work together!

For beginners, lessons begin at once. We speak only German from the start in the lessons, thus you can dive into the language very quickly and you will soon stop translating into your mother tongue. You can achieve even faster progress with our intensive plus courses.

We are flexible and consider your personality as well as your learning profile: in case you feel unchallenged it is possible to change to a higher level after consultation.

Course levels

We have lessons all-the-year at 6 different levels. You can start each Monday, if you learned German before and have previous knowledge. For absolute beginners we have got fixed starting dates.

In Basic Levels A1 and  A2, you will learn to speak, write and read simple German. The basic vocabulary, introduction to the past tense and declension of nouns you learn, will be enough to enable simple conversation. Important grammatical constructions are built into the framework of the lessons which are orientated towards day-to-day usage and dialogue. At Intermediate Level B1 and B2, more advanced pupils can broaden their vocabulary and deepen their understanding of the grammar. Listening comprehension and conversation will be practised in order to increase understanding in the new language as quickly as possible. Here, the use of authentic materials is even greater, and newspaper articles will be read in class followed by group discussion. Each level can be completed in 2 x 4-week courses! Weekly progress tests and topical lesson material

 Find more  information about all course levels 

Prices and Dates 2010

Please find here information about the courses before your departure

Placement

We are geared to an acknowledged system, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages by the Council of Europe. This official pattern enables to find out where you stand in the language and how long it will take, to reach a certain level. You need, for example, without any precognition, attending an intensive course at 20 lessons per week, approximately 12 months to reach level C1.

It is distinguished between:

• A1 and A2: elementary language use
• B1 and B2: independent language use
• C1 and C2: competent language use

Every course level can be completed in about 8 weeks!

A differentiated and exact placement test on your first Monday at ADK – containing one written and one oral part – ensures that we will find a class which corresponds your language level. Every Monday there is a short test taken in class which helps you to judge your progress. You can also consult your teacher at any time.

We work with the following books:

• A1: Themen aktuell Volume 1
• A2: Themen aktuell Volume 2
• B1: Themen aktuell Volume 3
• B2: em Brückenkurs
• C1: em Hauptkurs, em Abschlusskurs
• C2: Testdaf  plus authentic texts from magazines and news papers, own additional material

Age

The minimum age is 16, and for summer courses 12.

Certificates

At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate documenting your learning progress in the areas of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, conversation and composition.

Lessons

25 lessons (each lesson is 45 minutes) from Monday to Friday: 8.45 - 12.45 !