German as a Foreign Language Language courses for international students
Learn a language with KI? The German as a Foreign Language department offers general and academic language courses on this and other topics.
In the winter semester 2024/2025, the German as a Foreign Language (DaF) department at the Centre for Foreign Language Education (ZFA) will be offering a wide range of language courses at all levels as well as an interesting selection of academic language courses for international students.
"Our courses are tailored to the challenges of academic study and support international students with their specific needs. Students often quickly realise that university language teaching and studying are inextricably linked," says Dr. Martin Wichmann, head of the DaF department at the ZFA. An overview of the entire range of courses is available online.
Registration
All courses will take place in person from 21 October 2024 to 31 January 2025. Registration for international students is possible online from 9 September to 4 October 2024. All courses are anchored as modules in the optional area. International students can therefore also receive credit points there.
Modern learning environment: cooperative learning and artificial intelligence
The use of modern technologies such as iPads and digital whiteboards ensures a future-orientated learning environment in the DaF-department. "Digital tools facilitate the integration of cooperative forms of learning, which demonstrably increases learning success," says Stanislav Katanneck, who is responsible for coordinating the study-related courses. A central aspect of this is the promotion of critical self-reflection when using artificial intelligence. "ChatGPT can be a great help when learning German, but many students don't know how to use these tools in a targeted way. In our academic writing courses, we try to support the critical use of AI tools through targeted exercises. This also promotes the autonomy of learners," says Katanneck.
Intercultural learning
In the area of academic language courses, the programme includes courses on academic writing, argumentation and listening comprehension of lectures. "The scientific language courses are particularly concerned with becoming aware of one's own scientific cultural experiences and, against this background, recognising differences to German scientific culture, in particular to German scientific language. In a further step, students then acquire the competence to apply scientific standards of German universities appropriately in everyday academic life. In this way, language work is always experienced in an intercultural context," says Beate Hermans, coordinator of the study support programme.
Experiences of international students
Insights into the courses in German as a foreign language and statements from participants can be found on the DaF website.
