Student Feedback

A very positive experience!

Florence, 60, from France – August 29, 2023

Stay: 1 month, Course Start: 2023

Course

Teachers

Campus

After class activities

Support by GLS staff

The Good & the Bad - what did you like best? What least?

I have wanted to do a course like this for the last 25 years and were finally able to do so in 2023. I did not regret it! Thank you GLS.

COURSE: The teachers were really excellent. I was put in a class (C1) which stretched me and I learnt a lot. The whole class takes place in German, and my general understanding had greatly improved by the end of the month. Some students were always ready to answer (good for them!) and talk, other less so. It might have been a good idea to encourage less "vocal" students to speak a little more at times. There was a good variety of in-class activities based mostly on the Aspekt Neu book. Teachers also provided other exercises, games etc which were not in the book, which I found very useful. Even during a not so hot Summer, many people found the classroom too hot. The ventilator was not always enough and GLS should probably consider investing in air conditioning, should the climate become hotter. Opening the windows and the door of the classroom is not ideal as it can be quite noisy.

EXTRA-CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES: The highlight for me were the visit of the Topographie of Terror Museum (lead by a historian, rather than just a guide), 2 excellent films on campus, 2 lectures (One about the Weimar Republic and the other about the DDR). The lecturers were extremely clear, did not speak too fast, were very knowledgeable and interesting. Other visits (Charité Hospital + Modern art Museum) were also interesting but we were left to our own devices to look around.

ACCOMMODATION: I had a studio (no 80) on campus. It was very quiet and clean. It opened on a lovely green area with wild flowers and trees. That was fabulous for me... In August this year the weather was mostly not too hot but when it was, the lack of fan/air conditioning was problematic and sleeping was difficult. This would have be a big problem had the weather been really hot.I would also recommend that GLS provides a simple coffee making facility in the studio such as a cheap French press cafetière or an Italian Moka machine (Bialetti type for instance). These could be added to the kitchenware. I would also recommend to add a small pan with a lid and door mat for when it is pouring with rain. I bought all these items but would have loved to find them there.

FRONT DESK RECEPTION: all extremely helpful at all times!

Your recommendations for other students

Be ready to work, to make friends with others, to attend activities as much as you can, keep some free time to visit Berlin and resist the temptation to speak English or your mother tongue outside the classroom (unless you are a total beginner!).