GUtech students receive German language certificates from the Goethe Institut
BARKA: A group of 15 students of GUtech has successfully passed the German language certificate, Language Exam A1 of the Goethe Institut, the German Language and Culture Centre. Studying German is part of the curricula at GUtech. Students study the language for three semesters. However, the language of tuition at GUtech is English.
“The certificate is the first internationally recognised German language certificate that has been issued by the Goethe Institut,” said Andrea Cornelissen, German lecturer at GUtech and representative of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Oman.
GUtech is planning to conduct the German exam on a regular basis. The 90 minutes exam evaluates the speaking, writing and listening skills of students. Some students had the chance to practice their language skills in Germany. “We travelled to Germany last summer to attend the German language course at RWTH Aachen University. We learnt a lot by communicating with other students during sightseeing trips or during the Omani Night that was organised by us on campus,” said Marwa al Mahrooqi, 3rd year Process Engineering student and Abir al Ansari, 3rd year Computer Science student. Both wish to persue their further studies in Germany. “I would like to reach a higher level of German and continue my studies or conduct an internship in Germany,” said Marwa. Although English is widely used in international companies and at universities, it is an asset to speak and communicate in German on a daily basis.
GUtech fosters exchange between Germany and Oman, especially through its German partner-university RWTH Aachen University. Every year large number of GUtech students from various departments participate in language courses, laboratory courses or field-excursions to Germany that usually include RWTH Aachen University. 103.5 million people are German-native speakers in Europe. It is one of the most important languages worldwide and the most spoken language within the European Union. German is the official language in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.