How can we--two American professors--help Syrian refugees in Berlin?

That is thoughtful but It would seem the refugee agencies in Germany would have a need for volunteers that could teach refugees how to speak German since no English speaking countries in the west are accepting refugees and the supplies are more needed in war torn Syria than in Germany.

no English speaking countries in the west are accepting refugees

Not true. Canada, Australia and Ireland are taking Syrian refugees.

I'm going to agree with Kaeleku. Unless you speak German, it would be better for you to donate funds. If they are going to live in Germany, they first need to learn German.

Here are some contacts for English speakers:

http://www.fluechtlingsrat-berlin.de/mitarbeit.php#english

Re: donating things: the only thing I can think of that would be even marginally useful to bring from another continent are smartphones. If you have an old smartphone (of course 900/1800 MHz GSM capable) you could donate it to one of the shelters. These (and prepaid cards) are immensely useful for refugees to both navigate Germany as well as keep in contact with family.

Re: volunteering: see the link(s) above, but if you neither speak German nor (Syrian or High) Arabic/Pashtun/Farsi/etc and you're only a few weeks in Berlin there might be no useful task for you.

Refugees are considered 'vulnerable,' in order to work with them you'll need a (clean-ish) criminal record so if you're serious you should bring one.

If you're only in Berlin briefly then it's unlikely you can do useful voluntary work, because it would take time to train you to do things and you won't be there long enough to make it worthwhile. As other people have said, your best way to contribute is to give money to organisations in Germany and volunteer while you're at home.

Of course refugees need to learn German, but English skills are an important part of being German today as well. I'm sure you already know something about teaching English or you wouldn't have offered that up. But I don't see you having much impact if you'll only be there in "early June." Probably better that German locals take on that long-term task where it's needed - most of them have better command of English than the average resident here in California.

Donate to the Red Cross or the UN who run the refugee camps in the Middle East. The people there need it much more.

There are refugee facilities which dispense food, a place where the volunteers help with food serving in Berlin. A good friend of mine has done that type of volunteer work, ie, working in a food kitchen. If you have a good command of German, even better.

Fred how can the OP sign up for the program that your good friend did when he was on vacation in Berlin?

you will need to register to volunteer with a group that helps out the Syrian refugees in Berlin. Otherwise, as American citizens, you are not allowed to participate in politically sensitive situations in other countries - you may find yourself forced to leave Germany earlier than originally planned.

If you want to help, there are several international aid organizations who are helping out - UN, Doctors Without Borders, International Red Cross, CARE, Catholic Charities etc. Goggle on-line medical missionary groups (some are religious-based, others are not...but they all use the same term). You can put in parameters for where you want to help, and go from there.

But, going as a private citizen beforehand and just showing up somewhere in Berlin saying you want to help is not a good idea - do your homework, and make sure an organization is expecting you. Otherwise, you will probably not be given the opportunity to help.

Best of luck

My good friend who helped in a food kitchen for the refugees, was not on vacation in Berlin, is not American but a German. It was in that capacity as a German citizen with a permanent address over there that she did this relief work in Berlin.