Adult Classes

The German School Association of St. Louis provides four German language classes for adults. Classes are taught by highly motivated and experienced teachers, most of who are native German speakers or Americans with an extensive background in German and prolonged stays in Germany. The adult classes work with books from one book series, making it easy to advance from one level to the next. The books are in German and follow the European Framework for Language Learning (for a detailed explanation see below).

We recommend adult students attend each class. Students who must miss a Saturday are asked to study the material independently. The teachers e-mail the weekly lessons to their students. For convenience, adult and children's classes are held Saturday's from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Class - Level A1

No previous knowledge of German is necessary. We start from scratch. At the end of the year, students reach a mid A1 level. (See definition below.) Students learn German vocabulary, grammar and conversation involved in daily situation and activities, such as introductions, going to a restaurant, working around the house, etc. The grammar taught at this level includes verb conjugation in the present tense, modal verbs, possessive pronouns, and accusative objects.

Class - Level A1/A2

Students from the Level A1 class continue to this class. New students can enter this class if they already possess the skills learned in the Level A1 class. The class starts with mid level A1 skills and improves to beginning A2 skills. Expanded vocabulary and grammar, along within increased conversation in this class cover topics including health, work environment, education and more. The grammar that is covered includes prepositions, the present perfect tense, accusative pronouns, the dative case, and dependent clauses.

Class - Level A2

This class will reach the A2 level at the end of the school year. German is used almost exclusively in this class, and students start to have longer conversations on given topics. By the end of the year, the students will be acquainted with all basic grammar issues such as the past and future tenses, adjective endings, and the subjunctive and passive.

Class - Level B1

This year's class will reach Level B1 at the end of the school year. Successful completion of this level is required for the Goethe Institute German Certificate, an internationally recognized certificate. The class is held entirely in German. Knowledge of all basic grammar is required. Every Saturday another grammar topic is reviewed and the knowledge in this area deepened. During the class, new vocabulary is continually added to allow broader and more extensive conversation and discussion.

Class - Advanced Conversation

We intend to offer this class starting September 6, 2008.

In this class students will converse only in German. A new topic will be introduced for discussion each Saturday. The teacher will provide material (magazine or newspaper articles, reports, ads, etc) to stimulate and enhance the conversation. The students will be encouraged to participate in the conversation by reporting from their own experience, express their opinions, tell stories, or prepare presentations for the class.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages:

Learning, Teaching, and Assessment.
Also see Internet site: www.coe.int click on education, culture, click on language policies, click on Common European Framework .

Breakthrough Way stage

A 1 Beginning German A 2 Advanced German

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases. Can introduce oneself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where they live, people they know and things they have. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions (e.g. basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in situations requiring a simple and direct exchange of information. Can describe in simple terms aspects of one's background, environment and matters of immediate interest.

Threshold Vantage

B 1 Intermediate German B 2 Advanced Intermediate

Can understand the main points in matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken. Can talk about topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. Can understand the main ideas in concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization. Can interact with native speakers without strain for either party. Can talk about a wide range of subjects and express a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Effectiveness Mastery

C 1 Advanced German C 2

Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can speak clearly and correctly on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express themselves spontaneously, fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in complex situations.

	The German School Association of St. Louis provides four German language classes for adults. Classes are taught by highly motivated and experienced teachers, most of who are native German speakers or Americans with an extensive background in German and prolonged stays in Germany. The adult classes work with books from one book series, making it easy to advance from one level to the next. The books are in German and follow the European Framework for Language Learning (for a detailed explanation see below).
We recommend adult students attend each class. Students who must miss a Saturday are asked to study the material independently. The teachers e-mail the weekly lessons to their students. For convenience, adult and children's classes are held Saturday's from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Class - Level A1 No previous knowledge of German is necessary. We start from scratch. At the end of the year, students reach a mid A1 level. (See definition below.) Students learn German vocabulary, grammar and conversation involved in daily situation and activities, such as introductions, going to a restaurant, working around the house, etc. The grammar taught at this level includes verb conjugation in the present tense, modal verbs, possessive pronouns, and accusative objects.
Class - Level A1/A2 Students from the Level A1 class continue to this class. New students can enter this class if they already possess the skills learned in the Level A1 class. The class starts with mid level A1 skills and improves to beginning A2 skills. Expanded vocabulary and grammar, along within increased conversation in this class cover topics including health, work environment, education and more. The grammar that is covered includes prepositions, the present perfect tense, accusative pronouns, the dative case, and dependent clauses.
	Class - Level A2 This class will reach the A2 level at the end of the school year. German is used almost exclusively in this class, and students start to have longer conversations on given topics. By the end of the year, the students will be acquainted with all basic grammar issues such as the past and future tenses, adjective endings, and the subjunctive and passive.
Class - Level B1 This year's class will reach Level B1 at the end of the school year. Successful completion of this level is required for the Goethe Institute German Certificate, an internationally recognized certificate. The class is held entirely in German. Knowledge of all basic grammar is required. Every Saturday another grammar topic is reviewed and the knowledge in this area deepened. During the class, new vocabulary is continually added to allow broader and more extensive conversation and discussion.
Class - Advanced Conversation We intend to offer this class starting September 6, 2008. In this class students will converse only in German. A new topic will be introduced for discussion each Saturday. The teacher will provide material (magazine or newspaper articles, reports, ads, etc) to stimulate and enhance the conversation. The students will be encouraged to participate in the conversation by reporting from their own experience, express their opinions, tell stories, or prepare presentations for the class.

Breakthrough	Way stage
A 1 Beginning German	A 2 Advanced German
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases. Can introduce oneself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where they live, people they know and things they have. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.	Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions (e.g. basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in situations requiring a simple and direct exchange of information. Can describe in simple terms aspects of one's background, environment and matters of immediate interest.

Threshold	Vantage
B 1 Intermediate German	B 2 Advanced Intermediate
Can understand the main points in matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken. Can talk about topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.	Can understand the main ideas in concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization. Can interact with native speakers without strain for either party. Can talk about a wide range of subjects and express a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Effectiveness	Mastery
C 1 Advanced German	C 2
Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can speak clearly and correctly on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.	Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express themselves spontaneously, fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in complex situations.