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ADEFA – Training Course for German as a Second Language Instructors
12.10.2026 - 28.06.2027
29x on Mondays: 1:30 PM - 6:00 PM; 4 x on Saturdays: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (See Course Documents)
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Training of trainers

ADEFA – Training Course for German as a Second Language Instructors

If you acquire the Federal Trainer's Diploma after the ADEFA course, you can have 50% of the ADEFA course fees reimbursed by the federal government.
  • Date
    12.10.2026 - 28.06.2027
  • Time
    29x on Mondays: 1:30 PM - 6:00 PM; 4 x on Saturdays: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (See Course Documents)
  • Duration
    October 12, 2026 - June 28, 2027: 140 net contact hours and at least 250 hours of self-study
  • Location
    ECAP
    Freiburgstrasse 130
    3008 Bern
  • Childcare
    Not available
  • Contact

    Krisztina Armbruszt
    032 342 19 65
    karmbruszt@ecap.ch

Course information

Contents
Adult Education:
• Understanding of learning and an andragogical mindset; didactic principles
• Lesson planning, goal formulation, goal review, and evaluation of learning sequences
• Learning-promoting methods and media; internal differentiation in heterogeneous learning groups
• Classroom communication (incl. error correction); learning-promoting climate
• Dealing with disruptions and conflicts in learning groups

Foreign and Second Language Didactics:
• Characteristics of foreign/second language acquisition
• CEFR (proficiency levels)
• Didactics / methodology of action- and participant-oriented second language promotion
• Methods and teaching/learning materials for promoting communicative language activities, strategies, and language competencies
• Promoting autonomy in learning

Migration and Interculturality
• Causes and forms of migration
• Current integration model in Switzerland; acculturation strategies
• Structural environment of migrants
• Understanding of culture; cultural models; cultural identity and socio-cultural influences; resources and opportunities for developing inter-/transcultural competence
• Value orientation; stereotypes and prejudices
• Inter-/transcultural competence
• Intercultural communication; dealing with misunderstandings and conflicts
• Intercultural training: cultural and self-reflexivity, self- and external perception, culturally sensitive educational work
• Intercultural teaching and learning

Scenario-based teaching according to the fide approach
• Didactic principles and standards of fide
• Resources and tools of the fide system, offerings on the web portal
• Scenario didactics according to the fide approach in the context of the action-oriented approach
• Instruments for assessing learning needs
• Sustainable learning and learning documentation; various assessment occasions and evaluation forms
• Collecting, adapting, and developing materials for scenario-based teaching
• Raising awareness regarding basic competencies in everyday mathematics and information and communication technologies, which are necessary for mastering a scenario
Goals
You will be able to prepare, conduct, and evaluate German as a Second Language (DaZ) learning events with foreign-language adults based on an action-oriented understanding of teaching, and design scenario-based learning sequences according to the fide approach.
You will have expanded and deepened your professional knowledge and intercultural competence while working. You will have optimized your teaching practice by reflecting on your previous experience and knowledge, which is continuously integrated into the practice-oriented course.
Costs
The course costs CHF 4'500 (incl. assessment of competence proofs and SVEB certificate, excl. mandatory accompanying literature). For participants residing in the Canton of Bern, the course costs CHF 3'200 (subsidized by the Education Directorate of the Canton of Bern). The certificate "Language Course Instructor in the Integration Sector" costs an additional CHF 160.

The federal government supports graduates of courses that prepare for a federal professional examination or higher federal examination. If you continue your training after the ADEFA course and acquire the Federal Trainer's Diploma, you can have 50% of the ADEFA course fees reimbursed by the federal government.

Further information can be found here:
https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/de/home/bildung/hbb/bundesbeitraege.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fpmnyylezg
https://alice.ch/de/ausbilden-als-beruf/ada-abschluesse/
Instructors
Krisztina Armbruszt
M.A. German Language and Literature, federal diploma for trainers, CAS "Intercultural Pedagogy and German as a Second Language", trainer for "Training of Trainers" (AdA) since 2011, recognized fide module lecturer for MUI, FZD and SBU, DaZ course instructor, textbook author "Sprich mit!"

Andie Zwinggi
Training Manager with federal diploma (SVEB Level III), CAS Intercultural Pedagogy and DaZ, German examination expert telc, KDE & fide, language course instructor in the integration sector, DaZ course instructor since 1992, trainer for "Further Training of Trainers" since 2009, recognized fide module lecturer for FZD and SBU

Susanne Belser
MAS Education and Media eEducation, Lic. Educational Sciences, examiner Telc and fide, DaZ course instructor since 1996, AdA course instructor since 2021, recognized fide module lecturer for FZD and SBU

Anna Escher
Federal diploma for trainers, process facilitator for intercultural opening and diversity management (IKUD), lic. phil. I (Social Work/Social Policy, Pedagogy, Sociology), certified social worker, lecturer for Transcultural Competence, Flight and Trauma, recognized fide module lecturer for MI

Further Information

Course instructors "German as a Second Language for Adults" in the integration sector

- DaZ teaching activity throughout the course: min. 2 lessons per week with min. 3 adults
- German as a native language or proof of German language proficiency at least at level C1 (according to CEFR), good metalinguistic competencies, and understanding of the local colloquial language (dialect)
- Willingness to actively participate in the course (incl. guided self-study of approx. 250 hours)

For online events, digital competencies (handling learning platforms, video conferences, and tutorials) and basic technical equipment (computer with internet access, video camera, and microphone) are required.

Group/partner work, classroom discussions, reflection, self-learning activities, self-experience, practical advice, among others.
The independent study time includes, among other things, preparatory readings, individual reflection, transfer tasks, and in-depth readings. Please allow for at least 4 hours of preparation per week. The remaining self-study hours are associated with the performance/competence assessments.

To obtain the SVEB certificate (Trainer - Conducting Learning Events), the following conditions must be met:
- Active participation in the course (80% mandatory attendance and fulfilled performance assessments)
- Competence assessment passed
- Proof of reflection on the personal learning process

- Practical experience: min. 2 years and min. 150 hours of experience in leading learning events with adults.

Furthermore, you can obtain the qualification "Language Course Instructor in the Integration Sector": You are qualified to promote and support second language acquisition in the integration sector according to the didactic approach of fide. To obtain the fide certificate, 90% attendance in the integrated fide modules is required, as well as a practical component of at least 100 hours in the DaZ field. The fide certificate is issued upon application by the fide office (Cost: CHF 160): https://fide-info.ch/de/weiterbildung/zertifikat

BYOD - Bring your own device:
Digitalization is indispensable, even in classroom teaching. Therefore, we also work with various digital tools in class. We also need technology for research and for developing collaborative learning products. We also want to save paper. Therefore, please bring a laptop or tablet with you each time.

Written pre-registration via email (karmbruszt@ecap.ch), including CV and letter of motivation (½ page), by September 11, 2026, at the latest

If a participant withdraws before the start of the course and no replacement can be found, a contribution towards expenses of CHF 600 must be paid. If a participant withdraws during the course, they must pay at least half of the costs. If the withdrawal occurs in the second half of the course, the full costs will be charged.

Download course materials

Course no.: PR26FA01001-BE

Terms and conditions apply.

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