International Spring Courses German and English March 2015

Here’s what you can expect at the University of Freiburg Language Teaching Centre (Sprachlehrinstitut SLI):

• Small class sizes with a maximum of 15 participants
• Professional language instruction with experienced teaching staff
• Competently taught knowledge necessary for a course of studies at German universities
• Interesting exercise courses, seminars and lectures
• The opportunity for computer-assisted individual practise in the language laboratory
• A great variety of leisure activities
• Excursions in and around Freiburg (e.g., the Black Forest and the Alsace region of France) 
• Accommodation at student dormitories and shared flats

Contents

• dates and fees
• course description
• afternoon programme
• timetable
• course materials
• placement test
• certificate and ECTS-points
• accommodation
• arrival, transport, food, internet
• leisure programme
• excursions
• visa
• insurance
• conditions of participation, registration and payment
• withdrawal
• online registration
• contact
• information on the university, the city and the region
• course participants' blog
  
• Film on the SLI courses

Dates and fees

Registration: 15th December 2014 to 31st January 2015

Arrival: Monday 2nd March, 9:00 h - 21:00 h

First day of class: Tuesday 3rd March 2015

Last day of class: Thursday 26th March 2015

Departure: Friday 27th March until 10:00 h

Course fee: 580 €
(German Language and Culture 480 € for ERASMUS students of the University of Freiburg, English Language Course 400 for immatriculated students at the University of Freiburg)

The course fee includes

• 72 hours of language instruction in the morning (18 days with 4 x 45 minutes of class)
• optional participation in the exercise courses, seminars and lectures in the afternoon
• the opportunity to use computer-assisted self-learning mechanisms in our language laboratory
• course materials
• use of the PC-Pools and Wireless LAN at the university
• meals in the university cafeteria (Mensa) at student rates
• optional participation in the leisure program (not entrance fees, food and drinks)
• information and orientation for a course of studies at German universities

Course Description

Afternoon programme

In our digitalized language laboratory (Sprachlabor), students can use self-study materials for individual practice of listening comprehension, grammar and pronunciation by choosing from a wide range of audio materials and online exercises. The language laboratory is open from Monday to Thursday 14:00 h -19:00 h and Friday 13:00h -18:00h.

Timetable

Language Courses: 3rd to 26th March, Monday to Friday 9:15 h -10:45 h and 11:15 h -12:45 h

Exercise courses, seminars and lectures (optional): 9th to 20th March, Monday to Friday 14:15 h -15:45 h and 16:00 h -17:30 h

Individual practice in the language laboratory (optional): 4th to 24th March, Monday to Thursday 14:00 h -19:00 h and Friday 13:00h -18:00h

Course materials

Course materials are compiled by our teachers especially for the courses and are included in the course fees.

Placement test

To ensure that you will be learning in the class group matching your language level, an online placement test will be taken before courses begin. You will receive detailed information and advice by email after your registration has been completed.

You will be asked to indicate your approximate CEFR language level in the registration form. For information about the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) please click here.

Certificate and ECTS credits

A graded certificate will be issued to all participants at the end of the course. It will include your individual language level following the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as well as your ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).

Language course in the morning: 4 ECTS credits for regular attendance and proof of performance

1 language practice module, seminar or lecture: 1 ECTS credit for regular attendance

Language laboratory: 1 ECTS credit for 30 hours of work

Maximum number of  ECTS credits: 6

Accommodation

You may look for a room on your own. See for example www.housinganywhere.com and www.freiburg.de

Single rooms at student dormitories and shared flats in Freiburg may be arranged upon request from 2nd to 27th March 2015. Please choose "with room" in the online registration form.

Room fee: 300 €

The single rooms measure between 12 and 15 m² in size. They are furnished with bed, pillow and bedcover, bed linen, cupboard, table and chair. The flat will include a shared kitchen, bathroom and in some cases a lounge area that will be shared with both female and male flat mates or other residents within the same unit. Washing machines are also available. There is no guarantee that cooking utensils will be available in the kitchen. During your stay you are responsible for the cleanness of your room. Together with your flatmates you will have to keep the common areas (kitchen and bathroom) clean. Shopping facilities are located near the flats. The flats are located close to the town centre, with a maximum ride of 20 minutes by bus or tram to the university and the city centre. You are requested to keep the noise down after 10 p.m. If you book a room through SLI, the room will be assigned to you.

Arrival, transport, food, internet

From Euro-Airport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (www.euroairport.com) you can easily reach Freiburg by bus. The schedule is available at www.freiburger-reisedienst.de. From Frankfurt am Main airport (www.frankfurt-airport.de) you can travel to Freiburg by train or bus. Tickets and schedules are available at www.bahn.de or www.goeuro.de. Due to its excellent connection to the highway, Freiburg is also easy to reach by car.

Detailed directions from Freiburg central station to our course office and a location map will be sent to you with your registration documents via post and email.

Information on transport in Freiburg is available at www.freiburg.de under the heading "Mobilität und Verkehr". Please consult www.bahn.de or www.goeuro.de to find out about train and bus connections and prices when travelling in Germany.

Leisure programme

The experience of regional studies is conveyed in our courses not only within language instruction, but also outside the classroom in the form of a weekly changing leisure and social programme. We offer a wide variety of extra-curricular activities in and around Freiburg. Our student tutors organize city tours, pub nights, game and cooking nights, museums visits, as well as excursions to places of interest in the region. These activities give you the opportunity to get acquainted with Freiburg and the surrounding area in small groups.

Excursions

There will be a number of Saturday excursions, for instance to an original Black Forest village or to France. Excursion fees are between 15,- and 30,- €. You will find the detailed programme in your course booklet on your arrival. As the number of participants is limited to 40 or 50 persons, please be aware that you may not be able to participate in all day trips.

Visa

If you need a visa for the Federal Republic of Germany, please be sure to contact the responsible German Consulate or Embassy in your home country in advance. As soon as your registration and payment has been completed, we will send you an official invitation for your visa request by post as well as by email.

In case you would like to travel to Switzerland (e.g. Basel, which is only 60 km from Freiburg), please find out if you need a visa from the responsible Consulate or Embassy for Switzerland in your home country before departure.

Insurance

As an international language student you are not automatically insured against illness and accidents. We recommend that you contact your insurance company in advance to find out about your coverage. As you may be responsible for any damage you may cause e.g. in your dormitory room, we also recommend a public liability insurance.

Conditions of participation, registration and payment

All participants who have reached the age of 17 by the start of the course are welcome to join the International Language Courses.

Please bring a current photo in passport size (about 35 x 45 mm) for your participant ID.

Withdrawal

If you withdraw from the program up to 20 days before courses begin, 50% of the course fee and 50% of the accomodation fee can be refunded. Regrettably, if you withdraw less than 20 days before courses begin, no refund is possible.

Please apply only if you are sure that you want to participate in the course.

Online registration

15th December 2014 to 31st January 2015

We are happy to help you with any question, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to your participation.

Contact

Information on the university, the city and the region

• www.uni-freiburg.de
  Homepage of the University of Freiburg
• www.io.uni-freiburg.de
  The International Office provides advice and support for international students and scholars and maintains the University of Freiburg's international contacts
• www.swfr.de
  Information and service for university students
• www.freiburg.de
  General information on Freiburg with city map and weather report
• www.schwarzwald-tourismus.info
  Information on the Black Forest

Blog "Deutsch in Freiburg"

Some of our August 2013 course participants created a blog on their Freiburg experience. Please find it here.

Film on the SLI courses