German in Your Studies

Our tip: Improve your German each and every semester by setting yourself specific goals (e.g. academic writing, German pronunciation). Take advantage of the various opportunities offered by the Internationales Studienzentrum (ISZ).

If you find that you still have difficulty reading a textbook or writing an exam or term paper in German, especially in the first few semesters, you should take the time to improve your language skills, even if this means that you initially earn fewer credit hours per semester. This will make your studies easier later on. Take advantage of the many opportunities offered by the Goethe University, such as the language tandem program. In general, try to speak as much German as possible!

The key to success in your studies is to have a good understanding of the course material and to be able to discuss it with others. Goethe University offers a wide variety of course types, which may differ depending on your field of study. Taking notes during class is important so that you can review the material later on. No one, not even native speakers, can remember everything! As a general rule, for a two-hour class (lecture, seminar, tutorial, workshop, etc.) you should allow at least that much time for preparation and review. The better your knowledge of German, the easier it will be for you to prepare for and follow-up on your courses.

In addition, you can always ask your more experienced German peers about transcripts, presentations, and study groups.

If you have problems following the lectures, please talk to your advisors. Once you get over the initial hurdles, the courses will become easier and easier for you.