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Accessibility statement
This module takes you to an upper intermediate level of competence in German, which is equivalent to level B2 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference. You’ll further develop your cultural knowledge, and practical language skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing and interacting in a variety of situations – ranging from everyday conversation to putting forward your point of view in a debate. You’ll also consolidate and further develop academic, digital and employability skills in German-speaking contexts.
This module further extends your language competence, enhances your cultural knowledge, and develops key skills necessary for studying at a higher level. The themes cover different aspects of life in German-speaking countries today.
You’ll work with online materials, and study a variety of texts, and audio and video materials that will develop your reading, speaking, listening and writing skills. The activities provided will also develop your academic, digital, professional and intercultural skills in German-speaking contexts.
The module has six themes:
Through each theme, you’ll gradually develop your knowledge and skills by:
The study materials provide confidence-building strategies to improve your learning skills. We’ve carefully structured them to gradually equip you with the key skills necessary for studying at a higher level.
Working with others
This module encourages you to work with others. This includes looking at and commenting on others’ work, reflecting on others’ comments on your work, working together with fellow learners on a task, and participating in forum discussions.
Virtual field trip
This module includes a compulsory virtual field trip with a focus on developing spoken fluency and intercultural understanding. The virtual field trip will be delivered by The Open University module team and tutors in collaboration with partners in the German-speaking world and will include a wide range of activities and intercultural encounters. The programme offers opportunities to enhance and develop skills covered in the module, to practise your German in a variety of situations and learn more about German-speaking regions and countries.
To pass the module, you must take part in the virtual field trip programme.
There are no formal entry requirements to study this module.
However, as this is an OU level 2 module, you’ll need appropriate knowledge of German through any of the following:
If you’re not sure you’re ready, talk to an adviser.
Anything you can do to keep practising your German will be helpful. For example:
You can also visit OpenLearn to explore the free materials available for German.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module. They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate, as they will provide you with plenty of opportunities to speak and listen to German.
Course work includes:
The TMAs test your writing and speaking skills. The EMA tests your writing skills.
This module includes a compulsory Virtual Field Trip.
You'll have access to a module website, which includes:
You'll also be provided with a printed grammar book.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying L223 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
German studies 2: language and culture of the German-speaking world (L223) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2032.
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