Foreign Languages

Language course descriptions

• Chinese

  Informationen on moodle: Zusatzangebote /Chinesisch

  Chinese A1.  你好！喜欢吃中国菜吗？These are Chinese characters. Don't they look interesting? In this course you will get to know the fascinating Chinese language. After the course, you will have a basic knowledge of written and spoken Chinese and understand how the Chinese language and culture differs in Taiwan（R.O.C), Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and other Chinese-speaking areas.

  The semester course takes place once a week for 2 x 90 minutes.

  Lecturer: Yunxin Yang (Angelina Schmidhuber) comes from Nanjing in eastern China. With a degree in “Teaching Chinese as Foreign Language” from Beijing University of Language and Culture, she already has several years of teaching experience in China and Germany. She teaches Mandarin (“High Chinese”) with dialogs, role-plays, movies, games, teamwork, calligraphy and comparisons between Mandarin and European languages such as German and English. If you have any questions about the course, please contact her directly: angelinayx@gmail.com

  We recommend that all course participants also take part in the crash course “Introduction to the Chinese language and script” offered by the China Competence Center Lake Constance. In this crash course you will receive information on the history and structure of Chinese characters and can practice easy dialogs. Even if you have previous knowledge of Chinese from the Chinese 1 language course, you will still learn new things about writing and language in the crash course. Information about the crash course can be found here:

   

   

• English

  A2 Speaking English, 2sws. Improve your pronunciation and speaking skills with a wide variety of exercises in this course. Information on moodle.

  B2 People Skills, 2sws. This course offers you an opportunity to learn about people skills and develop your own people skills by improving your self-competence and your communication skills. You will also be able to develop your English language skills by extending your vocabulary, reviewing and practising some grammar items, improving your reading and listening comprehension skills, and practice writing in English.

  PSC is an online course. You will study selected video-, audio-, and text materials, do quizzes and exercises related to the topic and discuss your findings and other questions in the online learning forum of the course. If you are interested in the course or want to participate send an email containing your name, faculty, course of study and semester (for example Katarina Meyer IN AIN3) to schulz@htwg-konstanz.de, and you will receive an enrolment key.

  B1/B2 Negotiating in English, 2 sws. Learn about negotiating strategies and practice them in English.  More information on Moodle

  B2/C1 US Culture and Current Events. 2 sws. Discuss the important issues of the day concerning the USA and get insider information on the happenings that are shaping modern US life and culture.  More information on moodle.

  A1-A2 Englisch Intensivkurs, 30 hours in 5 days, during semester breaks.  Especially suitable for students with little previous knowledge. More Information on Moodle.

  B2/C1 Dynamic Presenting Skills in English. 2 sws. Learn how to make your presenting style more dynamic with skills that work.  First offered in Winter Semester 2026.  More information here.

• French

  Courses start in the 1st week of lectures.

  Current information on moodle: Zusatzangebote / Französisch A1-A2

  Our instructor teaches French with the Flusion method. The FLUSION language method is specially designed for beginners and the French language. It offers a holistic language experience. The emphasis of the language course is on listening comprehension as well as oral expression skills. You will dive intensively into the melody, the rhythm of the French language. A variety of repetitions will give you confidence. Your pronunciation will be intensively trained. After an introduction in German, the language course takes place in French.

  1. A1 Gruppe 1, 4 sws, for beginners with no or little prior knowledge.
  2. A2 Gruppe, 4 sws, for students with prior knowledge (e.g., French A1).

   

• German as a Foreign Language

  1. Two-week German language course before the start of lectures (September 14 to September 25, 2026)

  Beginner Level

  A1: For beginners with no previous knowledge

  This German Language Class covers both communicative grammar and practical language skills. The course aims at providing students with a sound basic knowledge of spoken and written German (beginner level A1, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR).

  A1 Group 1, 20 teaching hours per week (20 SWS)

  Mondays to Fridays (from September 14 to September 25, 2026), 9:00 – 12:30 am, room: F 120

  A1 Group 2, 20 teaching hours per week (20 SWS)

  Mondays to Fridays (from September 14 to September 25, 2026), 9:00 – 12:30 am, room: F 119

   

  Intermediate Level

  A2: For beginners with basic knowledge (A1)

  This class will allow students to further study German language, civilization and culture. The approach is communicative, with German used wherever possible as the language of instruction. The course aims to enable students to use German in everyday situations (basic user level A2, CEFR).

  A2, 20 teaching hours per week (20 SWS)

  Mondays to Fridays (from September 14 to September 25, 2026), 9:00 – 12:30 am, room: F 210

   

  Independent Language Use 

  B1: A2 level knowledge required

  This course aims to deepen students' knowledge of grammar as it is used in everyday situations and in academic contexts. In addition to practicing grammar and standard vocabulary, the focus is on developing students' communication skills (independent language use at level B1, CEFR).

  B1, 20 teaching hours per week (20 SWS)

  Mondays to Fridays (from September 14 to September 25, 2026), 9:00 – 12:30 am, room: B 220

   

  2. German Language Courses during the fall semester 2026/27

  The German Language courses start in the first lecture week.

  Registration: in person during the first class.

  Placement:

  1. Self-assessment based on the descriptions in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages 

  2. Placement test for international exchange students only

  If you have any questions, please contact us: germancourse@htwg-konstanz.de

   

  Beginner Level

  A1: For beginners with no previous knowledge

  This German Language Class covers both communicative grammar and practical language skills. The course aims at providing students with a sound basic knowledge of spoken and written German (beginner level A1, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR).

  A1 Group 1, 4 teaching hours per week (4 SWS)

  Fridays, 8:00 – 11:15 am, room: tba

  A1 Group 2, 4 teaching hours per week (4 SWS)

  Mondays, 3:45 – 7:00 pm, room: B 220

   

  Intermediate Level

  A2: For beginners with basic knowledge (A1)

  This class will allow students to further study German language, civilization and culture. The approach is communicative, with German used wherever possible as the language of instruction. The course aims to enable students to use German in everyday situations (basic user level A2, CEFR).

  A2, 4 teaching hours per week (4 SWS)

  Fridays, 8:00 – 11:15 am, room: tba

   

  Independent Language Use 

  B1: A2 level knowledge required

  This course aims to deepen students' knowledge of grammar as it is used in everyday situations and in academic contexts. In addition to practicing grammar and standard vocabulary, the focus is on developing students' communication skills (independent language use at level B1, CEFR).

  B1, 4 teaching hours per week (4 SWS)

  Fridays, 8:00 – 11:15 am, room: tba

• Japanese

  Japanisch A1_Group 1 

  Lecturer: Dr. Runako von Lübke
  Maximum number of participants: 15

  Course description:
  This course is aimed at students with little or no prior knowledge of Japanese. The focus is on acquiring basic communication skills on topics that include practicing all four core language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). In addition, students will learn basic grammatical structures and Japanese characters (100 kana and 30 kanji) and practice correct pronunciation and intonation. Classes will be conducted in Japanese (direct method) and English.

  Registration:
  Registration is done by email to the instructor (Dr. Runako von Lübke rluebke@htwg-konstanz.de) and via Moodle.

   

  Japanisch A1_Group 2 

  Lecturer: Dr. Runako von Lübke
  Maximum number of participants: 15

  Course description:
  This course is aimed at students who have successfully completed the language course “Japanese A1 – Part 1” or an equivalent level. Students will deepen their knowledge of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in appropriate cultural contexts. They will also expand their understanding of grammatical structures and further develop their oral and written expression skills, including learning an additional 40 kanji. Classes will be conducted in Japanese (direct method) and English.

  Registration:
  Registration is done by email to the instructor (Dr. Runako von Lübke rluebke@htwg-konstanz.de) and via Moodle.

   

  Japanisch A1_Group 3 

  Lecturer: Dr. Runako von Lübke
  Maximum number of participants: 15

  Course description:
  This course is aimed at students who have completed the language course “Japanese A1_2 (Part 2)” or have equivalent language skills. Participants will improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills and expand their understanding of Japanese culture. In addition, their knowledge of grammatical structures will be expanded and they will develop more fluent speaking and writing skills (including approx. 50 additional kanji). Classes will be conducted in Japanese (direct method) and English.

  Registration:
  Registration is done by email to the instructor (Dr. Runako von Lübke rluebke@htwg-konstanz.de) and via Moodle.

   

• Potuguese

  More information on Moodle.

  Portuguese A1, 4 sws, for beginners with no prior knowledge.

• Spanish

  A1 group 1, 4 sws, for beginners without previous knowledge. Textbook: Con Gusto A1/ Klett Verlag.

  A1 group 2, 4 sws, for beginners without previous knowledge. Textbook: Con Gusto A1/ Klett Verlag.

  A1 group 4, 4 sws, for beginners with no previous knowledge. Textbook "Puente".

  A1 group 5, compulsory subject Spanish MMS 2 (Mechanical Engineering) 4sws. Textbook: Con Gusto A1/ Klett Verlag. 

  More information on Moodle A1.

  More information on Moodle A1 Group 4  Ws23/24

  A2 group 1 (only one course) 4 sws, for students with previous knowledge (expects Spanish A1). Textbook: Vía Rápida A1-B1/ Klett Verlag, lessons 4-8.

  Intermediate levels B1-B2.

  More information on Moodle A2

  B1 group 1 (only one course), 4sws, for students with previous knowledge (expects Spanish A2). Textbook: Vía Rápida A1-B1/ Klett Verlag.

  More information on Moodle B1

  B2 group (one film course) Español cultural con películas, 4 sws, for participants with previous knowledge (e.g. Spanish B1). Textbook or material: to be announced.

  More information on Moodle B2