Questions to former TREFF PUNKT participants

Philip found personal motivation at TREFF PUNKT and this helped him achieve his goal of learning German.

Here is the original correspondence between Jacek and Philip. We hope it will answer some of your questions.

Many thanks to Philip for sending the E-mails to place here.

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Hello!!

My name is Jacek and Im from Poland. I found your email address on the TREFF PUNKT site. I would be very grateful if you tell me some details about this german language course (prices, conditions, quality, etc...).

Thanks
Jacek

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What Philip answered:

Hi,

Thanks for your mail.

I spent two weeks at the TREFF PUNKT Language Institute from 14 -26 Feb 1999, on an Intensive course plus 6 individual lessons per week of 45 mins.

Before going on the course I had studied German at school for about 4 years, until three years ago, and had watched lots of German television so was at Intermediate level. My understanding of German was good from watching too much television, but I had some big weakness with certain grammar points (eg adjectival endings).

I went on the course to improve my German before starting a Praktikum (industrial placement) in Stuttgart. I found out about the school through the internet site and, having spoken to Alexandra (the head of the school) on the phone (very friendly), went ahead and booked.

The school is quite small, expect to find between around 10 - 30 students there depending upon the time of year. The big advantage of this is that you'll be treated as an individual. I found the school highly professional. The teachers at the school were really encouraging and motivating and the lessons (usually 2x 45mins then a break then again 2x45mins) never seemed to "go on" (i.e. they never got boring) because the teachers kept them interesting. I was pleased to find that the lessons and the outside activities were all 100% through German, with no slipping into English. There were plenty of suggestions of things to do outside classtime, and the teachers made a real effort to involve the students in local community activities. During my two weeks at the school I went to a "The Four Seasons" concert, to the cinema twice, to the brilliant Stammtisch evenings (evening in a pub with 'locals') and numerous tours of interesting places in the town with the teachers / other students.

My specific grammar weaknesses (I was probably a strange case as I could keep up with the intermediate /advanced class but had big problems with some grammar points) were addressed in the extra individual lessons. More advanced grammar was covered in the group lessons, as well as examining interesting topics in German. I found my time at the school really beneficial. At times it was hard work learning so intensively, but always interesting and enjoyable.

Philip Broad