A2.1: Talking about yourself and others

You have completed A1 and want to say more about yourself and others. In this module you talk about life paths, school and training, media, feelings, life in the city and the working world. You learn online in a small group and improve your career and economic prospects along the way.

At a glance

• Level: A2.1 (1st of 2 modules at A2)
• Prerequisite: A1 certificate
• Language of instruction: German, with English as help when needed
• Scope: 12 weeks, 24 online sessions together
• Classes: online, twice a week in the group; days and times depend on the cohort
• Price: on request
• One-to-one sessions: 45 minutes of intensive speaking training (1:1) and 20 minutes of oral exam simulation
• Included: course materials, exercises and corrections, at no extra cost
• Group: 4 to 8 participants, the course starts with 4 registrations
• Goal: You improve your career and economic prospects, with job application training, integration and cultural studies and targeted exam preparation in every module.

What you need

• a smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer with an internet connection
• patience with yourself

What you can do after the course

• talk about your life and experiences and give reasons
• compare school, training and career paths
• compare things and give your opinion on media
• express feelings, congratulate and comfort
• ask for something politely and write a semi-formal email

The topics

How the course works

• We meet online twice a week as a group of 4 to 8 participants. The days and times are listed with each cohort, shown in your own time zone, wherever in the world you live.
• In between, you work on your own on the platform: reading and listening exercises, writing tasks with corrections, your own tasks from your course as text, photo, video or file, and a speaking appointment with another person from your course.
• Everything included: course materials, exercises and the corrections of your writing tasks and course tasks are included in the course free of charge.
• Practise together anytime: You can meet others from your course by video call at any time and practise situations, right here on the platform, without having to share personal details like your phone number or email address.
• Intensive speaking training (1:1): Everyone gets a 45-minute one-to-one session with me for personal speaking training and a feedback talk.
• Oral exam simulation: Everyone also gets 20 minutes in which we play through the oral exam just like in the real exam.

Career and integration

Every module improves your career and economic prospects. That is why every module includes:

• Job application training: a short CV, calling a company to ask questions, a simple application email.
• Integration and cultural studies: how Austria works: authorities, the working world, housing, health, education, culture and living together, matching the topics of the module.

Pronunciation and Austrian German

You practise the sentence melody in subordinate clauses, the stress in foreign words and the ending -ig. From now on, Austrian German is a fixed part of the lessons: the school system with Volksschule, Mittelschule, AHS, Lehre and Matura, plus Magistrat, Beisl, Kaffeehaus and Öffis.

Writing

Semi-formal emails (enquiry, complaint, about 80 to 100 words) and a forum post.

Exam preparation

In every module you practise tasks from the exams at your level in a targeted way: reading, listening, writing and speaking in the real exam format. The modules end without an exam: you take the exam at a recognised exam institute, for example ÖSD, the Goethe-Institut or telc. I am happy to help you find the right exam institute for your goal.

And then?

Next up is A2.2: Independent in everyday life.