German

German Language Classes

Learning a foreign language with French German Gurus Overseas is an enriching and rewarding experience for every individual, opening doors to new opportunities, new cultures, new studies, work and personal growth. For Indians considering language skills enhancement, German language proficiency exams offer a pathway to academic pursuits, professional growth, and cultural enrichment.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into the world of German language exams, their significance, and what Indian learners need to know. Here’s a basic guide by French German Gurus Overseas to help you get started with learning the German language.

German Language-Exam Preparation:

German language proficiency exams are designed to evaluate an individual’s ability to understand, speak, read, and write in the German language. These exams serve as standardised measures of language competency and are recognized by educational institutions, employers, and immigration authorities worldwide.

• Starting with the basics: Beginning with the German alphabets and pronunciation, paying attention to the sounds, accents, nasal vowels which are unique for a new individual learning it.
• Learn common phrases: Start with everyday phases as greetings, polite expressions, essential phrases for introducing yourself. Learn how to say ‘hello’(Hallo),’goodbye’(Verabschiedung),’Please’(Bitte) and ‘Thankyou’(Danke).

• Build your vocabulary: Expand your vocabulary by learning words and phrases used in everyday lifestyle, such as days of the week, numbers, months and common objects. Use flashcards, language learning apps, textbooks and try to practise as much as possible.

• Study grammar: Understanding German grammar is important and crucial. Learn the basics of sentence structure, verb conjunction and gender.

• Explore pronouns: Learn about subject pronouns (e.g, ich, du, sie, er, es, wir, ihr) and reflexive pronouns (e.g, mich, dich, sich, uns, euch).

• • Use language learning apps: Utilise language learning apps like Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta stone, or memorise to practise German on your smartphone or computer.

• Listen and Speak: Find language exchange partners, or maybe start talking with your family members or friends to stay in touch and connected to the language. You can also listen to German music, podcasts, watch movies and TV shows with subtitles to understand it. Don’t be scared to make mistakes because practice is essential for improvement.

• Read and Write: Keep a journal or book close to you for reading in your freetime. Try to write at least one page daily in German language to improve.

• Be Patient and Persistent: Learning a new language takes time and effort. Stay motivated and practise regularly, set the goals and move along consistently and celebrate your progress.

German Language Exam levels:

The Common European Framework of Reference for languages(CEFR) is a widely recognised framework used to describe language proficiency levels in a consistent and standardised way. It is commonly used for European languages, including German. The CEFR decides language proficiency levels into six main categories, beginner to proficient as:-

• A1 (Lower Beginner): At the A1 level, you should be able to understand simple German sentences and recognize basic words that describe yourself and the world around you. You can use familiar greetings and introduce yourself. You can also write simply, for example, filling out forms. You can understand fundamental German vocabulary in slow speech.
• A2 (Upper Beginner): You can relate information about your job, your family, and your basic needs at the A2 level. You can understand practical materials like train schedules. You can also comprehend short written and spoken messages.

• B1 (Lower Intermediate): At the B1 level, you can start to enjoy more German media, grasping the main ideas of TV or radio programs that have slow and clear narration. Your written and spoken expressions also become more sophisticated.
• B2 (Upper Intermediate): Reaching the B2 level means that you can appreciate German media more fully, although you might still struggle with fast dialogue or idiomatic expressions. Your use of German is more nuanced at this level. 

The right words, expressions, and grammar come more easily to you, with much less hesitation than at lower levels.

• C1 (Lower Advanced): At the C1 level, your use and understanding of German becomes more intuitive. You can read deeper into the German you see and hear, engaging in more complex conversations and enjoying more native-level media.
• C2 (Upper proficient/Fluent): Your mastery at the C2 level lets you produce and understand highly complex German. This is close to native-level German fluency. Even accents from different parts of the German-speaking world don’t throw you off.

Types of German Language Exams:

Goethe-Zertifikat: There are six types of Goethe-Zertifikat, each corresponding to a CEFR level from A1 through C2. These are administered by the Goethe-Institut, an independent organisation dedicated to the study of German language and culture. Different versions of the Goethe-Zertifikat tests for levels A1 (lower beginner) through B2 (upper intermediate) can be taken by both younger students and adults. The tests for the C1 and C2 levels, however, are for adults only. Students, visa seekers, or workers can all benefit from getting a Goethe-Zertifikat. The Goethe-Zertifikat C2, also called Grosses Deutsches

Sprachdiplom (Great German Language Diploma), measures a near-native mastery of German by non-native speakers. The test can be taken by any German learner over the age of sixteen. It works best for people who would like to teach, do research, or study in Germany.

Goethe-Test PRO: If you’re planning to use German professionally, you can take the Goethe-Test PRO to show current or prospective employers your competence. This two-part exam presents different sets of questions, focusing on your listening and reading skills.  Based on your responses, it automatically adapts to your level of German knowledge.The computer-based test takes up to 90 minutes to complete, and you’ll get your results as soon as you finish.

Goethe-Test PRO Pflege: This is a variation of the Goethe-Test PRO that’s made specifically for healthcare professionals, such as nurses. It tests mastery at the B2 (upper intermediate) level.

TestDaF:  TestDaF — the Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (Test of German as a foreign language) was created primarily for students who wish to study at the university level in Germany. Designed to assess the proficiency of German language students from the B2 to C1 levels — basically, upper intermediate to lower advanced — it can be taken on a computer or on paper. Once you’ve passed the TestDaF exam, your certification will be valid indefinitely.

TELC (The European Language Certificates): A budget-friendly alternative to the various types of Goethe-Zertifikat, the many varieties of telc language certification tests provide a practical assessment of your German language skills. For instance, if you want to study at a German university, the telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule certificate can help get you into a graduate-level lecture hall. To obtain German citizenship, you might use the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer A2·B1 or the Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1 as proof of your German-language skills. The telc Deutsch B1-B2 Pflege is for nurses, whereas the telc Deutsch B2·C1 Medizin is for doctors who need privileges at German hospitals. If you want to do business in German, try one of the telc Deutsch tests with Beruf (profession) in the title. The governments of every German-speaking country accept telc certificates as proof of language proficiency for various immigration and residency purposes, such as obtaining a visa or a residence permit.

In fact, the governments of both Germany and Austria paired with telc test developers to ensure that these certificates would suffice for naturalisation and residency.

DTZ: BAMF, the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees), is Germany’s national migration authority. 

As a way of measuring immigrants’ progress in various government Integrationskurse (integration courses), they have created the DTZ, which stands for Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (German test for immigrants). It covers such topics as housing, health, social interaction, shopping, work, and raising children.

DSD: The Deutsches Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz (German Language Certificate of the Education Ministers Conference), or DSD, was designed for foreign students who wish to study in

German universities. If you take the DSD I exam and achieve a level A2 or B1 on the test, you will be eligible to attend a Studienkolleg. This is a public institution that prepares students to attend a German university. The DSD II exam is intended for students with a B2 or C1 level of German fluency. If you pass this exam, you can be authorised to study at a German institution of higher learning without any remedial language lessons.

Exam Overview:

PTE Society offers the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 exam consisting of 4 modules or parts, 15 points each so totals 60 points. You need to score a minimum of 36 points to pass the exam.

• Listening (Hören): [Time- 20 min, Points- 15], There are three parts (Teil) in the listening module.
• Part1 (Dialog, played twice) – 6 points for 6 questions of Multiple choice type. This consists of 6 questions and there will be 6 audios- dialogs. You’ll have a question and there will be 3 options- A, B and C. All 6 audios are played twice. You get enough time to understand the question and select your answer. 
• Part2 (Announcements, played once) – 4 points for 4 questions – True or False.This consists of 4 statements (7 to 10. 0 is an example in the image below) and 4 audios. Every audio will be played only once. You need to understand if the given statements are True (Richtig) or False (Falsch) according to the audio. The Audio played are mostly the announcements- in a shopping centre, at the railway station or at the Airport.

• Part3 (Monolog, played twice) – 5 points for 5 questions of Multiple choice type. You will get 5 questions (11 to 15) and 5 Audios here and again there will be A, B, C options to every question. You have to listen to the audio carefully and select the answer. Every audio here is again played twice.

• Reading (Lesen): [25 min, 15 Points]. Again there are three parts to the reading module.

• Part1 (Small letter/e-mail) – 5 points for 5 statements- True or False, Two texts (mostly small letters) are given and there will be 5 statements. You have to find out if the given statements are True (Richtig) or False (Falsch) according to the texts.
• Part2 (Websites) – 5 points for 5 questions – ‘a’ or ‘b’, In every question here you will get two website screenshots and a purpose is given. You need to understand which website (A or B) will help you to fulfil your purpose. Like this, there will be 5 questions and for every question, there will be two websites A and B, you have to select which website is helpful. 
• Part3 (Information posters) – 5 points for 5 questions of Multiple choice type, You will find one small piece of text information or an advertising poster in each question. Here you will have 5 statements and you have to find out that the given statements according to the text are True (Richtig) or False (Falsch).

• Writing (Schreiben): [20 min, 15 points], In the writing module, there are only 2 parts.

• Part 1 (Form filling) – 5 points for 5 blanks in the form, You will get text information about some person and one form to fill (for example hotel or flight booking form). You have to fill the form on behalf of that person. Read the question carefully. 
• Part2 (Letter/ email writing) – 10 points for one email, You will get one topic to write a letter or an email.  With the topic, you also get three points which you have to use in the letter. Write around 5 to 6 lines (around 30 words) on the given three points. The letter is for 10 points.

• Speaking (Sprechen): [15 min, 15 points], In the writing module, there are 3 parts. Speaking exam is done in groups of 3-4 students.

• Part1 (Self Introduction) – 5 points, You have to introduce yourself to the key points provided. The examiner may ask to spell some word, your mobile number, your birth date, or even email address with spelling. Answer everything carefully.
• Part2 (Framing questions and answering) – 5 points, You have to ask for some information from my partner. Here you will get a card, on the card there will be a theme given (for ex. Food and drink) and one word will be given (for ex. Sunday). You have to frame one question with the given theme and the word (for ex. What do you eat on Sunday?). You will get 2-3 cards and you have to frame 3 questions and your partner will answer your question. Same, your partner will also get cards and you will have to answer his or her questions in one or max two sentences.
• Part 3 (Framing requests) – 5 points, You will be shown some images here. Let’s say you will get an image of an apple and you will have to frame one request like- Can I eat that Apple or can you please eat that Apple? Your partner will reply to your requests and then you have to reply to his or her requests maximum in one line.

German Language Test Centers:

Test Centers: The Goethe-Institut has several test centers in India. The locations of the test centers may vary, but here are some major cities where you can find them:

• New Delhi
• Mumbai
• Chennai
• Kolkata
• Bengaluru
• Pune
• Ahmedabad
• Hyderabad
• Kochi
• Chandigarh
• Jaipur