German

The German language – a door to new opportunities

Learning German opens up a wide range of opportunities in education, work and culture. As one of the most widely spoken languages in Europe, it not only connects Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but also plays an important role in science, business and the arts.

German remains an important language, particularly in the humanities, philosophy and law. German language skills are also an advantage in international business, as many of the world’s leading companies are based in German-speaking countries.

In addition to career prospects, German also opens up access to a rich cultural tradition.From the literature of Goethe and Kafka to the music of Beethoven and modern films and theatre – the German language makes it possible to experience cultural treasures in their original language.

Learning German means discovering new perspectives and broadening your horizons. It is an investment in the future that opens up new paths in both personal and professional life.

Contact

Peter Sippel

University Teacher

Language Centre

+358 40 194 3054 peter.sippel@ulapland.fi

German Courses

The four basic courses German 1-4 are designed to take a complete beginner to good basic language skills within one academic year. Each course builds on the former one. If you already have some language skills, you may simply register for the course you feel is most useful to you.

If your German skills are basically good, but a bit rusty, German: Grammar Repetition is for you. The focus is on basic grammar and on reading comprehension.

For developing your text comprehension skills and improvement of your reading techniques, German: Reading Comprehension is the right course for you.

The aim of Teach and Learn – the pair work program – is to provide an opportunity to get to know the culture and life of either Germany, Austria or Switzerland as well as develop your language skills directly from an exchange student here on campus. You’ll give information about the Finnish life, language and culture and will learn from your German language counterpart. For this you’ll have to find an exchange student yourself.

The self-learning-course Understanding the German-speaking Countries is focused on the cultural and historical differences between Austria, Switzerland and Germany as well as giving you help in understanding cross-cultural situations.

The courses Legal German: Reading Comprehension & Oral Skills focus primarily on subject-specific terminology and an insight into the German legal system.

If you already have good basic skills in German and would like to practice the language in either oral and written communication the course: German: Project and Networking Skills should interest you.

The self-learning-courses German: Reading Comprehension 2 & Reading Comprehension 3 are focused on text understanding of academic texts.

The self-learning-courses German: News Diary & Internship or Exchange Diary are about writing of a diary on current topics and the creation of a relevant vocabulary.

The courses Advanced Legal German: Reading Comprehension & Oral Skills focus primarily on subject-specific grammar structures and terminology as well as giving an insight into the German legal system.

Should you be interested in studying German as a minor subject you can choose either German: Language Use and Culture or Legal German: Language as a Minor. Please contact the teacher for detailed information.

Attendance in the course

As a rule, courses arranged by the Language Centre require 80% attendance. Required attendance is a prerequisite for passing the course. Online courses, and self-study courses are clearly marked as such on Peppi.

It is particularly important to attend the introductory lecture or the first meeting of the course to get an idea of the course as a whole and the tasks included in the course. If you are unable to attend the first meeting, please make arrangements with the teacher in advance, otherwise your place may be allocated to another student.

Last updated: 26.8.2025