German Language and Culture
SUMMER SNAPSHOT
The TU Braunschweig International Summer Language and Culture Program gives students the opportunity to study German and take culture courses with students from all over the world. Included excursions to cities such as Berlin, Salzgitter, Wolfenbüttel, and Hamburg also allow students to gain firsthand experience of Germany’s rich culture.
Braunschweig, Germany
Language of Instruction: English, German
http://www.sz.tu-bs.de/en/german-as-a-foreign-language/summer-courses/courses/course-a/
PROGRAM TYPE
ISEP-Exchange Summer for all US and I-to-I exchange member students
COURSES
In addition to 8 hours a week of cultural studies courses taught in English, the program includes 16 hours of intensive German language instructor per week. German language courses are available at all levels except absolute beginners (see below).
A 2 level: Intended for participants who have a basic knowledge of the German language. The course program focuses on conversation, reading, writing, listening, and grammar skills.
B 1 and B 2 level: Concentrates on improving students’ oral and written communication skills while allowing students to practice listening, reading, and grammar skills. The textbook is primarily used for vocabulary expansion only.
C 1 level: Aims to introduce German scientific and technical writing skills. Specific aspects of advanced-level grammar are repeated as required; special emphasis is placed on vocabulary expansion.
Levels A–B are offered for students at the beginner through advanced levels in any field of study. Level C is offered for students of the natural and engineering sciences and intended as a pre-semester language course for students before the fall semester.
Courses take place every day from 8.30 am–2.30 pm (1 hour lunch break). Each of the following three sections lasts for 90 minutes:
• Basic module (speaking, listening, writing, reading, grammar)
• Optional module (literary texts, creative writing, listening exercises, scientific texts)
• Cultural studies (geography, history, political system, arts and culture in Germany)
The following cultural studies topics are tied in with the program’s excursions and organized activies:
• Braunschweig: Henry the Lion and the dukedom of Saxony
• Braunschweig during the years of National Socialism
• History and present-day politics of the Federal Republic of Germany
• The new federal states: problems and prospects
• Germany and the European Union
• Media and the press
• Current trends in German literature
• 20th Century art
Students are awarded 9 ECTS credits upon completion of the program.
LANGUAGE NOTES
No German language prerequisite is required to take part in this program. Intensive German is offered at all levels. A written and oral placement exam given on the first day of classes puts students in the appropriate level. Note: The host institution ultimately determines proficiency level and course eligibility.
SEMESTER OPTIONS
See the Membership Directory for details..
PROGRAM DATES
July 20-Aug 31, 2012
APPLICATION DEADLINE
May 1, 2012
PROGRAM FEE
Based on tuition, housing, and meals at home university
HOUSING AND MEALS
Students have the option of being housed in single rooms in the residence hall, in apartments shared with German students, or with German host families. A EUR 200 meal stipend is given for students to buy meals in the university cafeteria.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Daytrips: Every week students visit places and regions near or around Braunschweig. These excursions include sightseeing walks, visits to museums, guided tours of industrial and educational enterprises, films, sports events, and parties. Most afternoons are free for students to pursue their own interests.
Berlin Excursion: This excursion provides students firsthand experience of a city that saw the Prussian kings and German Kaiser rule but is now a modern capital with an exciting cultural life. Students visit Charlottenburg Palace as well as the Reichstag and Federal Parliament buildings. There is also enough time for students to explore the city’s museums, parks, and cafés on their own. Information and trip ideas are provided.
Hamburg Excursion: The city of Hamburg plays a significant role as a seaport not only for northern Germany but also for northern Europe. A sightseeing tour takes students through the Old Town along the Alster river, the famous quarter of St. Pauli, and the port. A visit to the Rathaus (City Hall) provides insights into the workings of the Senate, the government body of the city of Hamburg. A conducted boat tour along the Fleet canals and the harbor allows participants to experience Hamburg and its former warehouses from the waterfront. The evening is free for students to explore St. Pauli’s bars and public houses as well as the Hamburg student quarter. Information and trip ideas are provided.
PROFILE
TU Braunschweig is Germany's oldest technology institute and ranks among the top technical institutes in the country. It enrolls 15,000 students, with nearly 1,600 international students from many different countries. Facilities include a library, a sophisticated computer center, a sports center, a language laboratory and media library, a high magnetic field laboratory, and the Center for Water-Wave Experiments in Hannover.
LOCATION
Braunschweig is not only an important research and industry hub, but also a lively center for arts and culture. It is home to many sports teams, including the Braunschweig Lions, the city's champion American football team. It also has many theaters, shops, cafés, and breweries—as well as a beer unique to Braunschweig called Mumme.