The Berufsbrücke (Career Bridge) is a unique opportunity for motivated U.S. community college students. The goal of the program is to build a bridge between talented trade students and the German language and vocational system. The job-related skills and knowledge acquired through the Career Bridge set participants up for success in today's global and multicultural marketplace.
Through the program students will learn German language skills to be able to communicate comfortably in a work-related context. Additionally, they will develop career specific language competencies, European business etiquette, and develop a foundation for effective intercultural communication. Currently the program focuses on engineering, with the aim to expand to additional career fields in future iterations. Partnered with a German ‘buddy’, participants will gain practical insights into vocational training at different companies in Germany. The Career Bridge accompanies you in the U.S. and in Germany with professional and personal preparation with support from our partners and the Goethe-Institut!
Participant profile
Trademarks of successful applicants:
They are enrolled in a community college or in their high school senior year
They want to learn about vocational training and workplaces in Germany and show interest in engineering
They are keen to learn the German language and master speaking German in the workplace
They are willing and able to dedicate 9-15 hours a week for a total of 15 weeks of intense language training in 2023 (language courses are entirely free of cost thanks to stipends from the Goethe-Institut)
Age requirement: at least 18 years old at time of travel
Program and Application
The Career Bridge not only shows parallels and differences between trade and vocational training in Germany and the USA, but also teaches German as a foreign language in a professional setting. Its modular structure allows participants to begin with the module that matches their existing German language proficiency. Proficiency is determined once by the Goethe-Institut upon receipt of application, but falls into one of two categories: Participants with little to no prior knowledge of German, and participants with German proficiency on the A1 level.
MODULE I
GENERAL LANGUAGE MODULE
A1 LEVEL
Language Course
General language A1 Superintensive Online Course (5 weeks, Mon-Fri, 100 teaching units (TU)) on the Goethe-Institut learning platform; this course is taught by a teacher and contains virtual live meetings.
Goal
A1 language proficiency
Participants are prepared for daily life and work in Germany
Costs
Free of cost thanks to Goethe-Institut stipends
MODULE II
CAREER SPECIFIC MODULE
A2 LEVEL
Language Course
Phase 1 Professional German 1, A2.1: 5 weeks x 16 TU (80 TU)
Phase 2 Professional German 2, A2.2/A2.3: 5 weeks x 15 TU (60 TU)
A2 online language course (5 weeks each, 140 TU total) on the Goethe-Institut learning platform; this course is taught by a teacher and contains virtual live meetings.
Goal
A2 language proficiency
Participants expand their German language proficiency to include professional and technical terminology
Costs
Free of cost thanks to Goethe-Institut stipends
MODULE III
VISITATION OF GERMAN COMPANIES
A2 LEVEL
Trip to Germany
Approx. 3-week long stay in Germany in the regions of Berlin
Insights and immersive experiences into the processes and pro-cedures of German companies
Accommodation will be in dormitories and organized by the German Career Bridge Partners
Meet the 'German buddies' in their companies
Goal
Participants can understand and hold conversations in the workplace, including technical terminology, in the German language. They can expand their technical know-how and learn about the routines and processes in Germany
Costs
To be determined - generous stipends that cover almost all costs will be given to program participants thanks to the Goethe-Institut and our partners Handwerk stiftet Zukunft
