A language entrance test is required for some of the course types (i.e. proseminars, seminars). You must pass this test in order to attend these courses. Passing the test, however, is not a requirement for being admitted to the degree program!

In place of this language entrance test, you can also prove your English language proficiency with certain official language certificates.

Find out more about the language entrance test

In order to succeed in your studies, you need:

• A profound interest in the language, literature, and cultures of the English-speaking world, especially those of the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, and Canada
• The ability to work independently, resilience, and a love of learning. If you do not possess a profound interest in developing your knowledge of different fields via intensive reading, as well as a passion for working with abstract concepts, this degree program may not be the best fit for you.
• An affinity for the teaching profession, in that you demonstrate professional competence, commitment, and passion for your chosen subject
• Social skills such as empathy, the ability to handle criticism, a strong sense of responsibility, as well as enthusiasm for life-long interactions with young people

This program is studied as a part of the Bachelor of Education degree program (teacher education for Gymnasium). The degree program always includes two teaching subjects as well as the subject of Education Studies.

Program structure

1st semester:

• Introduction to the three fundamental areas of the English program of study:
  linguistics, literature, and subject didactics

1st-3rd semester:

• Reinforcement of language skills, such as oral and written expression, as well as German-English translation

2nd/3rd semester:

• Expanding knowledge in scientific discourse and methods though introductory seminars on linguistics and literature

3rd/4th semester:

• Introduction to the cultural backgrounds of the United Kingdom and the United States as part of the Cultural Studies curriculum

4th/5th semester:

• Acquisition of teaching skills in the areas of language, literature, and culture

4th-6th semester:

• In-depth engagement with the subject areas of linguistics and literature, particularly that of British and American literature in more specialized bachelor seminars

Due to the wide variety of courses that Linguistics and Literature Studies has to offer, you can choose your specialization early on in any of the following focus areas:

• Linguistic methods (corpus-based, data collection via questionnaires, etc.)
• Subject areas like political discourse, language variation and linguistic change
• British and American authors from various literary periods
• Media, including literary texts, film, TV series, comics, podcasts, etc.

Stays abroad

As part of your studies, you will spend three months (12 weeks) in an English-speaking country, i.e. a country where English is the official language. You can do this by either organizing a stay abroad at a university, an internship, or a job.

It is recommended to complete your stay abroad after the 3rd semester of your bachelor’s studies. Alternatively, you can choose to wait until your master’s studies to go abroad. You can also choose to split up the time abroad into two six-week periods.

Would you like to live abroad for half a year or a whole year? Do you want to get to know another language and culture? Would you like to get a different perspective on your particular degree program? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various partnerships with foreign universities.

For information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. An overview of cooperating universities that would suit your degree program can be found on our Student Exchange Platform.

Internships

In the Bachelor of Education, you will complete three 3-week internships and experience different types of schools firsthand. This practical experience will complement your theoretical training, help you practice your pedagogical skills in the classroom, and give you direction for your future career.

For more information, please visit the website for school internships provided by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Students interested in completing additional voluntary internships – including those in other professional fields – can find more information on the Career Service website.

The teacher education degree program prepares you – and is a prerequisite – for a career as a teacher at a Gymnasium in Germany. Not only will you acquire comprehensive knowledge about the subject, you will also learn how to convey this knowledge to your future students in a fun and creative way, while inspiring interest for your subject.

To work as a teacher later on, you must also obtain the Master of Education after completing your bachelor’s degree and then complete a teacher traineeship (Referendariat). The first, university-based phase of your teacher education ends with the recognition of your B.Ed. and M.Ed. degrees as the First State Examination. The second phase, the teacher traineeship (Referendariat), generally lasts 18 months in Rhineland-Palatinate and concludes with the Second State Examination.

However, you are not restricted solely to classroom teaching after completing the teacher education program. You can also work in a variety of professional fields beyond teaching in public schools.

This degree program allows you to go on to study any English-related Master’s degree. At JGU, this includes the MA in English Literature and Culture, the MA in American Studies, the MA in Linguistics with a focus on English Linguistics, the MA in Medieval and Early Modern Studies with a focus on English Studies, or the MA in Digital Methodology in the Humanities and Cultural Sciences.

After a completing a master’s degree in English, some of the most common career paths include: journalism, adult education, and public relations.

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.