Welcome to English Oberstufe!
We offer a variety of courses at Oberstufe C1, so read on to find out which courses fit your personal needs. You might be interested in taking a general English course like Oberstufe I and Oberstufe II or, perhaps one of our Fertigkeitsspezifische Kurse - skill-specific courses - is more of what you are looking for.
Upon successfully acquiring 12 credits at the advanced-level general English courses, students have the chance to take the
UNIcert® III examination and attain a UNIcert® III certificate, relevant for future job applications and specified universities, such as when applying for a Master's programs. The UNIcert® III certificate approximately translates to the C1 level 'Effective Operational Proficiency' of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. *Note: the course 'Intercultural Communication' is currently not part of the UNIcert® programme.
Oberstufe I and Oberstufe II
The Oberstufe I and Oberstufe II courses focus on the four skill areas - reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Oberstufe I takes the grammar and language skills explored at the B2 level further, teaching students how to use language more effectively, both for academic purposes and general situations. A focus is placed on active participation as well as thorough exploration of each of the four key components of language, i.e. listening, speaking, reading and writing. Successful completion of the Oberstufe I course is a prerequisite for registration of the Oberstufe II course.
Oberstufe II concentrates more on the use and nuance of language. Through a series of interesting and challenging thematic units, the use of English at a more advanced level is explored in detail, albeit using a variety of interesting methods.
Academic Writing (Blended Learning)
The Academic Writing course is a biweekly course that practises the writing of academic papers and structuring of academic texts. The course is split up into in-class and online phases. The focal points of the course are the writing process, working on skills such as writing techniques in research, and the structuring, writing, revising and reviewing of academic texts. The online phases and assignment deadlines enable students to practise effective time management in writing. A must for every student!
The two areas of reading and writing can be used in conjunction with other classes at the C1 level which focus on speaking and listening, so as to fulfill the four language skill requirements for the UNIcert® III examination.
Applied Writing Skills>
The Applied Writing Skills course is aimed at students who would like to improve their written English. Over the course of the semester, students shall practise various writing techniques, while handling a diverse range of genres in an interactive class writing project. The two areas of reading and writing can be used in conjunction with other classes at the C1 level which focus on speaking and listening in order to fulfill the four language skill requirements for the UNIcert® III examination.
Intercultural Communication
This project-based course is for students interested in learning about culture, be it a foreign culture or their own. Through project-based work, students have the opportunity to plan, prepare and deliver group presentations on topics that interest them. Not only is this course a great opportunity to research and learn about various topics such as education, marriage, religion and media across various cultures, its structure enables course participants to practise skills such as leading discussions, creating interactive activities, and presenting in English. Students also practise writing in English and, thus, not only have the opportunity to improve their intercultural competence, but also their spoken and written English skills.
Presentations and Public Speaking
The Presentations and Public Speaking course allows students to develop the necessary skills required for effective communication when delivering speeches and presentations in English. A wide variety of formats is made use of in order to help students hone their skills in delivering information effectively and appropriately, with a focus placed on speech.
Each student works on developing their own style of speaking within the framework of established academic and professional requirements. The two main language skill areas concentrated on in this course are thus speaking and listening, primarily through active participation and regular presentations. Each student has the opportunity to develop his or her speaking skills in order to become an accomplished and effective speaker, gain confidence in group situations and develop essential, life-long skills highly valued in both academic and professional environments.
The speaking and listening components may be used together with other classes at the C1 level which focus on reading and writing to fulfill the four language skill requirements for the UNIcert® III examination.
Effective Oral Communication
The course, Effective Oral Communication, features two complementary areas of study. The first area of focus is phonology, the mechanics of speech, and develops oratory skills. Each student works at improving his or her own skills using individual feedback from the instructor. This course is open to students of all skill levels: students already fluent in English have the chance to further improve their oratory skills, while students still struggling with spoken English benefit from detailed and structured practice.
The second area of focus looks at using oral skills in order to improve the speaker's use of the language in specific situations. Students are given various assignments, such as reading newspaper articles, watching or listening to debates and interviews and taking a look at negotiations, in order to analyse the most effective use of language and vocabulary in that particular context. Speaking and listening skills are enhanced in this course, with a focus on active skills and practice.
These two language components can be used in conjunction with classes at the C1 level that focus on reading and writing in order to fulfill the four language skill requirements for the UNIcert® III examination.