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Take the German placement test
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions for Beginning Levels in German Program
What can I expect from a German course at the University of Tennessee?
Classes tend to be small and focus on the student and student interaction. Our desire is to create a classroom in which our German teachers become facilitators in the learning process, as students, through meaningful communication, actively and cooperatively discover the German language in all its facets, i.e. cultural, historical, and linguistic.
Which course should I take?
The foreign language requirement for most degrees consists of two semesters of beginning (111, 112) and two semesters of intermediate (211, 212) level German. All students will begin with German 111, unless placed in a different class due to results of the German Placement Exam, Proficiency Exam, or because of transferred college credit (see questions 3 – 6 below). After passing 111, students take 112, 211 and then 212.
In the fall, we offer 111 and 211 while 112, 212 and 150 (only students who were placed in this class are eligible to enroll) are only offered in the spring. In the summer, we usually offer 111, 112, 211 and 212 (based on enrollment). Students are advised not to take breaks between German courses because they will easily forget what they have learned.
Can my high school German help with my German studies at UT?
Yes, most definitely. However, all students who have had 2 or more years of high school German must take the German Placement Exam, which will determine the courses the student must take. The exam is usually administered in the summer during freshman orientation. It is very important that students who have previously learned German do not wait to begin their German studies at UT but begin immediately.
What if I need help with the Placement Exam?
More information about the Placement Exam can be obtained by contacting:
Douglas Canfield
Language Resource Center Coordinator
Phone: (865)974-6494
E-mail: dcanfie1@utk.edu
What is the format of The German Placement Exam?
The placement exam consists of an online, computer adaptive test. The test can only be taken once and its resulting placement is mandatory. Students should keep in mind that this is not a test in the traditional sense. Results are used to place students in the course that will be most beneficial for them and their German studies. Students, therefore, are not expected to prepare for the test.
I took the AP German Exam. Which German class is appropriate for me?
Your AP score might result in automatic credit for some UT German classes. Please check here for more information.
What if I already know German, but have not technically studied it at a US high school or university?
Those students who have received informal training in the language (i.e. they lived in Germany, learned German from a relative or took a language course abroad), must take UT’s German Proficiency Exam to determine course placement.
What if I studied German in college already?
Previous college work in the language will be evaluated and if determined transferable, the student can continue his/her studies where he/she left them.
What kind of extracurricular activities are offered in the program?
The German program offers students many opportunities throughout the semester to use their language skills outside the classroom. The German Club offers an opportunity for students to meet other students within the program and to participate in many extracurricular activities. And the German Department’s Film Series, “Stammtisch”, and “Sprachwochenende” are but a few examples of opportunities for students to enhance their German experience at the University of Tennessee.
Does the program offer study abroad opportunities?
For information concerning study abroad please visit the German Program Study Abroad page.
Why Study German?
Getting Ready for the World
German language study – actually any foreign language study, German included – creates more positive attitudes and lowers prejudice toward people who are different. You begin participating genuinely and responsibly in a multi-cultural world when you learn German.
Communicating
German – the language of Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Zurich, Salzburg and Vienna – has 100 million speakers spanning Europe’s heartland.
Business
The European Central Bank, Swiss banks, Germany’s economy (Europe’s largest and the world’s second-largest exporter) run on German. Germany hosts the world’s leading trade fairs and counts among the world’s largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, autos, machine tools, electronics, foodstuffs, beverages, ships, and textiles. UT’s German program sponsors an exchange program with Mannheim that includes a German business internship.
Job Market
Knowing German improves your employment chances in East Tennessee, where Volkswagen, Wacker Chemie and Mahle Industries are currently investing over a billion dollars and creating jobs in an otherwise tight economy.
Knowledge
Eighteen percent of the world’s books are published in Germany, the world’s third largest book publisher.
Research
German is second only to English in scientific publications. Knowing German, you can access research findings in all areas of modern science. Forty percent of US scientists recommend that students learn German.
Cultural Enrichment
German-the language of Goethe, Nietzsche, Kant, Luther, Kafka, Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Freud and Einstein-opens the door to one of Europe’s greatest cultures.
Tourism
Germans, Austrians and Swiss rank among the most numerous and important tourists. Knowing German pays off in the tourist industry.
Exploring Germany
Scores of UT students visit Germany and study there annually. Knowing German enables you to know the German people better and gain a deeper insight into their history and culture.
Scholarship Support
The German Program annually grants endowed scholarships to its best and brightest, enabling many to study abroad. Last year over 20 students received support.