ifs courses
Course descriptions
Which is the right course for you?
Our course descriptions provide an overview of the requirements and contents of our courses.
Integration courses
Are you an immigrant to Germany and anxious to learn German? Our integration courses combine German instruction and orientation in Germany.
The full range of integration courses covers 645 to 945 teaching units and ends with an examination for the „Zertifikat Deutsch B1“ and a test from the orientation course. The individual integration courses are composed of basic and extension courses, each of 100 teaching units. The orientation course (45 teaching units) is completed at the beginning.
According to immigration law, integration courses are subsidised by federal funds so that the participation fees are usually only 1,00 € per teaching unit. You may, moreover, apply for fee exemption if you draw unemployment benefits I or II.
We will find the right level for you using our grading test. Please contact us to find out more, no obligation!
> Current course dates and enrolment
Pre-A1 course (A1 basic course with slower progression)
* 200 teaching units
For: beginners with no prior knowledge of German
Prerequisites: minimal command of the Latin alphabet
The „Pre-course“ is aimed at participants without prior knowledge of German who have also learned very little reading and writing in their mother tongue. In the first part you will become familiar with the letters of the alphabet and simple German words. In the second and third parts, you will read and write short texts and discuss topics that define our everyday life.
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Basic course A1
* 150 teaching units
For: beginners with no prior knowledge
Prerequisites: mastery of the Latin alphabet
The „Basic course A1“ is aimed at participants with no prior knowledge of German who are, however, familiar with the Latin alphabet. By the end of the course you will be able to understand familiar, everyday expressions and simple sentences and be able to make yourself understood in a simple manner when conversation partners speak slowly and clearly and are prepared to help you.
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Basic course A2
* 150 teaching units
For: beginners with some prior knowledge
Prerequisites: successful completion of level A1 or comparable language ability (IfS grading for A2)
By the end of the course you will be able to understand commonly used sentences and expressions and be able to make yourself understood in simple situations related to everyday life, e.g. personal information (where you come from, your education or work) and family, shopping, the immmediate environment, describing things and such like.
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Intermediate course B1
* 200 teaching units
For: lower intermediates with solid foundational knowledge
Prerequisites: successful completion of level A2 or comparable language ability (IfS grading for B1)
By the end of the course, you will be able to understand the most important details of many areas of life (such as work, school, family, leisure). You will be able to express yourself simply and coherently on familiar themes and areas of personal interest (for instance about personal experiences, events, dreams, hopes, goals) and substantiate your views.
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Intermediate course B1+
* 100 teaching units
For: lower intermediates with solid foundational knowledge preparing for courses B2 and higher
Prerequisites: successful completion of level B1 or comparable language ability (IfS grading for B1.2)
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Intermediate course B2
* 200 teaching units
For: lower intermediates with independent use of language
Prerequisites: „Zertifikat Deutsch“ or comparable language ability (IfS grading for B2)
By the end of the course you will be able to express yourself spontaneously and clearly in everyday situations and be understood. You will be able to express your opinion on advantages and disadvantages, understand the main information and less important details of complex texts as well as write simple personal and official letters.
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Advanced course C1
* 200 teaching units
For: advanced students with the goal of passing the TestDaF or DSH examination
Prerequisites: successful completion of level B2 or comparable language ability (IfS grading for C1)
The C1 intensive course is aimed in particular at participants who wish to write the TestDaF or DSH examination. In the C1 course, you will be prepared in specialised units focused on the requirements of these language proficiency exams for admission to higher education.
By the end of the course you will be able to participate in conversations and discussions, understand even rapidly spoken language, express your opinion with sophistication, understand long, complicated texts in detail and summarise them orally or in writing. We will gladly advise you if you wish to write the Test DaF or DSH exmaination on conclusion of the course.
> Current course dates and enrolment
Advanced Course C2
* 160 teaching units
For: advanced students who wish to bring their German competence up to or maintain it at the highest level.
Prerequisite: successful completion of a C1 course or comparable language ability (IfS grading for C2 level).
The C2 intensive course is particularly aimed at participants who want to improve and extend their German competence further at a high level. If you have already been living and working in Germany for some time or attend lectures at a German university, this is most likely the right course for you. The C2 course is taught by qualified advanced teachers.
In the course you will converse about interesting current affairs, learn to introduce appropriate expressions in discussion and to understand and be able to summarise complex factual texts. Writing is also practised by means of written assignments about factual as well as literary texts from novels, narrations and short stories. The writing of reports and homework assignments can be made a central theme of the course, if participants so wish. The teacher will analyse your mistakes and in so doing lead you to recognise your own mistakes independently and develop strategies to correct them.
The programme is custom-made to the interests and needs of the maximum 10 course particpants. If desired, the course can also include preparation for the C2 advanced exam.
> Current course dates and enrolment
Crash course (A1-B1)
* 375 teaching units
For: beginners with no prior knowledge of German who are planning a masters degree or semester abroad in Germany.
Prerequisite: command of the Latin alphabet, knowledge of one other European foreign language.
Learn German fast and effectively – from A1 to B1 in just four months! The crash course is aimed at participants who have already learned another foreign language, are accustomed to learning and are motivated.
In our new crash course, participants can learn German intensively and effectively for a semester abroad, or longer, of studying in Germany. Each level is concluded after just 5 weeks with a competence test for all the skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Before completing the course, we will gladly advise you individually with planning your course of study. In just 15 weeks we'll get you fit for Germany!
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Conversation course
* 8 teaching units (2 TU/Week)
For: intermediate students with solid basic German competence
Prerequisite: successful completion of an A2 level course or comparable language ability (IfS grading for B1)
The conversation course is aimed particularly at participants who are looking for focused training in their oral language competence. The goal of the course is to activate, extend and consolidate the vocabulary that has already been learned. Speaking is thus the central focus of the course, although important grammatical structures are also revised of course.
In the course you will converse about interesting current affairs and learn to use everyday expressions appropriately. Apart from everyday dialogues, interviews and speech exercises, regional topics relating to the politics, business, history and culture of Germany are also covered. Of course we are also open to suggestions of themes from the course participants.
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TestDaF Crash Course
* 32 teaching units
For: advanced students who are aiming to take the TestDaF or DSH exam straight after the course and want to train intensively for it.
Prerequisite: successful completion of a B2 course or comparable language ability (IfS grading for C1).
Our TestDaF crash course prepares participants for the TestDaF exam in just 3 weeks and it always runs exactly in the three weeks just before the next TestDaF exam. The course runs over 32 teaching units and is presented by experienced teachers.
In the course we train participants intensively in the four exam sections: reading, listening, writing and oral expression. Focused test strategies are thus conveyed and practised. Besides individual advice and corrections given by the teaching staff, two full trial exams are also included in the course. We'll guide you to a successful TestDaF!
Enrolment via Email > Cloaking
> Current course dates for TestDaF Crash Course
TestDaF Online
* Teaching units: according to individual arrangement
For: advanced students who wish to prepare online for the TestDaF or DSH exam, with supervision.
Prerequisite: successful completion of a B2 course or comparable language ability (IfS grading for C1)
Wherever you are in the world and at any time we will help you with your preparation for TestDaF. Our TestDaF experts will correct your essays, answer questions or invite you to do oral training over Skype. We'll gladly put together an individual offer according to your specific wishes. Participation in online exam preparation is possible from 100 € for six months!
More info at > Cloaking
