Grünes Diplom
Are you interested in teaching German as a foreign language (DaF) at the Goethe-Institut? Our digital foundation training programme is aimed at Individuals who wish to pursue a long-term teaching career at the Goethe-Institut. It strengthens methodological and pedagogical teaching skills and encourages participants to explore learner-centred lesson planning and delivery.
What is the Grünes Diplom?
Benefits
- We equip you with the skills to teach German creatively and effectively.
- You will reflect on and continuously improve your own teaching practice at the Goethe-Institut.
- The certificate is recognised by all Goethe-Instituts abroad and is a mandatory qualification for the recruitment of teaching staff.
Programme Structure and Scope
The Grünes Diplom professional development programme provides prospective teachers with practical, hands-on preparation for teaching German as a foreign language. Theory and practice are closely interconnected throughout the programme: from initial classroom observations and guided teaching practice to independently leading courses, participants gain valuable experience and steadily develop their teaching skills and professional competence step by step.
Pre-Phase: If required: online German courses at level B2 and C1 from January to November, as well as Goethe-Zertifikat C1
Observation Phase: Introduction to Methodology and Didactics
- Duration: 1 July to 30 April
- Workload: approximately 25 hours per module every two weeks
- Theory: 12 curriculum-based modules introducing the methodology and didactics of teaching German as a foreign language
- Practice: classroom observations and initial supervised teaching practice
- Assessed Teaching Demonstration 1: conducted at the end of the observation phase
DLL Phase: Advanced Methodology and Didactics with Deutsch Lehren Lernen
- Duration: 1 to 2 years
- Workload: 90 hours per unit
- Theory: completion of DLL 6, DLL 4, one elective DLL unit (DLL 1, 2, 3, or 5), and a second elective DLL unit (DLL 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, or 10) from the Deutsch Lehren Lernen series
- Practice: further classroom observations, team teaching as required, and independent teaching
Additional Qualification Components: Examiner training courses and if applicable, a seminar in Germany
Assessed Teaching Demonstration and Knowledge Test: During the professional development programme programme, participants complete two assessed 90-minute teaching demonstrations and a knowledge test covering the content of the Deutsch Lehren Lernen programme.
Costs and Conditions
The Goethe-Institut does not charge a participation fee. You will not receive any remuneration for the time you invest in the training programme.
Over the course of the 1.5-year training programme, the Goethe-Institut invests approximately €5,000 in each training place. For this reason, the Goethe-Institut expects participants to be available to work as a German as a Foreign Language (DaF) teacher at the training institute for at least two years after completing the programme. At the beginning of the training programme, participants are required to sign a binding training agreement.
If the required assessments are not completed, or are not completed on time, the Goethe-Institut reserves the right to terminate the training agreement prematurely.
If your interim results are satisfactory, you will begin teaching your own courses as a probationary DaF teacher during the course of the programme. However, there is no legal entitlement to such a position.
No later than 12 months after completing the training programme, all graduates are required to successfully pass the Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom examination.
BAMF Recognition
The Grünes Diplom professional development programme is recognized by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) as a relevant qualification in German as a Foreign Language (DaF) and German as a Second Language (DaZ). For more information, please visit the BAMF website.
