Mannheimer Abendakademie

This review is about the German courses routinely held at the Mannheim Volkshochschule/​Abendakademie, where I recently attended a C1-​level course. I hold a Ph.D. in the field of Neurolinguistics, a MA in Theoretical and Comparative Linguistics, and an additional MA in Scandinavian Languages. Moreover, I speak six foreign languages fluently (not counting German). 1) The level of most studentsranging anywhere between A2 and C2does not correspond to the theoretical level of the course (in my case, a C1 course). Many participants cannot understand even the simplest readings in the textbook and appear unable to communicate at a decent level despite attending an advanced course. Moreover, classes are very numerous (our group consisted of over 20 students, only five of whom spoke passable German). 2) Several teachers (in my case, two out of three) are not native speakers of German. Therefore, they often correct (and ridicule) students for non-​existing mistakes. Moreover, they frequently make up arbitrary grammar rules or state with smug certainty (hubris!) that perfectly appropriate words or expressions do not exist or cannot be used in that contest. In their fundamental insecurity, they appear more royalist than the king! 3) Teachers are regularly addressed by students with a polite Sie, but, in turn, regularly and systematically address students (even mature ones like me) with a rude du (rude when not reciprocal, that is). When I asked her why, a teacher answered that they do so because, when dealing with foreigners, it comes automatic to them to use the du form. (!!!) 4) Nothing is done to uphold a modicum of discipline. Thus, a small group of loud and uncivilized students bullies kept disrupting the class, mocking teachers and other paying participants alike, and making the whole experience extremely distracting and uncomfortable for everyone elseall with total impunity. 5) These courses are obviously intended for (and mostly attended by) working-​class or juvenile immigrants with a sketchy educational background; they are certainly unsuited for adult middle-​class expats with a professional or academic background. 6) Most teaching methods and techniques date back to the 19^th century and lack any scientific foundation (or any ambition to be at least in part scientifically based). Occasionally, some modern methods are applied very clumsily and mechanically, and are forced upon shy, reserved, or introverted students. If you are ok with all that, then, by all means, do invest your hard-​earned money in an intensive German course at the Mannheim Volkshochschule/​Abendakademie! I, for one, regret doing so.

Sehr moderne VHS mit riesiger Auswahl in allen Bereichen und moderaten Preisen.
Gefühlt mehr Auswahl als die Summe der VHS in Berlin.
Sehr schön auch, dass sich ein Café (das Onyx Espresso) direkt anschließt, das eben so mit moderaten Preisen und toller Auswahl glänzt.
Einzig die Tanzstunden könnten 90min, statt 60min dauern.

Vor kurzem hatte ich ein Seminar in der Abendakademie Mannheim gehalten. Dabei hatte ich ausgiebig Gelegenheit das neue Gebäude der Abendakademie zu bewundern, das quasi direkt am Neckar am Rande der Mannheimer Quadrate steht. Mir hat es dort sehr gut gefallen und auch als Teilnehmer muss man sich dort einfach wohlfühlen, das ganze Gebäude wirkt hell und freundlich, der Eingangsbereich ist riesig, ein großzügiger Treffpunkt und die Seminarraumausstattung ebenfalls sehr gut.