Institut fr Fremdsprachen

Hochschule Karlsruhe Technik und Wirtschaft

www.hs-karlsruhe.de/ifs

Course Descriptions

Deutsch als Fremdsprache A1.1 / German as a
Foreign Language A1.1
(previously DaF1)

Deutsch als Fremdsprache A1.2 / German as a
Foreign Language A1.2
(previously DaF2)

Deutsch als Fremdsprache A2.1 / German as a
Foreign Language A2.1
(previously DaF3)

Deutsch als Fremdsprache A2.2 / German as a
Foreign Language A2.2
(previously DaF4)

Deutsch als Fremdsprache B1.1 / German as a
Foreign Language B1.1
(previously DaF5)

Deutsch als Fremdsprache B1.2 / German as a
Foreign Language B1.2
(previously DaF6)

Deutsch als Fremdsprache B2.1 / German as a
Foreign Language B2.1
(previously DaF7)

Deutsch als Fremdsprache B2.2 / German as a
Foreign Language B2.2

Technisches Deutsch C1 /
Technical German C1


Course Title
German as a Foreign Language A1. 1
Course Code FSDA11 (Extensive Course) or FSA11D (Intensive Course)
Degree Program
This is an interdisciplinary course offered to students from all degree programs at the university.
It can be taken in any semester of studies, depending on the specific degree requirements. It can
also be taken as an elective course.
Semester This course is offered in each semester.
Course Types
This course is taught as a weekly course (extensive course) in the afternoons during the regular
semester. Regular attendance is required in all courses.
ECTS Points 4
CEF Level
(Learning
Outcomes)
This course is on level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF):
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases
aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and
others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where
he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple
way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Prerequisites none
Registration
Pre-registration is required for all IFS language courses. Detailed information can be found on the
IFS Website: www.hs-karlsruhe.de/ifs.
Instructor The course is taught by both staff and adjunct instructors.
Assessment
The grade given in this course is based on a final examination at the end of the semester which
comprises
listening comprehension (10-15%)
grammar (25-30%)
vocabulary and phrases (25-30%)
reading comprehension (10-15%)
writing (10%)

Materials

Course books are often used, at the discretion of the instructor.


Curriculum The course includes the following components. Additional topics may be covered at the
instructor's discretion.

GRAMMAR

Personal pronouns
Nouns: singular and plural
The verbs sein, haben (present tense, past tense)
Wh- questions, yes/no questions and statements
Possessive articles (nominative)
Articles
Prepositions
Separable verbs
Adjectives

COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS AND SEMANTIC FIELDS

First contacts (greetings, farewells and introductions, etc.)
Numbers, quantities and telling time
Food and drinks (ordering and paying)
Countries and languages
Daily routine, leisure time and hobbies
Residential forms, rooms and furniture.




Course Title
German as a Foreign Language A1. 2
Course Code FSDA12 (Extensive Course) or FSA12D (Intensive Course)
Degree Program
This is an interdisciplinary course offered to students from all degree programs at the university.
It can be taken in any semester of studies, depending on the specific degree requirements. It can
also be taken as an elective course.
Semester This course is offered in each semester.
Course Types
This course is taught as a weekly course (extensive course) in the afternoons during the regular
semester. Regular attendance is required in all courses.
ECTS Points 4
CEF Level
(Learning
Outcomes)
This course is on level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF):
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases
aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and
others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where
he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple
way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Prerequisites Level A1.1
Registration
Pre-registration is required for all IFS language courses. Detailed information can be found on the
IFS Website: www.hs-karlsruhe.de/ifs.
Instructor The course is taught by both staff and adjunct instructors.
Assessment
The grade given in this course is based on a final examination at the end of the semester which
comprises
listening comprehension (10-15%)
grammar (25-30%)
vocabulary and phrases (25-30%)
reading comprehension (10-15%)
writing (10%)

Materials

Course books are often used, at the discretion of the instructor.




Curriculum The course includes the following components. Additional topics may be covered at the
instructor's discretion.

GRAMMAR
Perfekt (Perfect Tense)
Prteritum (Past tense) of auxiliary verbs
Possessive articles
Modal verbs
Imperative
Adjectives, comparisons
Personal pronouns in accusative und dative
Demonstrative pronouns
Verbs in dative

COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS AND SEMANTIC FIELDS

Work life (job responsibilities)
Holidays, vacations and travel
Shopping
Fashion (clothing, colors and sizes)
The weather
The body and sports





Course Title
German as a Foreign Language A2. 1
Course Code FSDA21 (Extensive Course) or FSA21D (Intensive Course)
Degree Program
This is an interdisciplinary course offered to students from all degree programs at the university.
It can be taken in any semester of studies, depending on the specific degree requirements. It can
also be taken as an elective course.
Semester This course is offered in each semester.
Course Types
This course is taught as a weekly course (extensive course) in the afternoons during the regular
semester. Regular attendance is required in all courses.
ECTS Points Level A1.2
CEF Level
(Learning
Outcomes)
This course is on level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF):
Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most
immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping,
local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks
requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine
matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate
environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
Prerequisites Level A1.1
Registration
Pre-registration is required for all IFS language courses. Detailed information can be found on the
IFS Website: www.hs-karlsruhe.de/ifs.
Instructor The course is taught by both staff and adjunct instructors.
Assessment
The grade given in this course is based on a final examination at the end of the semester which
comprises
listening comprehension (25%)
grammar (25-30%)
vocabulary and phrases (25-30%)
reading comprehension (10-15%)
writing (10%)
Materials

Course books are often used, at the discretion of the instructor.




Curriculum

The course includes the following components. Additional topics may be covered at the
instructor's discretion.

GRAMMAR

Subordinate clauses with weil and dass
Comparison, superlative
Possessive article with dative
Adjective in dative
Genitive
Reflexive pronouns
Adverbs of time
Relative clauses, relative pronouns in nominative and accusative

COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS AND SEMANTIC FIELDS

Language learning
Describing family relations
Participating in family celebrations
Maps and traffic
Clubs
Media





Course Title
German as a Foreign Language A2.2
Course Code FSDA22 (Extensive Course) or FSA22D (Intensive Course)
Degree Program
This is an interdisciplinary course offered to students from all degree programs at the university.
It can be taken in any semester of studies, depending on the specific degree requirements. It can
also be taken as an elective course.
Semester This course is offered in each semester.
Course Types
This course is taught as a weekly course (extensive course) in the afternoons during the regular
semester. Regular attendance is required in all courses.
ECTS Points 4
CEF Level
(Learning
Outcomes)
This course is on level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF):
Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate
relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography,
employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct
exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of
his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
Prerequisites Level A2.1
Registration
Pre-registration is required for all IFS language courses. Detailed information can be found on the
IFS Website: www.hs-karlsruhe.de/ifs.
Instructor The course is taught by both staff and adjunct instructors.
Assessment
The grade given in this course is based on a final examination at the end of the semester which
comprises
listening comprehension (25%)
grammar (25-30%)
vocabulary and phrases (25-30%)
reading comprehension (10-15%)
writing (10%)
Materials

Course books are often used, at the discretion of the instructor.




Curriculum The course includes the following components. Additional topics may be covered at the
instructor's discretion.

GRAMMAR

Modal verbs in Prteritum (past tense)
Subordinate clauses with als, wenn, damit, denn, um zu
Word formation
Polite form with subjunctive II
Verbs with dative and accusative
Passive constructions in Prsens (present) and Prteritum(past tense)

COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS AND SEMANTIC FIELDS

City and country life
Finding a place to live and moving
Looking for a job, understanding job advertisements and resumes
Telephoning: leaving a message
Festivals around the world
Product descriptions and inventions




Course Title
German as a Foreign Language B1.1
Course Code FSDB11 (Extensive Course) or FSB11D (Intensive Course)
Degree Program
This is an interdisciplinary course offered to students from all degree programs at the university.
It can be taken in any semester of studies, depending on the specific degree requirements. It can
also be taken as an elective course.
Semester This course is offered in each semester.
Course Types
This course is taught as a weekly course (extensive course) in the afternoons during the regular
semester. Regular attendance is required in all courses.
ECTS Points 4
CEF Level
(Learning
Outcomes)
This course is on level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF):
Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly
encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst
travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on
topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events,
dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and
plans.
Prerequisites Level A2.2
Registration
Pre-registration is required for all IFS language courses. Detailed information can be found on the
IFS Website: www.hs-karlsruhe.de/ifs.
Instructor The course is taught by both staff and adjunct instructors.
Assessment
The grade given in this course is based on the following: a five-minute in-class presentation with
discussion (10%)
and a final examination at the end of the semester which comprises
listening comprehension (25%)
grammar (25-30%)
vocabulary and phrases (25-30%)
reading comprehension (10-15%)
writing (10%)


Materials

Course books are often used, at the discretion of the instructor.




Curriculum The course includes the following components. Additional topics may be covered at the
instructor's discretion.

GRAMMAR
Subordinate clauses with whrend, darum, deshalb, etc.
Irregular verbs in Prteritum (past tense)
Nominalization word formation with zum
Subjunctive form II Prsens (present tense): wre, wrde, htte, knnte
Subjunctive form II Prsens (present tense) with modal verbs
Adjectives with un and -los
Infinitive with zu
Inflection of adjectives

COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS AND SEMANTIC FIELDS

Photographs and memories, story telling
German History
Conversational skills (making suggestions, giving explanations, agreeing and disagreeing)
Tertiary educational institutions
Work accidents and insurance
The Germany school system



Course Title
German as a Foreign Language B1.2
Course Code FSDB12 (Extensive Course) or FSB12D (Intensive Course)
Degree Program
This is an interdisciplinary course offered to students from all degree programs at the university.
It can be taken in any semester of studies, depending on the specific degree requirements. It can
also be taken as an elective course.
Semester This course is offered in each semester.
Course Types
This course is taught as a weekly course (extensive course) in the afternoons during the regular
semester. Regular attendance is required in all courses.
ECTS Points 4
CEF Level
(Learning
Outcomes)
This course is on level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF):
Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters
regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations
likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can
produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give
reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Prerequisites Level B1.1
Registration
Pre-registration is required for all IFS language courses. Detailed information can be found on the
IFS Website: www.hs-karlsruhe.de/ifs.
Instructor The course is taught by both staff and adjunct instructors.
Assessment
The grade given in this course is based on the following:
a ten-minute in-class presentation with discussion (10%)
and
a final examination at the end of the semester which comprises
listening comprehension (10-15%)
grammar (25-30%)
vocabulary and phrases (25-30%)
reading comprehension (10-15%)
writing (10%)


Materials

Course books are often used, at the discretion of the instructor.




Curriculum The course includes the following components. Additional topics may be covered at the
instructor's discretion.

GRAMMAR
wegen + Genitive
Future with werden + Infinitiv
Double conjunctions (je..., desto/nicht, sondern, etc.)
Participle I
Subordinate clauses with obwohl, seit, etc.
Plusquamperfekt (past perfect tense)
Passive voice with man


COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS AND SEMANTIC FIELDS
Climate and weather
Environment and environmental problems
Discussing conflicts of interest
Talking about future plans and objectives
Politics



Course Title
German as a Foreign Language B2.1
Course Code FSDB12 (Extensive Course) or FSB12D (Intensive Course)
Degree Program
This is an interdisciplinary course offered to students from all degree programs at the university.
It can be taken in any semester of studies, depending on the specific degree requirements. It can
also be taken as an elective course.
Semester This course is offered in each semester.
Course Types
This course is taught as a weekly course (extensive course) in the afternoons during the regular
semester. Regular attendance is required in all courses.
ECTS Points 4
CEF Level
(Learning
Outcomes)
This course is on level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF):
Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters
regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations
likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can
produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give
reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Prerequisites Level B1.2
Registration
Pre-registration is required for all IFS language courses. Detailed information can be found on the
IFS Website: www.hs-karlsruhe.de/ifs.
Instructor The course is taught by both staff and adjunct instructors.
Assessment
The grade given in this course is based on the following:
a ten-minute in-class presentation with discussion (10%)
and
a final examination at the end of the semester which comprises
listening comprehension (10-15%)
grammar (25-30%)
vocabulary and phrases (25-30%)
reading comprehension (10-15%)
writing (10%)


Materials

Course books are often used, at the discretion of the instructor.




Curriculum The course includes the following components. Additional topics may be covered at the
instructor's discretion.

GRAMMAR

Temporal conjunctions
Infinitive with zu: perfect
Double negation
Participle I with verbs or nouns
Subordinate clauses preceding main clauses
COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS AND SEMANTIC FIELDS

Fairy tales and biographies
Rights and duties, laws
Media
Food
Work and job applications




Course Title
German as a Foreign Language B2.2
Course Code FSDB22 (Extensive Course)
Degree Program
This is an interdisciplinary course offered to students from all degree programs at the university.
It can be taken in any semester of studies, depending on the specific degree requirements. It can
also be taken as an elective course.
Semester This course is offered in each semester.
Course Types
This course is taught as a weekly course (extensive course) in the afternoons during the regular
semester. Regular attendance is required in all courses.
ECTS Points 4
CEF Level
(Learning
Outcomes)
This course is on level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF):
Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters
regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations
likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can
produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give
reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Prerequisites Level B2.1
Registration
Pre-registration is required for all IFS language courses. Detailed information can be found on the
IFS Website: www.hs-karlsruhe.de/ifs.
Instructor The course is taught by both staff and adjunct instructors.
Assessment
The grade given in this course is based on the following:
a ten-minute in-class presentation with discussion (10%)
and
a final examination at the end of the semester which comprises
listening comprehension (10-15%)
grammar (25-30%)
vocabulary and phrases (25-30%)
reading comprehension (10-15%)
writing (10%)


Materials

Course books are often used, at the discretion of the instructor.




Curriculum The course includes the following components. Additional topics may be covered at the
instructor's discretion.

GRAMMAR

Subjunctive form II in unreal comparisons
Passive and its substitute constructions
Adverbs with prepositions
Indirect speech

COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS AND SEMANTIC FIELDS

Technology and innovation
Trade fairs and products
Volunteering
Typically German?




Course Title
Technical English C1
Course Code FSDC1T (extensive course)
Degree Program
This is an interdisciplinary course offered to students from all degree programs at the university. It
can be taken in any semester of studies, depending on the specific degree requirements. It can also
be taken as an elective course.
Semester This course is offered in each semester.
Course Types
This course is taught both as a two-week intensive course during the lecture-free period and as a
weekly course (extensive course) in the afternoons during the regular semester. The curriculum for
intensive courses and extensive courses is identical. Regular attendance is required in all courses.
ECTS Points 4
CEF Level
(Learning
Outcomes)
This course is on level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF):
Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer text, and recognize implicit
meaning. Can express himself/herself fluently and spontaneously without much
obvious searching for expressing. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social,
academic and professional purposes. Can produce a clear, well-structured, detailed text
on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors,
and cohesive devices.

Prerequisites CEF Level B2
Registration
Pre-registration is required for all IFS language courses. Detailed information can be found on the
IFS Website: www.hs-karlsruhe.de/ifs.
Instructor The course is taught by both staff and adjunct instructors.
Assessment
The grade given in this course is based on the following:
a ten-minute in-class presentation on a technical topic with discussion (15%)
and a final examination at the end of the semester which comprises
terminology and phrases (50-60%)
reading comprehension (10-20%)
listening comprehension (10%)
writing (10-20%)
Materials
Course books are often used, at the discretion of the instructor.
Methods include lecture, group and pair work, written exercises, role plays, and simulations.
Curriculum

Technical German C1 is an interdisciplinary course which introduces and practices the structures
common in technical writing (the description of a process/product) and the sub-technical
terminology commonly used.
The topics covered include transportation (automotive technology, planes) and energy
(traditional and renewable sources of energy). The students will also give a presentation on a
technical subject. This course aims to build students' oral and written communication skills.
Listening and reading comprehension, as well as some grammar topics (e.g. active voice vs. passive
voice; relative clauses; participles) are additional components of the course.