Academic Success and Wellness
Learning a language is a work in progress that requires steady practice and continuous interactions with instructors and peers. There are times, however, when learners will experience interruptions of their language study, for example, if:
- a student takes German 2 in the spring term and wishes to practice German independently over the summer to prepare for German 3 in the fall
- a student takes German 1 in the fall term but cannot enroll in German 2 until spring.
- a student must miss classes for excusable on-campus activities, such as sports competitions
- a student faces academic or personal challenges, including injuries and mental health concerns
Keine Panik: We are here to help. Below are resources that will help you bridge a potential language gap to keep you on track toward your learning goals:
- Our German Studies Fulbright TA and Free University exchange student hold regular tutoring hours during the term and are available for conversation practice and grammar review.
- We work closely with the Peer Tutoring Program to make student language tutors accessible throughout the term.
- Consider joining our Max Kade Housing LLC to meet like-minded peers and converse in German with our Fulbright TA.
- Our Berlin summer or Fall Of Campus Program LSA(+) is an excellent way to practice language skills in an immersive and culturally rich environment. Students return to campus with greater confidence and are highly successful in intermediate and advanced classes. For the LSA and LSA+, you need to complete German 2 or 3 on-campus respectively.
- Once you have completed German 3, sign up to become a German drill instructor. Helping others benefits your own learning
- Studies show that external stressors create a barrier to language learning. If you experience emotional or physical challenges contact on-campus campus resources that are here to help including the Dartmouth College Health Services for medical and counseling appointments and education on sleep health and nutrition, the Academic Skills Center for establishing study routines, and the Student Accessibilty Services for learning adjustments.
- Over the summer, winterim, or any term without a German class try any or a combination of the following:
- review the Auf Geht's book work from our German 1,2 and 3 sequence
- complete our DartDrill Grammar practice exercises
- preview the intermediate level grammar book Handbuch zur deutschen Grammatik
- sign up for U.S. based summer school immersion program or a Goethe Institute online language course
- Talk to a friend or family member who speaks German.
- Practice vocabulary with a training app like Tobo.
- set the language of your favorite Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu TV series and movies to German with English or German subtitles.
- Read the news in German. Here's a website in simplified German.