Extracurricular course program
Exchange students are offered the opportunity to take additional courses during the semester. These include both German language courses and courses on regional and cultural studies. Courses on regional and cultural studies are taught in English. Language courses are available at different levels (A1 to C1) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
These courses are open to all exchange students. Registration costs EUR 15 per course. This fee is not refundable, not even if you cannot participate in the course. A minimum number of participants is required for each course. Courses might be canceled due to lack of enrollment.
Registration
If you would like to participate in an extracurricular course, please register via our myUniMA portal. You will receive an e-mail containing the link to the portal in May or November respectively. Registration for the courses takes place at the end of January or at the end of August respectively. Each student can register for a maximum of three extracurricular courses. For further information on the registration please visit myUniMA. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may use the computers at the Express Service in L1, 1 to register (during opening hours only); you do not need any log-in data.
Organizational Information
You are required to attend the first day of the course. Otherwise, you will lose your place on the course and can no longer attend. Courses are limited to a maximum of 15 participants. In view of the limited number of participants we kindly ask you to make your choice carefully. When planning your semester schedule, please make sure that the courses on German language and culture and the courses of your regular curriculum do not overlap. If you de-register in time, your place can be offered to other students on the wait list.
ECTS-credits
If you have regularly attended and successfully completed your German language course, you will receive the indicated number of ECTS credits. Only two unexcused absences per course are allowed. If you participate in an intensive language course, you may only miss one course unit.
Each course comprises different examinations such as a final examination, several tests, and/
or presentations. The respective teacher will inform you of the type of examination. Please query with your home university in advance, whether the ECTS credits that you receive for our German language courses will be recognized.
The German lessons were very helpful for learning a new language in a new country. It’s fun to realize you are starting to understand the language in just a few short months.
Anikka Chan, exchange student in the bachelor’s program in Business Administration, University of Toronto (Canada) / Photo credit: Elisa Berdica
German Language and Culture Courses
| No. | Course title | Start date | Course times | Level | Hours | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1114 | General Language Course (Beginner) | 13/ | A1.1 | 4 | 6 | |
| This course is meant for students who have no knowledge of the German language. The main focus of the course is the understanding and use of familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases such as introducing him- or herself and others and answering questions about personal details such as where he or she lives.
The course will cover the following grammar topics corresponding to the language level A1 of the GER*: W-phrases, Yes/ | ||||||
| 1115 | General Language Course (Complete Beginner) -intensive course- | 16/ | A1.1 | 4 | 6 | |
| This course is meant for students who have no knowledge of the German language. The main focus of the course is the understanding and use of familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases such as introducing him- or herself and others and answering questions about personal details such as where he or she lives.
The course will cover the following grammar topics corresponding to the language level A1 of the GER*: W-phrases, Yes/ | ||||||
| 1211 | General language course (Elementary, Part I) | 13/ | A2.1 | 4 | 6 | |
| This course is meant for students who have prior knowledge of the German language and wish to further their language proficiency. The main focus of the course is the understanding of frequently used expressions that are related to simple and routine tasks that require the direct exchange of information in familiar and routine matters, , e.g. the sharing of very basic personal and family information, shopping, obtaining and giving directions and seeking employment. Moreover, students should be able to describe aspects of his or her background and the immediate environment in relation to areas of immediate concern in simple terms.
The course will cover the following grammar topics corresponding to the language level A2 of the GER*: the past tense, subclauses (weil, obwohl, wenn, dass), “sollt”-phrases, comparative and superlative, declension of adjectives (nominative, dative, accusative), “Was für ein…”- and “Welch…”-phrases, relative clauses, future I tense, final clauses with “um…zu”, infinitive with “zu”.
Students will be required to buy a textbook.
You will receive a detailed course description from your instructor at the end of the course which will provide an overview of the topics you have learned and discussed in class.
*Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen / Common European Framework of Refernce for Languages
| ||||||
| 1221 | General language course (Elementary, Part II) | 15/ | A2.2 | 2 | 3 | |
| This course is meant for students who have prior knowledge of the German language and wish to further their language proficiency. The main focus of the course is the understanding of frequently used expressions that are related to simple and routine tasks that require the direct exchange of information in familiar and routine matters, e.g. the exchange of very basic personal and family information, shopping, obtaining and giving directions and seeking employment. Moreover, students should be able to describe aspects of his or her background and the immediate environment in relation to areas of immediate concern in simple terms.
The course will cover the following grammar topics corresponding to the language level A2 of the GER*: the past tense, subclauses (weil, obwohl, wenn, dass), “sollt”-phrases, comparative and superlative, declension of adjectives (nominative, dative, accusative), “Was für ein…”- and “Welch…”-phrases, relative clauses, future I tense, final clauses with “um…zu”, infinitive with “zu”.
Students will be required to buy a textbook.
You will receive a detailed course description from your instructor at the end of the course which will provide an overview of the topics you have learned and discussed in class.
*Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen / Common European Framework of Refernce for Languages
| ||||||
| 1222 | Oral Communication (Elementary) | 29/ | A2.2 | 2 | 3 | |
| This course is meant for students who wish to train their oral communication skills. The main focus of the course is the understanding of frequently used expressions that are related to simple and routine tasks that require the direct exchange of information in familiar and routine matters, e.g. the exchange of very basic personal and family information, shopping, obtaining giving directions and seeking employment. Moreover, students should be able to describe aspects of his or her background and the immediate environment in relation to areas of immediate concern in simple terms. The special emphasis of the course is to practice presentations on a given or a self-selected topic and to train vocabulary in the field of phraseology.
The course will cover the following grammar topics corresponding to the language level A2 of the GER*: the past tense, subclauses (weil, obwohl, wenn, dass), “sollt”-phrases, comparative and superlative, declension of adjectives (nominative, dative, accusative), “Was für ein…”- and “Welch…”-phrases, relative clauses, future I tense, final clauses with “um…zu”, infinitive with “zu”.
You will receive a detailed course description from your instructor at the end of the course which will provide an overview of the topics you have learned and discussed in class.
The course starts on 29 September 2022, one Saturday appointment of 4 teaching units (3.25 hours) on 8 October 2022 (in room SO422).
*Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen / Common European Framework of Refernce for Languages
| ||||||
| 2112 | General language course (Intermediate, Part I) | 12/ | B1.1 | 2 | 3 | |
| This course is meant for students who already have basic knowledge of the German language. The main focus of the course is the understanding of the main points of clear standard communication on familiar matters regularly encountered at work, in school, leisure, etc. Students should be able to deal with most situations which may arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Besides, students should be able to produce simple connected texts on topics that are familiar or of a personal interest, describe experiences, events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
The course will cover the following grammar topics corresponding to the language level B1 of the GER*: The past tense past perfect, passive mood, subclauses (als, wenn, nachdem, damit, ohne…zu + infinitive, da, statt…zu + infinitive, so dass, so…, dass, seit, bis, während, bevor), subjunctive II, direct and indirect questions, personal pronouns, reflexive verbs and pronouns, relative clauses and n-declension.
Students will be required to buy a textbook.
You will receive a detailed course description from your instructor at the end of the course which will provide an overview of the topics you have learned and discussed in class.
*Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen / Common European Framework of Refernce for Languages
| ||||||
| 2122 | General Language Course (Intermediate, Part II) | 16/ | B1.2 | 2 | 3 | |
| This course is meant for students who wish to broaden their immediate knowledge in the German language. The main focus is the understanding of the main points of clear standard communication on familiar matters regularly encountered at work, in school or leisure, etc. Students should be able to deal with situations which may arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Besides, students should be able to produce simple connected texts on topics that are familiar or of a personal interest, describe experiences, events, dreams, hopes and ambitions as well as briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
The course will cover the following grammar topics corresponding to the language level B1 of the GER*: The past tense, past perfect, passive mood, subclauses (als, wenn, nachdem, damit, ohne…zu + infinitive, da, statt…zu + infinitive, so dass, so…, dass, seit, bis, während, bevor), subjunctive II, direct and indirect questions, personal pronouns, reflexive verbs and pronouns, relative clauses and n-declension.
Students will be required to buy a textbook.
You will receive a detailed course description from your instructor at the end of the course which will provide an overview of the topics you have learned and discussed in class.
*Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen / Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
| ||||||
| 2211 | General Language Course (Upper Intermediate Level, Part I) | 14/ | B2.1 | 2 | 3 | |
| This course is meant for students who wish to deepen their intermediate proficiency of the German language. The aim of this course is to enable the understanding of the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his or her field of specialization. Students will be able to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that enables regular and effortless interaction with native speakers. Besides, students will learn how to produce clear and detailed texts on a wide range of subjects and how to explain a viewpoint on an issue through giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
The course will cover the following grammar topics corresponding to the language level B2 of the GER*: : causal clauses, consecutive clauses, conditional clauses, subjunctive I + II, prepositions, declension of adjectives, passive, nominal style and the genitive.
Students will be required to buy a textbook.
You will receive a detailed course description from your instructor at the end of the course which will provide an overview of the topics you have learned and discussed in class.
*Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen / Common European Framework of Refernce for Languages
| ||||||
| 2221 | General Language Course (Upper Intermediate Level, Part II) | 15/ | B2.2 | 2 | 3 | |
| This course is meant students who want to further their intermediate proficiency of the German language. The aim of this course is to enable the understanding of the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/ | ||||||
| 3001 | General language course (Advanced) | 14/ | C1 | 2 | 3 | |
| This course is meant for students who possess an intermediate proficiency of the German language. The aim of the course is to enable the understanding of a wide range of demanding and longer texts as well as to to recognize the subtleties of the language. Besides, students will be able to express him- or herself fluently and spontaneously without needing to search for expressions as well as use the language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. In addition, students will be able to produce clear, well-structured and detailed texts on complex subjects, showing the accurate usage of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
The course will cover the following grammar topics corresponding to the language level C1 of the GER*: participle constructions, modal verbs, nominal style, passive.
Students will be required to buy a textbook.
You will receive a detailed course description from your instructor at the end of the course which will provide an overview of the topics you have learned and discussed in class.
*Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen / Common European Framework of Refernce for Languages
| ||||||
| 4012 | The political system of the Federal Republic of Germany (in Englisch) | 16/ | all | 2 | 3 | |
| In this seminar we will examine the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany. In order to better understand it, we will also touch the general history of Germany and the historical development of its constitutional system.
We will focus on following aspects: federalism, the legislative bodies at the federal level, the role of political parties and the electoral system, the Federal Government, the Federal President, the Federal Constitutional Court and the judiciary, the role of the media and Germany within the structure of the European Union. We can include glimpses into current debates, e.g. about lowering the voting age or reforming the electoral law; the interests of the seminar participants can be taken into account.
Weekly appointments of 2 teaching units (1.5 hours). There is no class on 18 November 2022. This class will be rescheduled on 9 December 2022! | ||||||
| 4016 | A Migration History of Germany (in English) | 14/ | all | 2 | 3 | |
| In this seminar we will look at selected stages of immigration to and emigration from Germany in past and present times: from the 17–19th century (e.g. Huguenots immigration; emigration overseas, especially to America) to the 20th century (exile seekers during the Third Reich period; flight and expulsion at the end of World War II and thereafter; Gastarbeiter and Vertragsarbeiter, Aussiedler and Spätaussiedler) and recent developments (the so-called ‘European migration crisis‘ in 2015; Ukrainian refugees in 2022). We will focus on the immigrants‘/emigrants‘ motifs (e.g. religious, or economic reaons; seeking refuge from war or prosecution etc.), name push and pull factors, and look at inner-German public debates following the immigration/ | ||||||
