Levels of Proficiency

The German language sequence at Wesleyan

Students with prior knowledge of German take an online placement test and are placed accordingly. We assess students according to the ACTFL proficiency guidelines.  You will find the equivalent ratings for the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in parentheses below.  Courses above 211 count toward the German Studies major and minor.

GRST 101&102 Beginning German is a one-year course sequence that starts in the fall. It is an introduction to German and leads to communicative competence in German by building on the four primary skills—speaking, listening, reading, and writing—while developing participants' awareness of life and culture in German-speaking countries.

Students can normally expect to reach ACTFL Novice-High (CEFR A1.1).

GRST 211 Intermediate German, offered in the fall, typically follows GRST101&102 and increases students' proficiency in the German language while they learn about different cities and regions in the German-speaking world. Working interactively, students engage in cultural activities with authentic readings and contextualized grammar. Students can normally expect to reach ACTFL Intermediate Mid to High (CEFR A2-B1.1).

After the successful completion of GRST 101&102 and 211, students can study abroad on one of Wesleyan's approved German programs in Berlin and Hamburg. Upon their return they will be prepared to take 300-level seminars, with all discussion, reading, and writing in German. Students who decide to stay at Wesleyan will continue with GRST 212.

GRST 212 Practice in Speaking and Writing German, offered in the spring, is designed to build and strengthen skills in oral and written German. It functions as a bridge between the basic language sequence (GRST101&102 and 211) and the more advanced literature/culture courses. This course extends the study of language and culture begun in GRST 211 through reading, interpreting, and discussing longer German texts, including poems and short stories.
Students can normally expect to reach ACTFL Intermediate High to Advanced Low [CEFR B1.1-B1.2].

GRST 213 German Culture Today, offered in the fall, provides extensive practice in speaking, reading, listening, and writing in German and using literary and non-literary texts, as well as audio and visual materials. Structured conversation, debates, and analysis of different types of texts, along with writing assignments in a variety of genres, will strengthen proficiency in German and prepare students for 300-level courses. Students can normally expect to reach ACTFL Advanced Low to Mid [CEFR B1.2-B2].

GRST 3xx Each semester we offer one 300-level literary seminar. The topics vary from semester to semester. Please consult WesMaps for more information on current courses. Students can normally expect to reach ACTFL Advanced Mid to Advanced High [CEFR B2-C1.1].