DaZ State Examination

Please refer to the Regulations on the Assessment of Academic Performance (LPO I, Section 38(2)(1) (external link, opens in a new window)) for the legal basis.

You can find information on registration on the website of the Central Examinations Office and on the website of the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs (external link, opens in a new window).

The DaZ state examination in the context of secondary school teaching methodology is a written examination: a three-hour written paper.

Topic areas:

1. Migration and identity research,
2. Second language acquisition research/multilingualism research,
3. Language system and language use (including contrastive linguistics),
4. Oral and written communication in the classroom,
5. Language teaching and learning in intercultural contexts.

Recommended reading:

Please note: The reading list provided here is intended to help you get started with your exam preparation. The references listed are by no means exhaustive and cannot replace independent literature research as part of your preparation for the DaZ state examination.

Introductory reading

• Harr, Anne-Katharina / Liedke, Martina / Riehl, Claudia Maria et al.: German as a Second Language. Migration – Language Acquisition – Teaching. Stuttgart 2018, J.B. Metzler.
• Jeuk, Stefan: German as a Second Language in Schools. Fundamentals – Assessment – Support. (4th ed.) Stuttgart 2018, Kohlhammer.
• Kniffka, Gabriele / Siebert-Ott, Gesa: German as a Second Language. Teaching and Learning. (4th, updated and expanded ed.) Paderborn 2023, Schöningh/Brill. (UTB 2891).

Handbook

• Ahrenholz, Bernt / Oomen-Welke, Ingelore (eds.): German as a Second Language. Baltmannsweiler 2008, Schneider Verlag Hohengehren. (German Language Teaching in Theory and Practice 9).

An Introduction to the Methodology and Didactics of German as a Second Language

• Brinitzer, Michaela / Hantschel, Hans-Jürgen / Kroemer, Sandra / Möller-Frorath, Monika / Ros, Lourdes: Teaching German as a Foreign and Second Language.Basic Knowledge of Didactics. (2nd ed.) Stuttgart 2016, Klett.

Preparatory course:

The University of Regensburg does not offer a preparatory course for the DaZ state examination.

Through the Virtual University of Bavaria (VHB) , you have the opportunity to take part in the digital course ‘Preparation for the State Examination in “German as a Second Language” (external link, opens in a new window) ’.

Past examination papers:

On the DaZ page of the University of Bamberg (external link, opens in a new window), you will find a collection of past state examination papers in German as a Second Language, organised by topic. We would like to thank our colleagues in Bamberg for making these available.

Please refer to the Examination Regulations (LPO I, Section 38(4) (external link, opens in a new window)) for information on assessment.

You can find the current examination dates on the website of the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs (external link, opens in a new window).

Please refer to the Regulations on the Assessment of Academic Performance (LPO § 43a (external link, opens in a new window)) for the relevant legal provisions.

You can find information on registration on the website of the Central Examinations Office and on the website of the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs (external link, opens in a new window).

The DaZ examination (DaZ as an optional subject) consists of three papers.

Written part of the examination (external link, opens in a new window)

The first DaZ state examination (DaZ as an additional subject) is a written examination: a three-hour written test.

Topic areas:

1. Migration and identity studies,
2. Second language acquisition research/multilingualism research,
3. Language system and language use (including contrastive linguistics),
4. Oral and written communication in the classroom,
5. Language teaching and learning in intercultural contexts.

Oral examination component (external link, opens in a new window)

As part of the DaZ state examination, two additional oral examinations must be taken:

1. Language teaching and learning in intercultural contexts (duration: 20 minutes)
2. Multilingualism (duration: 20 minutes)

For further information on the oral examinations, please contact Prof. Dr Rupert Hochholzer.

Recommended reading:

Please note: The reading list provided here is intended to help you get started with your exam preparation. The references listed are by no means exhaustive and cannot replace independent literature research as part of your preparation for the DaZ state examination.

Introductory reading

• Harr, Anne-Katharina / Liedke, Martina / Riehl, Claudia Maria et al.: German as a Second Language. Migration – Language Acquisition – Teaching. Stuttgart 2018, J.B. Metzler.
• Jeuk, Stefan: German as a Second Language in Schools. Fundamentals – Assessment – Support. (4th ed.) Stuttgart 2018, Kohlhammer.
• Kniffka, Gabriele / Siebert-Ott, Gesa: German as a Second Language. Teaching and Learning. (4th, updated and expanded edition) Paderborn 2023, Schöningh/Brill. (UTB 2891)

Handbook

• Ahrenholz, Bernt / Oomen-Welke, Ingelore (eds.): German as a Second Language. Baltmannsweiler 2008, Schneider Verlag Hohengehren. (German Language Teaching in Theory and Practice 9).

An Introduction to the Methodology and Didactics of German as a Second Language

• Brinitzer, Michaela / Hantschel, Hans-Jürgen / Kroemer, Sandra / Möller-Frorath, Monika / Ros, Lourdes: Teaching German as a Foreign or Second Language.Basic Knowledge of the Didactics of German as a Foreign and Second Language. (2nd ed.) Stuttgart 2016, Klett.

Preparatory course:

The University of Regensburg does not offer a preparatory course for the DaZ state examination.

Through the Virtual University of Bavaria (VHB), you have the opportunity to take part in the digital ‘Preparation for the State Examination in German as a Second Language’ (external link, opens in a new window) course.

For further information on preparing for the oral examinations, please contact Prof. Dr Rupert Hochholzer.

Past examination papers:

On the DaZ page of the University of Bamberg (external link, opens in a new window), youwill find (external link, opens in a new window)a collection of past state examination papers in German as a Second Language, organised by topic. We would like to thank our colleagues in Bamberg for making these available.

Please refer to the Examination Regulations (LPO I, Section 43a(4) (external link, opens in a new window)) for information on assessment.

You can find the current examination dates on the website of the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs (external link, opens in a new window).