German III Course: B1 Level German by IIT Madras on NPTEL | Prof. Milind Brahme
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 61 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 17 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Unlock Your Future: Achieve B1 German Proficiency with IIT Madras's Premier Online Course
Are you ready to take a decisive step towards studying at a prestigious German university or building a career in Europe's economic powerhouse? German - III, offered by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras on the NPTEL platform, is your structured pathway to mastering the German language at the B1 level. This proficiency is the official gateway to academic and professional opportunities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Meet Your Expert Instructors
Learn from the best in the field. This course is led by distinguished academics with decades of combined experience.
Instructor: Prof. Milind Brahme
A veteran in German language education, Prof. Brahme holds an MA, M.Phil, and PhD in German from JNU. With over 25 years of teaching experience across diverse contexts, he has been a core faculty member at IIT Madras since 2003, shaping the linguistic skills of countless students.
Teaching Assistant: Dr. Sashirekha Srigiriraju
Bringing rich practical teaching experience, Dr. Srigiriraju holds an MA from the University of Mumbai and a PhD from IIT Madras. She has been a language instructor at the Goethe-Institut Chennai since 2010 and has taught at several esteemed institutions including IITM, SRM University, and Ethiraj College.
Who Should Enroll in German - III?
This course is meticulously designed for a specific audience:
- Learners who have completed German 2 (A2 level) and wish to progress to B1.
- Students aspiring to meet the language eligibility criteria for undergraduate or postgraduate programs in German-speaking countries.
- Professionals aiming to work for or with companies in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.
- Individuals seeking to pass official B1 level certification exams (like Goethe-Zertifikat B1).
Prerequisite: Successful completion of German 2 or possession of an A2 level knowledge of German is mandatory. You can review the German-II course here.
Course Objectives & Industry Relevance
The primary goal of German - III is to equip you with comprehensive language skills corresponding to the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This level enables you to:
- Understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters.
- Handle most situations likely to arise while traveling.
- Produce simple connected text on familiar topics.
- Describe experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions briefly.
Industry Support: This course is highly valuable for companies, organizations, and professionals engaged in business with Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, facilitating better communication and collaboration.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
| Week | Topics & Vocabulary | Key Grammar Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Travel, narrating experiences | Clauses with infinitive, verb "lassen" |
| Week 2 | Technology and gadgets | Clauses with "obwohl", Genitive case, prepositions |
| Week 3 | Historical & personal milestones | Past Tense, temporal prepositions, consequences |
| Week 4 | Job search, work environment | Subjunctive mood, verb-preposition combos |
| Week 5 | Environment and protection | Clauses with "da", comparative/superlative, n-Deklination |
| Week 6 | Future plans, reading texts | Future Tense I, relative clauses with dative/prepositions |
| Week 7 | Relationships, family, conflicts | Past Perfect, temporal clause sequence |
| Week 8 | Body, health, hospitals, habits | Reflexive pronouns, negation, connectors |
| Week 9 | Art, theatre, films, museums | Adjektivdeklination, placing "nicht" |
| Week 10 | Social values, EU, politics | Passive Voice, genitive prepositions |
| Week 11 | Community, making presentations | Continuation of Week 10 topics |
| Week 12 | Banks, money, global finance | je...desto constructions, participles as adjectives |
Recommended Textbooks & Reference Materials
To get the most out of this course, the following materials are recommended:
Primary Textbook:
NETZWERK B1 – Complete set (Textbook, Workbook, Glossary with 2 Audio CDs). Published by Goyal for Klett, Stuttgart (2015).
Reference Books for Language:
- Griesbach & Schulz: Deutsche Sprachlehre für Ausländer (Hueber, 2004)
- Koithan, et al.: Aspekte Neu B1plus (Klett, 2019)
- Kaufmann, et al.: Berliner Platz 3 Neu (Klett, 2020)
Reference for Culture & Context:
- Kitchen, Martin: A History of Modern Germany – 1800 to the Present (Wiley-Blackwell, 2012)
- Maehl, William Harvey: Germany in Western Civilization (Univ. of Alabama Press, 1979)
Your Pathway to German Proficiency Starts Here
German - III is more than just a language course; it's an investment in your global future. With the academic rigor of IIT Madras, the expertise of Prof. Brahme and Dr. Srigiriraju, and a curriculum aligned with international standards, this 12-week program provides all the tools you need to achieve B1 certification and unlock doors to world-class education and thriving career prospects in the heart of Europe. Enroll today and begin your journey to fluency.
Enroll Now →