TAKE THE FIRST STEP
One day the phone rang at the editorial office, I picked up, and I was asked to tell how to get into a German university. Since this topic is very close to me, I began my narration with relish: "First, you need to provide some evidence that you have sufficient command of German..." "German???" – my interlocutor was surprised. Perhaps it will seem strange to someone (nowadays, when English is studied almost from birth), but teaching in Germany is still conducted in German. There are, of course, English-language programs, but it is hardly worth focusing on them. It is also not worth hoping that school knowledge of German (even from a specialized school) will be enough for life and study in Germany. Of course, you will be able to communicate (oh, great language of facial expressions and gestures!) and you will probably be understood as a result, but endless "Wie bitte?" (Excuse me?) in response to your remarks will make you at least think. What to do?
Undoubtedly, in my opinion, the statement that a foreign language is best learned in a country where everyone speaks it. But if for some reason you cannot do this, then you need to choose the best that is available at home.
There are many foreign language courses, including German. Some are better at teaching speaking, some at translation, some at comprehension. But if you have firmly decided to continue your education in Germany, you have one path – to the Goethe-Institut. At the Kyiv branch, located in the KPI building (Prospekt Peremohy, 37), you can study German from any level. (Read more about this on the page .)
The advantage of these courses is not only that you will communicate with native speakers. The main thing is that with successful study, you can take exams for the ZOP (Zertifikat Oberstufenpruefung) certificate or the Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom, which exempt you from the German entrance exam at German universities. True, it is not too cheap – DM180-220, but the diploma obtained will help avoid unnecessary problems abroad.
In Germany itself, of course, there are many more opportunities, and you can learn a living spoken language only through daily communication. I went through this myself: at first you are constantly haunted by the feeling "I know how to say it, but I can't," but the more you try to speak, the faster it passes. However, you should not count on the fact that no matter how you speak, you will still be understood and, therefore, it is not necessary to be particularly diligent in learning the language. Germans love and value their language very much. Of course, they will forgive a foreigner a couple of mistakes, but after listening once to a stream of incoherent speech in which there are more mistakes than words, the next time they will openly advise you to learn the language.
Where can you do this? All over Germany, from Bremen to Munich, there are branches of the Goethe-Institut, where more than 20,000 foreigners study German annually. There you will be offered a choice of more than 20 programs. For example, there are intensive courses lasting from 2 to 8 weeks. A special Vario course is designed for those who do not have enough time to complete the full program. There are intensive evening and afternoon courses, special programs for professionals, and summer courses for youth.
Among other large and fairly well-known centers of German as a foreign language abroad, one can name DID (Deutsch in Deutschland), Inlingua, BWS, GLS, and Humboldt-Institut. All of them have branches in different parts of Germany and offer a wide selection of courses and programs for students of different ages. There are also small family schools. In addition to "parental" attention and care, you will get a lot of extras: unscheduled excursions, visits to local attractions, parties, etc.
When making your choice, pay attention to the center's membership in professional associations that act as guarantors of program quality. In Germany, there is the Association of Quality German Language Schools IQ (Interessengemeinschaft Qualitaet Deutsch), and the Society for the German Language (Gemeinschaft fuer Deutsche Sprache). Traditionally, an indicator of quality is the presence of teacher training courses at the school.
By improving your knowledge of the language of Schiller and Goethe, you are taking the first step towards subsequent study in this country.
TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT
The German educational system was a model for the entire world for many years. Compulsory schooling was introduced in Germany in 1844. Since then, as soon as a child turns 6, they are sent to school. The law provides for 9-10 years of compulsory education and another 2-3 years of vocational training. Education is free, as are most textbooks.
The types of German schools are easier to remember than to understand. All schools are divided by funding method into state, private, and other (Catholic, municipal).
First, all children attend primary school (Grundschule). Education there lasts 4 years (in Berlin and Brandenburg – six). Grades are given from the 3rd grade, and on a reversed scale: 1 is "excellent," and 5 is "below any criticism." Then students' paths diverge depending on academic performance and preferences. If parents and the child cannot immediately decide which school to go to next, they can choose a transition stage (Orientirungsstuffe, 2 years).
Secondary schools are divided into main school (Hauptschule), real school (Realschule), gymnasium (Gymnasium), and comprehensive school (Gesamtschule, a mix of the first three types).
The basic secondary school is designed for 5-6 years of study and a smooth transition to parallel studies at a vocational school until age 18. Graduates receive a secondary school diploma and professional qualification. In the intermediate secondary school, students study for 6 years – from grades 5 to 10, one foreign language is compulsory, and from grade 7 they can study a second. After completing intermediate secondary school, a certificate of secondary education is issued. The comprehensive school allows students to follow the curriculum of any of the above schools depending on which type of certificate the student intends to obtain.
If you plan to go to university after school, the most direct path is through the 9-year Gymnasium. It provides in-depth education in three main areas – humanities (languages, literature, arts), social sciences (social sciences) or technical (natural sciences, mathematics, technology). Student progress is assessed every six months and recorded in a report card (Zeugnis). The final year of Gymnasium is called Abitur (preparation for higher education, a word with the same root as “applicant”). To obtain the “Abitur certificate”, one must pass four final exams. The Abitur diploma with excellent and good grades is a ticket to German universities. The higher the Abitur grade point average, the better the chances of admission to the desired university.
Until recently, the Abitur could only be obtained at Gymnasium. Diplomas from other educational institutions did not grant the right to enter a university. Now, the Abitur can also be obtained in a comprehensive school (Gesamtschule) or through special preparatory courses (based on exam results).
There are also independent private schools (Freie Schulen), of which there are about two thousand in Germany. About 5% of German children attend them. Most private schools implement the concepts of well-known Western educators and are named after them. These include Waldorf schools (Waldorf-Schulen), Peter Petersen schools (Petersen-Schulen), Celestin Freinet, Maria Montessori, and others. Each has its own features. For example, under the Petersen system, classes are replaced by working groups of children of different ages, and the learning process itself is based on “live communication” – students freely working with materials, discussions in the form of cross-questioning, etc.
Education in private schools is not cheap. For example, just for a child’s stay at a boarding school, you need to pay DM300-400 per month. Overall, tuition at German private schools ranges from DM2,000 to DM4,000 per month.
There are not as many foreigners in German private schools as, for example, in Great Britain. This is due to the fact that the German language is less widespread and popular worldwide, and also because accepting foreign students has not become customary. To get into a good private school, a foreign child must first pass entrance exams and an interview, and admission is often not guaranteed. For all these reasons, German schools rarely appear on the list of offerings from domestic educational agencies. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity to obtain a German secondary education and Abitur certificate. Information about the best private boarding schools that accept children from abroad can be obtained from the Association of German Private Schools, the Information Office of Independent Schools, or similar organizations (see Useful Information).
To be continued.