Teaching Material
The teaching materials we use for our English courses mostly consist of our own self-created modules, which are then combined to suit the needs of each specific course. Although the choice of modules depends on the course, the focus points below are typical of those we use at intermediate and advanced levels.
I — Focus on Your Job
Customer specific materials – some of which are even written for individual courses – allow participants to focus on those themes and areas of vocabulary which are most important for them.
Dialogues and role-plays based on real, everyday work situations help to develop necessary language skills. Texts from newspapers, magazines and the Internet are reworked in order to motivate students to discuss current topics and create lively and challenging lessons. Glossaries of specialist terminology as well as other "life-saving" works of reference help participants to learn the vocabulary they need and can of course also be used during daily work.
II — Focus on Topics in Business
A selection of specially written standard business modules dealing with all of the most important areas of business and themes encountered in daily business life, such as Human Resources, production or IT.
Key terms are presented in appropriate contexts. The basic vocabulary of Business English can be introduced to and practised by participants in a context which is relevant to their daily tasks.
III — Focus on Business Skills
Our telephoning, correspondence & email, small talk, presentations, negotiations and meetings modules train specific communication skills.
They consist of English phrases (with German translations) and appropriate exercises, which can be used to role play real work situations. In addition, participants are encouraged to bring their own emails and presentations to class, in order to improve and learn from them.
IV — Focus on Everyday English
Texts dealing with politics, the economy, culture, and current affairs stimulate lively discussion, the expressing of opinions as well as giving participants the opportunity to practise pronunciation and reading comprehension.
Our monthly Berlin Newsletter presents current topics in short articles and has a glossary of the most difficult words. The texts usually address current, controversial issues being discussed in Germany and the fact that they are so up-to-date means that they almost always lead to extremely lively discussions. The Berlin Newsletter is very popular among our students.
V — Focus on Grammar
Short, useful exercises dealing with grammar points and typical "Denglish" mistakes allow for spontaneous coverage of the most important aspects of English grammar and can be supplemented by more in-depth exercises where necessary.
The modular nature of the grammar exercises means that participants can easily go into and improve individual weaknesses. Repetition of grammar rules always stems from real communication; learning by rote is, in our opinion, ineffective and has no place in our language courses.
VI — Focus on Vocabulary
Various activities and exercises help to improve the range of the participants' vocabulary. Typical confusions involving word groups and idioms are addressed here.
All of the vocabulary exercises are presented in modular form in order that they may be used in a flexible way in conjunction with communication exercises from other focus points or spontaneously to address common mistakes.
