English courses online
Learn English online, live with a teacher.
General English for adults, one-to-one, in pairs or in small groups by video. With a placement test, a personal learning plan and teachers selected so carefully that only 1 in 25 applicants passes our selection process.
Overview
Online English course for adults: speaking, not cramming
Many adults in German-speaking countries spent years learning English at school. They understand TV series, read specialist articles and get by on holiday. But when it comes to speaking spontaneously, explaining an opinion or keeping up in a conversation, the words suddenly fail them. This is exactly where our online English courses come in.
At choices®, you learn live with a teacher, not with an algorithm. You speak from the very first minute, receive immediate feedback and work on topics that matter in your life: travel, work, family, study, culture or simply the pleasure of the language. We have been helping adults learn English since 2015, and our learners rate us 5.0 on Google.
General English or Business English?
This page describes our General English courses. They cover everyday life, society, travel and basic workplace situations too. If you want to practise meetings, negotiations or presentations specifically, you will find suitable options under Business English courses. The two overlap, and your learning plan can combine both.
Who it’s for
Who our online English courses are for
Our learners range from their early twenties to well over sixty. They live in Munich, Hamburg, Vienna or Zurich and learn for very different reasons. What they have in common is that they want to achieve something specific with English and are looking for lessons that fit their lives. These are the groups we meet most often:
Returning learners
School English was a long time ago and the basics have faded. We refresh your grammar and vocabulary and get you speaking again quickly, without making you feel as if you are back at school.
Professionals in an international environment
You work with English-speaking colleagues or are planning a change of job. General English at B1 or B2 is the foundation on which Business English later builds.
Travellers and people with family abroad
Whether it is a tour of Canada or conversations with your partner’s English-speaking family, you want to chat with ease and understand more than just the essentials.
Ambitious learners at an advanced level
You already speak well but want to become more precise, idiomatic and confident. At C1 and C2, we work on style, nuance, pronunciation and demanding texts.
Companies supporting General English
Not every role needs the English of negotiations. For many teams, solid foundations are the goal. Companies book our courses from €40 net plus VAT per 45-minute lesson, including placement and reporting. Find out more under Language courses for companies.
Placement
English level test: your level on the CEFR and GSE
Every course begins with a placement. A short online test checks vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening. In the conversation with a teacher that follows, the focus is on what a test struggles to measure: how fluently, spontaneously and clearly you speak.
Two scales, one clear picture
You receive your result on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), from A1 to C2. We also use Pearson’s Global Scale of English. It runs from 10 to 90 and sets out specific learning objectives for each point. The advantage: progress becomes visible long before you reach the next CEFR level. That is motivating and makes your learning path easier to plan.
Your result becomes your learning plan
We record where you are, where you want to get to and which skills take priority. Many adults have an uneven profile, such as good reading skills and hesitant speaking. Your plan takes this into account rather than treating all skills the same.
Lessons
How online English lessons work at choices®
A lesson lasts 45 minutes. You join the virtual classroom via a link, and your teacher shares texts, images and exercises on screen and writes down new words and corrections, which you keep after the lesson.
A typical lesson at B1
- Warm-up: you talk about your weekend. The teacher listens and notes where you are missing words or structures.
- Input: a short article or audio clip on an everyday topic, such as living in the city or the countryside.
- Language focus: comparisons with more … than and not as … as, plus useful phrases such as on the other hand or it depends on.
- Speaking: a discussion in which you use the new structures and give reasons for your opinion.
- Feedback: the main mistakes of the lesson, correctly rephrased, and a short task for next time.
Materials
We work with proven coursebooks and authentic sources such as articles from the British press, podcasts, videos and short stories. Your interests shape the choice: if you are passionate about football, history or cooking, you will enjoy learning far more with texts on those topics. We teach both British and American English. What matters most to us, though, is authentic, communicative English that works in everyday life and at work.
Grammar
Learn English grammar without memorising rules
Grammar is not an end in itself, but without it, speaking stays imprecise. We cover grammar where it helps you express yourself and practise it in situations rather than testing rules. The overview below shows which topics are typically the focus at each level.
| Level | Typical grammar topics |
|---|---|
| A1 to A2 | present simple and continuous, past simple, irregular verbs, forming questions, quantifiers |
| B1 | present perfect and past simple, future forms with will and going to, first and second conditionals, prepositions |
| B2 | passive, reported speech, third conditional, modal verbs of deduction, relative clauses |
| C1 to C2 | inversion, cleft sentences, subtle differences between tenses, style and register |
Common mistakes made by German speakers
German-speaking learners often trip up in the same places, because German looks similar but works differently:
- I live here since five years instead of I’ve lived here for five years: present perfect, and for with periods of time up to now.
- I become a coffee instead of I’ll have a coffee: become means “werden” (to become), not “bekommen” (to get).
- Yesterday I have seen him instead of Yesterday I saw him: finished time expressions take the past simple.
- He said me instead of He told me: say and tell are used differently.
- The people is nice instead of The people are nice: people is plural.
You will find more detailed explanations on our blog, for example in our overview of English tenses (in German), in the article Present perfect or past simple? (in German) and in our collection of typical mistakes German speakers make in English (in German).
Speaking
Improve your spoken English: confidence, pronunciation and listening
The gap between understanding and speaking is not just a feeling; it can be measured. In the EF English Proficiency Index, Germany ranks fourth overall, scoring 623 points for reading but 521 for speaking (EF EPI, Germany country page). So many adults understand considerably more than they can actively say. That is why our lessons deliberately shift the emphasis towards speaking.
More speaking time
In one-to-one lessons, you do most of the talking. In a small group of no more than six people, there is also plenty of room, because pair work and discussions are at the heart of the lessons.
Pronunciation that is easy to understand
The aim is not a perfect British accent, but pronunciation that is understood effortlessly around the world. We work on sounds German speakers find difficult, such as th or the difference between w and v, as well as word stress and intonation.
Listening at real speed
Coursebook recordings are slow and clear. In real life, people speak quickly, with accents and linked sounds. We train with authentic recordings from the UK, Ireland, the USA, Australia and India, so that you can understand different varieties too.
Formats
One-to-one English lessons, pairs or small groups compared
| One-to-one | Pair (duo) | Small group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaking time | highest | high | good |
| Content | fully individual | tailored to two people | shared programme |
| Scheduling | your choice | by arrangement | fixed |
| Group size | 1 | 2 | 4 ideal, maximum 6 |
| Best for | fast progress, specific goals, irregular hours | couples, friends, colleagues | anyone who enjoys learning with others |
One-to-one lessons are the most effective format because the whole lesson is yours. A pair is a good choice when two people at a similar level want to learn together. Small groups bring variety and real conversation partners. You can switch between formats at any time.
Prices
For individuals, from €49.99 incl. VAT per 45-minute lesson. For companies, from €40 net plus VAT per 45-minute lesson. We will give you the exact price after the initial consultation, depending on format and scope.
Teachers
Online English teachers: how we select them
Only 1 in 25 applicants passes our selection process. We assess language proficiency, teaching qualifications, experience with adults and the ability to make an online lesson lively and well structured. Our teachers come from 10 countries. They include native speakers as well as highly trained teachers who learnt English as a foreign language themselves and know typical difficulties from their own experience.
Quality assurance
The methodology team led by our Head of Studies, Łukasz Pakuła, develops teaching standards, supports new teachers and evaluates learner feedback. Łukasz Pakuła’s teaching roles include Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus and Adjunct Lecturer at HM Business School in Munich.
The right teacher for you
We suggest a teacher who suits your level, goal and personality. If it is not a good fit, we change teachers without you having to give a reason.
Learning path
How long does it take to learn English? Realistic learning paths
There are no reliable one-size-fits-all figures. How quickly you progress depends on your starting level, your goal, the number of lessons and the time you spend with English between lessons. We recommend at least one, ideally two, lessons a week. Regularity beats intensity: two lessons every week achieve more than four lessons in one week followed by a three-week break.
Three typical learning paths
- From A2 to B1: Claudia from Fürth wants to do more than order food when travelling; she wants to have conversations. The focus is on past tenses, everyday vocabulary and telling stories fluently.
- From B1 to B2: Thomas from Vienna works in an international team. He practises discussions, expressing opinions and understanding fast speech.
- From B2 to C1: Nina from Zurich reads specialist literature in English and wants to write and speak with the same assurance. The focus is on style, collocations and precise wording.
If you would like to use a certificate as a milestone, you will find suitable options under Exam preparation. Our language courses for individuals give an overview of all languages and formats. After your placement, we give you an estimate tailored to your situation. At regular intervals, we review together whether the pace and focus are still right.
Self-study
Learning English between lessons: what really helps
Lessons provide direction and feedback; the routine develops in everyday life. Even 10 to 15 minutes on several days a week makes a noticeable difference. Your teacher gives you short, targeted tasks for this rather than long lists of homework.
Proven habits
- Vocabulary in context: always note new words with an example sentence, not as a single translation. make a decision sticks better than decision = Entscheidung.
- Reading aloud: read short texts from the lesson aloud. This trains pronunciation and intonation without a conversation partner.
- Series and podcasts with a plan: choose content just above your level, first with English subtitles, later without.
- Talking to yourself: describe in English what you are doing while cooking or on your way to work. It feels odd, but it builds a speaking routine.
- Writing short texts: a few sentences about your day, which you bring to the next lesson to have corrected.
Using AI tools sensibly
Chatbots can help with practice, for example to ask questions about a text or compare different phrasings. But they do not replace a teacher who knows your typical mistakes, sets priorities and notices when you need more of a challenge. In lessons, we show you how to use such tools sensibly and critically.
Concerns
Learning English online: common concerns
“I don’t learn as well online as in a classroom.”
Our lessons are live, with cameras on and a regular teacher. You are seen, heard and corrected just as in a classroom, only without the commute. Many learners even find online lessons more focused.
“I could just learn with an app.”
Apps are good for vocabulary practice between lessons. But you only learn to speak freely in conversation with a person who asks questions, corrects you and challenges you.
“I’m afraid of making mistakes.”
Mistakes are part of learning. Our teachers create an atmosphere in which you feel able to speak, and they correct you in a way that helps rather than inhibits. In one-to-one lessons, nobody but your teacher is listening anyway.
“I’m too old for this.”
Adults learn in a more structured way than children, can use rules consciously and bring clear goals. We have learners of every age, and many reach the level as adults that they wished they had reached at school.
Guides
English in practice: 4 articles from our blog
Practical knowledge from our Head of Studies and the choices® team, matching this service.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does an online English course cost?
For individuals, from €49.99 incl. VAT per 45-minute lesson; for companies, from €40 net plus VAT per 45-minute lesson. The exact price depends on format and scope and is agreed after the initial consultation.
Do I need any previous knowledge?
No. We teach from A1 to C2. If you are a complete beginner, we start with the basics; if you want to refresh your school English, we build on what you already know.
How often should I have lessons?
We recommend at least one, ideally two, lessons a week. Regularity is what matters, supported by short practice sessions between lessons.
What equipment do I need?
A computer or tablet with a camera, a headset and a stable internet connection. You receive the lesson link in advance; installing special software is not usually necessary.
Will I learn British or American English?
We teach both British and American English and adapt to the people you communicate with. What matters is that you communicate confidently and in a way that is understood internationally.
Can I work towards an exam?
Yes. If you are aiming for a certificate such as the Pearson English International Certificate, IELTS or a Cambridge exam, we tailor the lessons to it. You take the exam itself with an official exam provider. Find out more under Exam preparation.
Can I change teacher?
Yes, at any time. If the partnership isn’t working, we will suggest another teacher.
Can my employer pay for the course?
Yes. On request, we invoice your company directly. For companies, we also offer placement, group formation and reports to HR.