How much German can be learned in just two and a half weeks? Eleven students completed Bard College Berlin’s German Winter Language Intensive this January

During the early weeks of January when most Bard College Berlin students are away for winter break, the campus comes alive again with a group of visiting students: undergraduates from Bard College in Annandale participating in the annual German Winter Language Intensive.

Students enrolled in Bard’s Beginning German Intensive sequence enter in September with little to no prior knowledge of German, and complete the equivalent of two semesters of college-level German within just five months over the fall semester in Annandale. In January, students continue by living and learning at Bard College Berlin’s campus with the goal of intermediate competency, in preparation to begin German at the B2 level in Annandale, in just two and a half weeks.

This year, BCB German Studies instructor Ariane Friedländer taught the language intensive. While increasing by one CEFR level in such a short period of time is an ambitious goal, Friedländer states, “The fact that the students are in the country of the target language—and that they also have interesting excursions and theme evenings—makes the almost impossible possible for them.”

In addition to language courses, the eleven students engaged with the city of Berlin through excursions to museums, historical and political sites, and more. As a Berlin native herself, Friedländer shared her firsthand knowledge of the city. She says, “It's a special challenge for me to draw students into the German language world in such a way that after a short time, they feel as if they've been in Berlin for a long time already.”

Dr. Thomas Wild, director of Bard College’s German Studies program, attests to the value of BCB’s intensive language instruction: “All students make enormous progress during the winter intensive course at BCB: leaps rather than steps! The vast majority continue their language studies.” Of those who pursue a German Studies major, he states, about three quarters spend a semester abroad in Berlin and quite a few move to Berlin after graduating to pursue a master’s degree or work.

The makeup of this year's cohort of German intensive students speaks to the sustained connections between Bard College’s German Program and Bard College Berlin: One student is staying in Berlin to study abroad for the spring semester, another student previously studied abroad at BCB, and another previously completed the Begin in Berlin program at BCB.

This year marks another successful German Winter Language Intensive at Bard College Berlin. We wish the participating students the best of luck in further German studies, and we look forward to next January’s cohort.

By: Sophia Paudel, Bard College Berlin Communications

Post Date: 02-03-2025