Their idea was to design a top-notch, intensive, free language course for a group of refugees — and to partner with these newcomers in a language experiment. There’s a debate about the best way to teach German to nonnative speakers, Goucha says. Often, teachers start with a heavy dose of vocabulary and leave German syntax … Continue reading Learning German: Combining research and helping refugees learn a new language
The Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) just sent me 330 euros because I know German. Woohoo! Ok, it isn’t really free money — it’s a refund — but it still feels brilliant. If you don’t know how the BAMF courses work, here’s a little overview: The BAMF integration courses include 660 lesson hours at … Continue reading It Pays to Learn German
I finally received my DTZ test results! Actually, in typical bureaucratic fashion, I had to go pick up my results from the language school and sign a paper saying I received them. I could have gotten them a few weeks ago, but I was busy enough that I kept putting it off. As luck would … Continue reading Ich spreche Deutsch: B1 German!
I finished the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer! I took the first part on Friday (listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and writing) and the second part today (speaking). All in all, I felt like it was pretty easy. The hardest part was the second section of the speaking test: describing a picture. But that was mostly just difficult … Continue reading Done with the DTZ!
When I started the Orientierungskurs, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The course is required for integration (in other words, for students who need to satisfy BAMF requirements for immigration purposes). In my case, I already have a two-year German residence and work permit, but I need to complete the integration program to renew that … Continue reading What to Expect from the BAMF Orientierungskurs
Expat Linguist 