Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

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Why choose German at PCC?

Willkommen! Welcome to German at PCC Sylvania!

Knowing German gives you an edge in so many areas of study, including engineering, science, business, art, architecture, music, international relations, literature, technology, and more.

41 million Americans claim German ancestry, making it the largest heritage group in the United States. 100 million EU residents speak German as their native language, making German the most widely spoken mother tongue in Europe. Another 31 percent of EU residents speak German as a second language.

PCC German classes feature:

• Both in-person and remote classes to suit your needs
• A supportive and fun classroom environment (in-person and on Zoom) with a lot of partner/group work and one-on-one instructor support
• Language immersion made easy through interactive, intuitive, student-focused instruction with an emphasis on meaningful communication
• Full integration of speaking, grammar, writing, listening, and culture at every level
• Instructors with Master’s degrees and 25+ years of experience teaching German as a second language (and who have been students of German ourselves!)
• Instructors with native fluency who have lived and worked abroad
• Access to a course website with video, audio, and other activities for at-home use
• One textbook and a fully interactive website for a full 2-year course sequence (GER 101-102-103 and GER 201-202-203)
• Free German tutors and instructor office hours for additional help
• Fun cultural opportunities such as Stammtisch (regular informal evenings of German conversation and food at Otto and Anita’s, an authentic German restaurant), Film-Abend, German cultural events through our German organizations in Portland, and more!
• Free tuition for senior citizens over the age of 62 who audit

Award information

PCC offers classes in this program but not a degree. These classes can be used as electives and as part of the following university transfer plans:

What will you learn?

At PCC, we teach all of our first and second year German courses in full immersion and focus on the five skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and culture. We integrate grammar lessons in a natural and fun way so that you can immediately use German for meaningful communication, all while developing a deeper understanding and appreciation for the culture.

Our in-person and online German courses are all taught with live class meetings twice a week, either at the Sylvania Campus or via Zoom. Each class session features both teaching of new material and a lot of partner/small group practice in a culture-driven format with the goal of communication (not just grammar tests!). Our classes allow students to practice with classmates and get immediate feedback from the instructor.

Students can also interact with their instructors during Zoom office hours. Free online German tutors are available for extra practice and help.

We are happy to report that we regularly receive feedback about our students performing above average when transferring to 4-year institutions (e.g., PSU, U of O, etc.). We would love to have you as part of our program!

What will you do?

German is the second most commonly used scientific language. Germany is also a great place to study and work.

Proficiency in German helps you to function productively for an employer with global business connections. There are approximately 6,000 German-owned companies in the United States. They employ 920,000 Americans! Some of the largest German companies that are active in the state of Oregon include Daimler Truck North America/Freightliner, Adidas, Reebok, Siemens, Infineon Technologies, BASF, Rohde & Schwarz, and Siltronics. Germany has the third strongest economy in the world. It is the second most important import market in the world, and the third most important import partner of the U.S.

German is the language of Goethe, Kafka, Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven. Indulge in reading and/or listening to their works in their original language.

Plus, you can attend university in Germany for free! Germany awards a great number of scholarships and working visas for students and professionals.