Face to face
Brief interview with Hubert Michels (Director of Carl Duisberg
Centrum Dortmund and Quality management representative Carl Duisberg Centren gGmbH)
Q. What is the philosophy behind your school?
A. CDC’s programmes are oriented toward the concrete needs of the
participants and systematically build up their ability to act on the international
stage.Make quality happen!“: We set ourselves high standards as regards quality
– not only when we plan these courses but when we carry them out, too. Certification
according to ISO 9001 by a neutral and independant authority serves to continually improve
our range of offers. Qualified, motivated and cosmopolitan members of staff form the basis
of our success.
Q. What makes your school different?
A.The quality of both - courses and teachers – allows motivated students to
reach a high level of proficiency quickly (i.e. from zero to TestDaF/DSH-level within 9
months of intensive training). Any student will find individual attention. Our
school and cdc-owned hostel is situated in easy walking distance of the city centre. A
warm welcoming, a knowledgable as well as supportive staff and friendly atmosphere makes
learning/staying with us a pleasure. |
Visit CDC website:
http://www.cdc.de
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Q. Where do the majority of your students come from?
A.We have learners from all parts of the world. Off season we attract students
from Asia, Africa and the three Americas. On occasion of last year‘s summer party we
welcomed 110 students from 23 different countries.
Q. What are the qualifications of your teachers?
A. Our teachers at CDC are native German speakers and have trained at university
to teach foreign languages or German as a foreign language. Due to continuous internal
teacher training at the Carl Duisberg Centren, they’ve always got up-to-date
knowledge of the latest trend and developments in the field of foreign language teaching
and naturally know all the latest textbooks and teaching materials for teaching German as
a foreign language. This is why they’re so qualified to answer any questions you many
have regarding your course and the progress you are making.
Q. What would be your advice be to a student looking for a language school?
A. Learners should spend some time researching schools before they decide. Be
clear about your expectations. Ask a lot. Possible questions to be answered by a good
school: i.e.Is there a safe, culturally sensitive environment? Does the school offer
accomodation? What does an average week’s lesson plan look like? Is the teaching
approach interactive? Do fees include placement test, course books, reports and diploma?
Can you pay monthly? Do school facilities comprise computers for e-mail and/or internet,
(multi-)media centre, language laboratory? What about extra activities? Is the quality
standard of the school internationally recognized?
From the point of view of students:
Phindu Lipenga, Malawian
[...] I have been learning German now for four months with CDC-Dortmund (Carl Duisberg
Centrum) and I do not think InWEent could have chosen a better place for me to learn the
language. Even though the classes seem hectic at times one gets the satisfaction of
knowing that you have improved your grammar at the end of the day. The good thing about
learning German at CDC Dortmund is that you only have classes till lunch hour and the rest
of the afternoon is spent in Mediothec or Language training. In Mediothec one can work
with computer exercises, writing exercises and hearing and pronunciation exercises. In
Language training you have a teacher to help you with real life situations that you might
meet in Germany. Apart from having fun learning, CDC Dortmund provides a Free Time program
that enables one to relax and meet participants from other classes and learn not only
about Germany but also travel to other countries in the European Union. All these programs
are organised by CDC for the program participants at very reasonable rates. CDC Dortmund
also allows you to interact with people from different cultures and learn from then. If
you take a course with CDC you will meet people from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle
East. With CDC you have your own room and so you can have your privacy if you need it. Now
I am very satisfied with my ability to speak German and so will you if you do a course by
CDC.
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Group lessons