Austrian language diploma for German
The Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch (ÖSD) or the Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch association is an internationally recognized provider of German exams in the field of German as a foreign and second language.
The ÖSD exams are in demand as proof of German language skills for the job market, for educational institutions or for naturalization procedures. They are offered at all six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages from A1 to C2 and take into account the standard varieties of the German-speaking countries Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Which German level or ÖSD certificate is recognized as a prerequisite for studying in Austria, Germany or Switzerland varies depending on the university and subject. Every year more than 100,000 children, young people and adults take an ÖSD exam at around 400 licensed examination centers in around 50 countries around the world.
ÖSD exams
A1 / Elementary use of language
Reading, listening, writing and speaking skills are tested. The focus is on the receptive skills of reading and listening.
A2 / Elementary use of language
Reading, listening, writing and speaking skills are tested; the integration test also includes knowledge of values and orientation. The focus is on the receptive skills of reading and listening.
B1 / Independent use of language
Reading, listening, writing and speaking skills are tested; the integration test also includes knowledge of values and orientation. The focus is on communicative competence, but attention is also paid to formal correctness.
B2 / Independent use of language
The focus is on communicative competence, but attention is also paid to formal correctness.
C1 / proficient use of language
Reading, listening, writing and speaking skills are tested. The participants should be able to communicate in different situations of social and professional life even in more complex contexts. Linguistic competence is characterized by a high degree of correctness and situation-specific appropriateness.
C2 / Proficient use of the language
Reading, listening, writing and speaking skills are tested. The participants should be able to communicate in the most diverse situations of social and professional life, even in more complex contexts. The linguistic competence is characterized by a very high degree of correctness and situation-specific appropriateness.
Basic principles of the ÖSD exams
The basic principles of the ÖSD exams include:
1. Relation to reality
Texts and tasks should be as authentic as possible and correspond to real usage situations. The selected situations in which language acts take place should be relevant to practice and representative.
2. Test formats
The tasks should be designed in such a way that they reflect the skills of the exam participants as directly as possible. For example, if listening comprehension is being tested, the focus should be on this skill, while other skills such as writing skills, memory skills or oral production are largely secondary. When checking competencies in the productive area (writing and speaking), more open task formats should be used.
3. Review domains
In order to get a comprehensive and differentiated picture of the language competence of a person, it is broken down into individual sub-areas. The ÖSD differentiates between the individual communicative skills (reading, listening, writing, speaking) and the communicative skills in their combination (e.g. listening and speaking: making conversation; reading and writing: corresponding). Knowledge of grammar and vocabulary as well as pronunciation and spelling are viewed as subordinate areas of communicative competence. As such, they are only implicitly checked and evaluated.
4. Evaluation
Open examination formats and direct testing should place high demands on examiners and assessors. Precise assessment guidelines and criteria as well as a thorough training of the ÖSD examiners should ensure a reliable assessment.
Recognition of ÖSD exams
ÖSD exams are recognized worldwide for different purposes.
Recognition of the ÖSD exams in Austria
• The ÖSD certificate A1 and higher quality exams of the ÖSD (A2 – C2) serve as proof of German language skills in connection with the issue of a residence permit for family members according to the Settlement and Residence Act "Family Reunification".
- The ÖSD integration test A2 serves to fulfill module 1 of the integration agreement in accordance with the Integration Act - IntG 2017 (within 2 years from the first issue of the residence permit)
- The ÖSD integration examination B1 serves to fulfill module 2 of the integration agreement according to the Integration Act - IntG 2017. It is recognized for the acquisition of Austrian citizenship.
- ÖSD certificate B2, ÖSD certificate C1 or ÖSD certificate C2 serve as proof of German language skills for admission to study at Austrian universities - depending on the university.
- ÖSD exams are recognized for admission to certain vocational institutions (e.g. Diplomatic Academy, Caritas training center for social professions, etc.).
Recognition of ÖSD exams in Germany, South Tyrol (Italy) and Switzerland
ÖSD exams serve as proof of German language skills
- as part of the reunification of spouses (German Immigration Act) for submission to German diplomatic missions abroad on the instructions of the Foreign Office,
- for naturalization in Germany,
- on admission to study at around forty German and Swiss universities as well as at the University of Bozen in South Tyrol, Italy.
activity
In this context, the activities of the ÖSD include the training of examiners, the granting of licenses to examination centers in Germany and abroad, active participation in the scientific discourse in the DaF / DaZ area and its promotion as well as the participation in the further development of internationally recognized ones Language test formats.
mission
The ÖSD wants to seek active exchange with companies and institutions in the education sector such as language schools, universities and other educational institutions at home and abroad to promote the German language and culture. The focus should be on imparting a pluricentric approach to the German language: The three standard varieties of German should be regarded as equivalent and taken into account in the ÖSD exams. German learners around the world should be prepared for the different language realities in Austria, Switzerland and Germany.
organization
The ÖSD is registered under the name “Verein Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch” (“Verein ÖSD”) in the Central Register of Associations in Austria (ZVR number 699451984).
Members are many people from the scientific, educational and public sector (universities, educational institutions, ministries, etc.). The scientific management and management is held by Manuela Glaboniat. A board of trustees has been set up as a supervisory and advisory body;
General Assembly:
In the general meeting of the ÖSD are u. a. Representative
- for the Federal Ministries for European and International Affairs (BMEIA) and for Education, Science and Research (BMBWF),
- for the Austrian Association for German as a Foreign Language / German as a Second Language (ÖDaF)
- for various Austrian universities (experts in German as a foreign / second language; test theory, etc.)
- for the Association of Austrian Adult Education Centers (VÖV) and
- for the Viennese adult education centers
- for Campus Austria
- for the Austrian Exchange Service (ÖAD)
- for the Austrian University Conference (uniko)
- for the Chamber of Labor (AK)
There are representatives on the Board of Trustees of the ÖSD
- for the Federal Ministries for European and International Affairs (BMEIA) and for Education, Science and Research (BMBWF),
- for the Austrian Association for German as a Foreign Language / German as a Second Language (ÖDaF)
- for various Austrian universities
- for the Association of Austrian Adult Education Centers (VÖV) and
- for the Austrian Exchange Service (ÖAD)
- for the Austrian University Conference (uniko)
Scientific Advisory Board:
The Scientific Advisory Board of the ÖSD includes experts for German as a foreign / second language and for language test research
- from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research (BMBWF),
- from the Austrian Association for German as a Foreign Language / German as a Second Language (ÖDaF)
- from the Universities of Vienna, Graz and Klagenfurt
- from the University of Friborg / Switzerland
history
The ÖSD was created in 1992/1993 on the initiative of the ÖDaF as part of a working group headed by Robert Saxer / University of Klagenfurt. In 1994 the ÖSD was established as a project at the DaF chair with the support of the then Austrian Federal Ministries for Foreign Affairs (BMAA, today: BMEIA), for Art and Culture (BMUKK, today: BMBWF) and for Science and Research (BMWF, today: BMBWF) at the University of Vienna. Under the direction of Hans-Jürgen Krumm and with the participation of well-known DaF experts, the ÖSD was further developed and institutionalized on December 1, 1994 under the auspices of the Austrian Cooperation Association (today: OeAD - Austrian Exchange Service).
The first exam dates took place in 1995 at seven licensed centers. Around 100,000 people around the world now take an ÖSD exam every year at one of the 400 or so licensed examination centers in over 50 countries.
quality control
ÖSD exams are regularly quality checked. In order to guarantee a high quality standard of the ÖSD exams, several measures are taken:
Certified license partner
ÖSD exams can only be offered by institutions and language schools that have a valid ÖSD license and are regularly trained and quality-checked by the ÖSD examination center.
ÖSD examiner training
ÖSD exams are only taken by certified ÖSD examiners. The training for ÖSD examiners is strictly regulated. I.a. Language skills at a native level in German as well as appropriate evidence of training and teaching experience in DaF / DaZ are required.
ÖSD examiner training
ÖSD examiners take part in ÖSD internal training courses and have to renew their examiner authorization regularly.
Regular quality controls
Regular quality checks and controls at the global license partners on site ensure compliance with the established standards.
Research and Development
As a full member of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE), the ÖSD is committed to the further development of language test formats and participates in the scientific exchange between the current 34 members through regular participation in specialist conferences and congresses.
Awards
In 1998 the ÖSD was awarded the European Seal for Innovative Language Initiatives by the European Commission . This seal distinguishes successful and trend-setting language projects.
Cooperations
The ÖSD has been involved in several international projects (Council of Europe) since the beginning: As a co-editor, the ÖSD contributes to the dissemination of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (GER) of the Council of Europe as well as the publications Oral and Profile German . The ÖSD works on a project basis with other institutions, e.g. B. with the Goethe-Institut and the Swiss University of Friborg in the tri-national examination development for the B1 certificate or with the Austrian Chamber of Commerce in relation to the development of the C2 examination / German business language. In addition, the ÖSD maintains an ongoing exchange with scientists from the DaF / DaZ area and is involved in international projects in the industry. The ÖSD is a full member of the ALTE Association of Language Testers in Europe .
literature
- Manuela Glaboniat, Carmen Peresich: Austrian Language Diploma in German. In: Günther Sigott (Ed.): Language Testing in Austria: Taking Stock. Language testing in Austria: an inventory. Peter Lang, Berlin 2018, ISBN 978-3-631-75974-5 , pp. 34–369.
- Manuela Glaboniat, Brigitte Mitteregger: "Austrian German" in international DaF exams. The role of the ÖSD in the pluricentric discussion. In: information on German didactics (ide). Austrian German and Pluricentric. Volume 38, Issue 3, 2014, pp. 88–98.
- Manuela Glaboniat: The Austrian Language Diploma. In: German teachers abroad. Volume 53, Issue 4, 2006, pp. 306–311.
- Manuele Glaboniat, Elisabeth Piskernikh: 10 years of ÖSD. In: information on German didactics (ide). Language encounters. Volume 29, Issue 2, 2005, pp. 137–143.
- Manuela Glaboniat: Pluricentric German and communicative testing - the pillars of the Austrian language diploma. In: Luis A. Acosta et al. a. (Ed.): 1945–1989-2000: Momentos de Lengua, Literaturas y Culturas Alemanas. Actas de la X Semana de Estudios Germánicos. Ediciones del Orto, Madrid 2001, pp. 429-442.
- Manuela Glaboniat: Austrian language tests around the world - The development and dissemination of the Austrian language diploma German (= ÖSD). In: Hans-Jürge Krumm, Paul R. Portmann-Tselikas (Ed.): Theory and Practice - Yearbook 1999: Austrian Contributions to German as a Foreign Language. StudienVerlag, Innsbruck 1999, pp. 31–40.
- Manuela Glaboniat: Communicative testing in the field of German as a foreign language. An investigation using the example of the Austrian Language Diploma in German. StudienVerlag, Innsbruck / Vienna 1998.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ ÖSD exams. In: OSD. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
- ↑ German Academy of Vienna: ÖSD diploma preparation in Vienna. In: DeutschAkademie. Retrieved April 27, 2019 (German).
- ↑ Recognition of ÖSD exams. In: OSD. Retrieved May 6, 2019 .
- ↑ The basic principles of the ÖSD exams. In: OSD. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
- ↑ Recognition of ÖSD exams. In: OSD. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
- ↑ Integration Agreement 2017. Accessed April 4, 2019 .
- ↑ Integration Agreement 2017. Accessed April 4, 2019 .
- ↑ Recognition of ÖSD exams. In: OSD. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
- ↑ ÖSD examination center. January 7, 2019, accessed April 4, 2019 .
- ↑ Recognition of ÖSD exams. In: OSD. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
- ^ Certificates - Austrian Language Diploma in German (ÖSD). Retrieved April 27, 2019 .
- ↑ About us. In: OSD. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
- ↑ Gehrer presented the European seal for innovative language initiatives. Retrieved April 27, 2019 .
- ↑ Sybille Bolton, Manuela Glaboniat, Helga Lorenz, Michaela Perlman-Balme, Stefanie Steiner :: ORAL Oral production and interaction German. Klett Sprachen GmbH, 2013, ISBN 978-3-12-606517-7 .
- ↑ Manuela Glaboniat, Martin Müller, Paul Rusch, Helen Schmitz, Lukas Wertenschlag: Profile German. Klett Sprachen GmbH, 2013, ISBN 978-3-12-606518-4 .
- ^ Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) - Our Full Members. Retrieved April 27, 2019 .