Reading in the B2 - German course

Reading is one of the skills you will further develop in the B2 course. It is not about literary texts or poetry, but rather factual texts. These texts are often written in a journalistic or scientific style and deal with current or relevant topics from society, politics, science, or everyday life. In order to understand and make use of these texts successfully, it is important to develop a targeted strategy and to practice regularly.

Why Do We Read German Informational Texts in the B2 Course?

In the B2 course, the focus is on engaging with more complex topics and elevating your language skills to a higher level. Non-fiction texts provide you with the opportunity to familiarize yourself with various fields of expertise and to purposefully expand your vocabulary. Additionally, you will learn to analyze information, recognize connections, and discuss them. This will help you not only in the course but also in everyday life, in your profession, and during exams.

Which Linguistic Devices Are Frequently Used in Informational Texts?

Non-fiction texts differ significantly from literary texts or everyday conversations. They are often condensed, meaning they contain a lot of information in relatively little space. Frequently, linguistic means are used that you find less often in spoken language:

- Nominalizations: These are nouns derived from verbs or adjectives, e.g. "the improvement," "the development," "the significance."

- Genitive: The genitive is used more frequently in non-fiction texts, e.g. "the role of the state," "the consequences of globalization."

- Passive: The passive emphasizes a process or action, where it is less important who performs the action, e.g. “Many new companies are founded in Germany.”

- Relative clauses: They connect sentences and make the language more precise, e.g. “The study that was published in 2024 shows...”.

- Technical terms: Depending on the topic, you will encounter terms that you may not know yet. You should especially be familiar with the technical terms from your own field of work. Therefore, you need to read non-fiction texts multiple times and attentively to truly understand them.

How Can You Practice Reading Informational Texts?

To be successful in the B2 course, you should practice reading regularly. Here are some tips on how you can proceed:

- Read newspapers, magazines, and non-fiction books: Choose texts on current topics that interest you. These can be articles from newspapers like the “Süddeutsche Zeitung,” “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung,” or “Der Spiegel,” as well as contributions from specialized journals or non-fiction books.

- Read texts multiple times: During the first reading, you get an overview; during the second and third readings, you can capture details and clarify difficult passages.

- Consider what you already know before reading: Write down what you know about the topic. This activates your prior knowledge and helps you better categorize new information.

- The 80% rule: Do not try to understand every text 100%. The last 20% often take a lot of time and energy. It is sufficient if you understand about 80% of the content.

- Look up unknown words purposefully: Translate about five to a maximum of ten new words per page and write them down. This keeps the reading process fluid and allows you to learn purposefully.

- Choose texts that interest you: Your brain remembers vocabulary and information better when they are personally relevant to you.

Step-by-Step Approach

1. Choose a non-fiction text that interests you.

2. Skim the text and look at the headlines, images, and subheadings.

3. Note what you already know about the topic.

4. Read the text completely without trying to understand every detail.

5. Highlight important information and unknown words during the second reading.

6. Purposefully translate new words (maximum ten per page) and write them down.

7. Summarize the content in your own words.

8. Consider what questions you have about the text or which aspects you want to know more about.

How Does Reading Help You in Everyday Life and Work?

If you read non-fiction texts regularly, you will become more confident in dealing with complex information. This is important not only in the German course but also in everyday life: You will be able to understand newspaper articles better, stay informed about current topics, and pursue further education purposefully. In your profession, reading technical texts, instructions, or reports will help you get up to speed faster and communicate competently.

Avoid These Mistakes!

- Do not try to understand every single word. This takes too much time and blocks the flow of reading. - Do not translate every sentence literally. Often, it helps to grasp the meaning of a section in your own words. - Do not be discouraged if you understand little during the first reading. Non-fiction texts are often demanding – with practice, it will get easier! - Do not choose texts that bore you. Motivation is an important factor in learning.

How Can You Check Your Reading Progress at Level B2?

- Keep a reading journal in which you note which texts you have read and what you have learned from them.

- Explain the content of a text to another person. If you can do that, you have truly understood the text.

- Answer comprehension questions about the text or create your own questions.

- Compare your summary with that of other course participants.

How Do You Become a Better Reader?

Reading is a key competency at the B2 level. The more you practice, the easier it will become for you to understand even difficult non-fiction texts. Use the 80% rule, choose interesting topics, and work purposefully with new words. Over time, you will notice that you read faster and more confidently – and that will give you self-confidence for the course, the exam, and everyday life.

Good luck with your reading!