OTHER COURSES, CONSIDERATIONS > Page 1, 2, 3

Although the main attraction of summer school in a German-speaking country is German-language instruction for beginning to advanced students, and special German courses for teachers or business people, that's not the only possibility.

Recent course offerings for the summer have included a wide range of seminars on topics from "Architecture in Berlin" to "Europe and the EU," from legal studies to business administration. In many cases these non-language courses are taught in English and intended for international participants whose German language skills may be weak to non-existent. Such international seminars also offer an opportunity to meet people from all over the world who have come to Germany or Austria to study – in German or English.

Loyola University New Orleans shares the facilities of the University of Vienna Law School to offer "Summer Legal Studies in Vienna." The International Summer University at Berlin's Freie Universität offers courses taught in English by professors from Germany and other countries. Each course (plus three German classes) meets two days a week for four to six hours each day, leaving time to experience the many attractions of the German capital during the three to four-week summer session.

Each summer the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) sponsors special seminars in Germany, the US, and Austria. Taught in German, the topics range from "Deutschland in Europa - Europa in Deutschland" (in Schwäbisch Hall) to "Wirtschaftsdeutsch" (in Düsseldorf). AATG also sponsors the "Kinder lernen Deutsch" seminars for teachers (in the U.S.). In cooperation with the Austrian ministry of education, science and culture (BMBWK), AATG also promotes special teacher courses in Graz and several other Austrian cities. A 12-day course costs about US$800-900, including books, room and board, and excursions. (See the AATG links in our Deutsche Sommerschulen directory.)

ROOM AND BOARD (Unterkunft und Verpflegung)
Students who want to take advantage of the low-cost housing offered by some summer schools need to apply early. Space in a university Studentenheim (dormitory) is often limited. Some schools charge less than US$80 per week for such accommodations, so they go fast. Housing with a host family (Gastfamilie) is another appealing option at many schools, and usually doesn't cost more than a dorm room. A language camp (such as Concordia) and some boarding programs offer everything in a total package, which must be considered when comparing prices. Adults may prefer to arrange their own housing in a Pension or even an apartment, depending on the length of the stay.

SEE OUR DIRECTORY!
There are far too many courses and locations to describe here, so we have compiled a directory of German summer schools with links to their Web sites. Under each link you'll find a description of the program to help you decide which ones to look at more closely. Many of the schools and organizations have very informative sites, some complete with online registration forms. Have fun exploring the many possibilities for learning German (or other subjects) either in German Europe or in your own country!