German Gap Year in Berlin

German Gap Year in Berlin, Germany. Study abroad and learn German in Berlin on long term courses, make real progress and greatly improve your language skills.

 

The German Gap Year in Berlin is the ideal long-term course solution for Gap Year students, graduates and young adults looking to take a serious career break. These long-term courses allow students to focus on all aspects of German over several months in a campus school environment, across all language levels. In-depth study over an extended period ensures better mastery, subtler understanding and far greater long-term retention of key skills. Students can live on site, off site in apartments with other students, or with local German hosts (for that extra layer of linguistic immersion!).

Gap Year Plus Points

  • Berlin is a dynamic, exciting capital city that really appeals to long term language students
  • A full range of German language exams are offered, year round – if you want them!
  • A superb campus based school, offering both on and off site accommodation

German Course Details

Levels offered Beginner to Advanced
Minimum age 17
Course duration 8 to 24+ weeks
Alternative courses 1 week+ 
Number of lessons 20 or 30 lessons per week
Lesson duration 45 minutes
Maximum per class 12 students
  • Start dates throughout the year
  • Classes are held Monday to Friday each week
  • Preparation for German language exams (optional, not included in course fees)

Course Start Dates 2024

Beginners Once a month
All other levels Any Monday

 

Berlin: Relaxing in Mauer Park

Berlin Nightscape

Berlin: Evening drinks on campus

Languages for Life

/ 20 lessons per week

These programmes cover all the key requirements that a long-term student needs.  Many students prefer to keep to this course format, as it allows them free time to study after class, explore the city, follow a hobby, make new friends etc.

Prices 2024

Languages for Life 20 lessons pr week
08 wks   € 1,750.00 10 wks   € 2,180,00
12 wks    € 2,310.00 16 wks  € 3,070.00
CESA Fee: € 60.00 per person
Summer supplements:
Applied from 01 July to 02 August 2024
to all courses: €50.00 per week
Get a Quote now

 

/ 30 lessons per week

Building on the 20 lessons per week programme, this course offers an additional 10 lessons per week.  These additional lessons focus on oral skills to improve spoken expression and comprehension.  They are formed from smaller groups of students than the morning classes and focus on debates and discussions, over seen by the teacher.

Languages for Life 30 lessons pr week
08 wks   € 2,830.00 10 wks   € 3,530.00
12 wks   €  3,930.00 16 wks  € 5,230.00
CESA Fee: € 60.00 per person
Summer supplements:
Applied from 01 July to 02 August 2024
to all courses: €50.00 per week
Get a Quote now

Methodology

  • Intensive grammar study
  • Phonetics
  • Development of vocabulary
  • Syntax and application
  • Listening and comprehension
  • Dialogue and communication
  • Idiomatic language
  • Written and oral expression
  • Lecture and analysis
  • Live guided discussion and synthesis
  • Free conversation

This German language course is an excellent opportunity to learn a new language, immerse yourself in a new culture and make new friends from all around the world. The study plan takes into consideration your current level, your needs and the length of your course.

Read more

The German school in Berlin provides a communicative approach where teachers aim to involve and animate the students, getting them to speak as much as possible. This is the best way to learn the German language! The teachers will also continuously correct students and encourage them to repeat, remember and do better next time.

Grammar is never taught for its own sake, instead it is built into a programme of informative and interesting texts, providing a valuable cultural, political, and historical background (adding some zest to the joy that is grammar study!). Lessons revolve around free class discussion, role-playing and conversation to help develop verbal expression, vocabulary, and good sentence construction. The work of each group is tailored to each class’s ability level in German, so each student can learn at their own pace, for however many weeks or months they have available to study. The German Gap Year courses ensures rapid acquisition and long-term retention of key German language skills and covers a range of topics on modern day Germany (cultural, social, and economic). Oral and written German language skills are developed and enhanced throughout these long-term courses. This German language programme is primarily aimed at Beginners to Intermediate abilities, who want to see serious linguistic improvement and are aiming to achieve fluency over several months (but the shorter 8 to 16 week courses work equally well for Advanced level students).

Host family Berlin Shared apartment

On campus studioBerlin On campus studio

Budget studios Berlin Budget studio
– 35 mins commute to language school

Exams offered

Do you speak German?
Can you prove it!

Some people study German for self-enrichment others though, such as university or Gap students, aspiring teachers, translators, or others with long term career goals, study the language as part of a formal training programme. For this latter group of students, formally proving competency in the language is a requirement and this is where the German Exams are of immense value. There are courses offered throughout the year leading to the TestDaF and Zertifikat Deutsch exams.

TestDaF exam information

 

Accommodation

If you want to immerse yourself in the culture, you can live with local German Hosts who will give you the chance to experience daily life as lived by German people.  This is greatly beneficial to the language learner – as you will pick up all sorts of cultural cues about Berlin and the way modern Germans live.  You can choose host accommodation with half-board (breakfast and evening meal) or book the Shared Apartment with Berliners option and self-cater.

Alternatively, students can live in on site studio apartments.

Full information on the accommodation options:

Accommodation in Berlin