This course will take place online. We are running an introductory offer on all beginners' language sessions, with 25% off this course at Full £136 / Conc. £102
Be introduced to the basics of the German language.
The aim of this absolute beginners course is to introduce you to the basics of the German language. The course covers the four skills (speaking, reading, listening, and writing). It is taught through tutor-led activities, pair and group work, role-playing, and independent research as part of homework.
Who is this course for?
Absolute beginners.
Do I need any previous skills or knowledge?
You do not need any prior knowledge to benefit from this course.
Will I need any equipment or materials?
This course will be held via Zoom. You need a computer/laptop or mobile phone to access the Zoom website, and a reliable internet connection. For further information on how to join a Zoom meeting, you can watch the joining video here.
Please bring a pen and paper for making notes.
The tutor may ask you to purchase a textbook costing approximately £20.
Are there any follow-on courses I can take?
Where possible, we will always aim to offer students the opportunity to progress in their learning. The next level after this course is German Level 1: Module B.
Will I be assessed?
There is no formal assessment for courses at Bishopsgate Institute. However, to monitor your learning and progress, tutors will assess your participation in classroom activities.
You will learn
By the end of this course, you will have covered:
Introducing yourself and others
Spelling out words
Using numbers
Talking about families and friends
Talking about place of origin
Talking about jobs and professions
Expressing likes/dislike and hobbies
Ordering food in a restaurant
Shopping for food
Giving and understanding directions
Asking and giving the time.
You will also have covered the following grammatical structures:
Present tense of both regulars and irregular verbs (lesen, etc)
Verb "to be" (haben, sein)
Definite and indefinite articles (der, die, das/ ein, eine, ein)
Formal and informal structures (Sie,du)
Possessive singular (mein, meine)
Accusative case (den, die, das)
Personal pronouns (ich, du, er/sie/es etc)
accusative case (Ich esse einen Kuchen)
Affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences
word order
Separable verbs (Ich kaufe ein.).
Meet the Tutor
Boris Born
Boris Born teaches German at all levels. He graduated with an MA in German and Philosophical Studies in 1983 and has been teaching German since 1993. He works at City University in the undergraduate and evening programmes. He also prepares German native speakers for their A-levels at a German school in Islington.
Married in 1950, Chris and Betty Birch have been involved in political, trade union, and LGBTQ+ activism for over 60 years. Sharing similar interests, they were both Communist Party Members and involved with organisations such as the Aid to Spanish Youth Committee. After the death of his friend, Mark Ashton, Chris became involved in forming the Mark Ashton Memorial Trust, which was created to raise money for individuals living with HIV. The archive includes the truncheon taken from the police by Mark Ashton, correspondence, personal scrapbooks, press cuttings, and various other papers relating to the couples activism.