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DaF - courses and learning opportunities

Portrait of a woman holding a green college block
Image: AI, Montage Zessko, CL
Learning German at Zessko

You can learn German at any level from A1 up to C2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in various formats.

Our Courses beginn in April (Summer Semester) und October (Winter Semester). Unfortunately, joining on-going courses later in the semester is not possible. For more details, please see Placement, Application and Admission.
 

Current German courses - Winter Semester 2026/27

Level A1

Level A2

Level B1

Level B2

Level C1

Courses on individual skills - pronunciation, grammar, oral communication (B1+/C1)

Courses German for Law

Individual Study Projects with Language Learning Counseling

 

How can you learn German with Zessko?

Chart displaying the German courses at Zessko
Photo: (c) Universität Potsdam, Zessko-DaF; CL
German courses and learning opportunities at the Zessko

German for Academic Purposes:

These courses addresses reception, production, interaction and mediation in terms of language activities in both personal and academic contexts. The four skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking as well as Grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation are integrated into exercises.

The courses on the levels A1 and A2 comprise a full level (A1 or A2), and they come with 6 teaching units per week (SWS). Some of these courses meet twice a week others have one meeting per week plus an additional intensive block during the lecture-free period. There are also compact courses with 4 SWS an only one meeting per week.

The courses on level B1 to C1 CEFR comprise only half a level (B1.1 / B1.2 etc.) with 4 hours in class per week (4 SWS). Some of these courses mee once per week, others take place on two days per week, in the morning or in the afternoon during the lecture period.

Most of our German courses are offered at Zessko, Neues Palais Campus, im Zessko (building 19 ). The specific course "German for Law" meets at Griebnitzsee campus (building 6).

Principles of our work
(DaF lecturers at Zessko)

„If you successfully complete a German course or language learning advising session at Zessko, you receive ECTS points. We expect you to engange in individual exercises in addition to the classes (contact hours). These include, along with traditional “homework,” preparation for the classes and participation in projects. In addition, there are specific exercises online at Moodle, some of which are mandatory.“

Specific skills courses and subject-oriented courses:

In addition to the integrative courses, you can also attend courses on specific skills (listening and speaking) or on grammar and pronunciation. You can attend these courses to enhance your skills in a particular area of a language, or to reactivate and reiterate what you have already learned. 

If you are studying law, then perhaps you will be interested in the respective subject-oriented online course. You can acquire the relevant specialized terminology for your field and train for discipline-specific communicative situations.


Learn on your own outside of courses:

If you have a specific learning project and don’t want to attend an entire course, then perhaps DaF Supervised Independent Study is for you. Together with your language adviser, you analyze your present learning situation, talk about your goals, and plan the individual learning process. Your language adviser supports your learning process by means of regular consultations and professional feedback.
You can also participate in a language tandem and/or structure your individual learning process with an ePortfolio.