German courses for adults
TESL language school in Lugano offers a wide variety of German courses for adults. We offer courses aimed at passing Goethe and other examinations or improving conversation skills in German. We also offer practical courses where we train the ability to express oneself in specific contexts such as work, study or travel abroad.
There are many reasons to study German and our teachers never forget to take into account the specific needs of each individual student.
Our method
Our German lessons are particularly varied, as moments of work with the whole class are alternated with individual work, in pairs, and in small groups. In all our German courses we use the communicative method, which includes simulations of situations that frequently occur in real life. We use certified native speakers or Native Level teachers, who work with small groups of 3 to 8 learners. A language assessment is also carried out to clarify the level achieved and to recommend the most appropriate Goethe exam for each individual student. A certificate of attendance is issued at the end of all German courses.
For those who feel the need for an even more personalised and intense language course, we offer private lessons (for 1 person) and semi-private lessons (for 2 people). These courses allow you to increase your knowledge and command of the language in an even shorter time and guarantee that you will be followed exclusively by the teacher for the duration of the lesson.
For many years, our teachers have successfully accompanied people of all ages in passing German examinations. We have gained solid experience in the field of preparation for German language examinations, including the Goethe Certificate.
Having the time...
For many adults, it can be difficult to make an annual commitment, so we offer packages of 10 or 20 lessons that allow considerable flexibility in managing the lesson calendar. Please remember, however, that in order to achieve your goals, it is essential to maintain a certain consistency in the study of the German language.
CERTIFIED MOTHER TONGUE OR NATIVE LEVEL TEACHERS
Our teachers will accompany you step by step...
MAXIMUM
FLEXIIBILITY
You choose the day and time of your lesson.
FRIENDLY AMBIENCE
You will have no problem settling in with us!
EQUIPPED ROOMS
In our classrooms you will find everything you need.
CERTIFIED MOTHER TONGUE OR NATIVE LEVEL TEACHERS
Our teachers will accompany you step by step...
MAXIMUM
FLESSIBILITY
You choose the day and time of your lesson.
FRIEDLY AMBIENCE
Non avrai nessun problema ad ambientarti da noi!
EQUIPPED ROOMS
In our classrooms you will find everything you need
Goethe exam preparation courses
The Goethe Institut can boast over seventy years of experience in teaching German as a foreign language.
The TESL language school in Lugano provides preparation courses for the Goethe exams for adults with certified teachers and decades of experience.
The Goethe Examinations
The Goethe-Zertifikat certificates are an internationally recognised proof of language competence. Both within and outside Germany, they serve as proof of German language proficiency. To obtain a Goethe-Zertifikat certificate, it is necessary to take the corresponding German examination.
The Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 is a German certificate for adults attesting to very elementary language skills and corresponds to the A1, the first on the six-level rating scale of the CEFR, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
By passing the examination you demonstrate that you are able to:
- to engage in simple conversation with people who speak slowly and clearly;
- understand and use current, everyday expressions, e.g. for information about the person, family, shopping, work, surroundings;
- introduce yourself and others, ask other people questions, e.g. about where they live, who they know or what they own.
The Goethe-Zertifikat A2 is a German certificate for adults that attests elementary language skills and corresponds to A2, the second on the six-level grading scale of the CEFR, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
By passing the examination you demonstrate that you are able to:
- understand and use common recurring phrases and expressions;
- make yourself understood in common situations, in which you exchange information related to familiar and everyday areas;
- describe in simple sentences one’s origin and background, one’s surroundings and matters that have to do with one’s immediate needs.
The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is a German certificate for young people and adults that attests autonomous use of the language and corresponds to B1, the third on the six-level rating scale of the CEFR, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
By passing the examination you demonstrate that you are able to:
- understand the main points of a conversation conducted in a clear manner and with standard language on common issues such as work, school, leisure, etc;
- manage most situations that may occur during a trip to a German-speaking country;
- express themselves clearly and coherently on topics that are familiar and of personal interest;
- recount experiences and events, describe dreams, hopes and goals and give brief reasons or explanations.
The Goethe-Zertifikat B2 is a German examination for adults and young people. It certifies advanced use of the language and corresponds to B2, the fourth on the six-level grading scale of the CEFR, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
By passing the examination you demonstrate that you are able to:
- understand the essential content of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics and follow even technical conversations in your field of specialisation;
- converse so spontaneously and fluently that you can converse with native speakers without much effort on either side;
- express in a clear and detailed manner your opinion on a wide range of topics, illustrate your point of view on topical issues and indicate advantages and disadvantages of different options.
The Goethe-Zertifikat C1 is a German certificate for adults that attests advanced and competent use of the language and corresponds to C1, the fifth on the six-level rating scale of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
NOVELTY 2024
The new modular Goethe-Zertifikat C1 will be available from January 2024. Online practice templates and further information on the examination can be found in the sections “Practice Material” and “Further Information” respectively.
The new Goethe-Zertifikat C1 will replace the current examination worldwide. Please take note of this when planning your examination session.
By passing the examination you demonstrate that you are able to:
- use the German language efficiently and flexibly in public life as well as in academic and working life;
- understand a wide range of long and complex texts on unfamiliar topics, also grasping their implicit meanings;
- elaborate comprehensive and well-structured texts on complex topics;
- express yourself spontaneously and fluently and be able to argue a position convincingly.
With regard to the possible exemption from an additional language examination for admission to university as a foreign student, if in possession of Goethe-Zertifikat C1, it is necessary to inquire in advance from the university or the relevant Studienkolleg, which prepares those who do not possess a qualification equivalent to the German Matura (Abitur) for admission.
The Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS) is a German certificate for adults that certifies more advanced language skills and corresponds to C2, the highest of the six levels of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) rating scale.
By passing the examination you demonstrate that you are able to:
- understand without difficulty almost everything you read or hear;
- summarise information from a variety of oral and written sources, illustrating them coherently to explain and motivate them;
- express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely in complex contexts, conveying the most subtle nuances of meaning.
The Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom allows foreign students admission to German academies and universities and in many cases is valid as a language certificate qualifying them to teach German.
The Länder of the Federal Republic of Germany recognise this certification as a language certificate as part of the teaching qualification. Information on this is the responsibility of the recognition authorities in the various Länder, e.g. the various ministries of education, teacher training institutions, regional administrations or, in Berlin, the Senatsverwaltung.
As of 1 January 2012, the Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom replaces the three certificates previously issued by the Goethe-Institut: Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP), Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS) and Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS).
