German as a foreign language
German for the job. And everything after.
Online German courses for international professionals, new colleagues and everyone settling in Germany. From A1 to C1, one to one, in small groups or as a company course.
Who it is for
For people settling in Germany
Whether you work in Nuremberg, Munich, Ansbach or from home: we teach online, wherever you are.
International professionals
German for team meetings, client calls and conversations with colleagues.
New employees
A faster start at the company, including onboarding vocabulary for your sector.
Care, engineering, logistics
Specialist vocabulary and communication for customer-facing jobs.
Everyday life and authorities
Tenancy agreements, doctor’s appointments, parents’ evenings: confident everyday German.
Content
What you learn in the German course
Speaking from day one
We speak in every lesson. Grammar follows what you want to say.
German for work
Phone calls, emails, meetings, small talk with colleagues.
Understanding everyday German
Dialects, fast speakers, announcements and forms.
Grammar that helps
Articles, cases and verbs, explained with your own examples.
Formats
Learn German the way that suits you
One-to-one lessons
Entirely around your needs and calendar.
- flexible scheduling
- from €49.99 incl. VAT per 45 min
- ideal for professionals
Small group
Learn together with people at your level.
- six learners maximum
- fixed schedule
- lots of speaking practice
Company course
German for international teams, with needs analysis and reports.
- from €40 net plus VAT
- lessons during working hours
- onboarding vocabulary
We organise German courses for your team, online and plannable.
Further reading
More on the topic
Levels
Online German course from A1 to C1: what you learn at each level
Our German courses are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Each level has a clear objective that you can check in everyday life or at work.
| Level | Focus | What you can do afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | introducing yourself, numbers, times, simple questions | make an appointment, find your way around the supermarket and the workplace |
| A2 | past tense, everyday conversations, simple texts | talk about your working day, write simple emails |
| B1 | giving reasons for opinions, letters, phone calls | hold conversations in your team, understand forms and letters from the authorities |
| B2 | discussions, specialist texts, formal correspondence | take an active part in meetings, deal with customers |
| C1 | complex texts, presentations, style | give presentations, negotiate, write demanding texts |
The levels are not an end in themselves. We shape the lessons around what you need most urgently right now and bring in grammar where it helps you speak and write.
Work
Online German course B1 and B2 for professionals
For many jobs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, B1 is the threshold at which you can communicate independently within a team. Roles with a lot of customer contact, responsibility for documentation or management duties usually require B2 or higher. In regulated professions, the competent authorities require proof of language skills; the level depends on the profession and the region and should be clarified with the relevant authority in advance.
What we practise in our German for work course
- handovers and arrangements within the team, including under time pressure
- phone calls with customers, suppliers and public authorities
- emails, minutes and documentation
- work instructions, safety notices and technical terms
- small talk during breaks, which is often crucial for fitting into the team
Our article Which level of German do you need for your job? explains which level is realistic for which role.
Placement
German placement test and personal learning plan
Before you start, we establish your level with a short test and a conversation. Many learners have an uneven profile: they understand their colleagues well but are unsure when writing, or they have learnt a lot of grammar on a course but hardly speak. The conversation reveals differences like these, which a test alone cannot detect.
Your learning plan
On this basis, we decide which skills take priority, which work situations to practise and whether there is an exam on the horizon, such as a Goethe-Zertifikat or a telc exam. The plan is reviewed regularly and adjusted if your situation changes, for example because of a new job or a move.
Lessons
How an online German as a foreign language lesson works
An example from a course for a nurse at A2/B1: the topic is the handover at the end of a shift.
- Warm-up: you talk about your last shift. The teacher notes which words are missing.
- Vocabulary and structure: typical phrases such as „Herr M. hat heute wenig gegessen“ (Mr M. hasn’t eaten much today), „Der Blutdruck war am Vormittag erhöht“ (His blood pressure was raised this morning) or „Bitte achtet heute Nacht auf …“ (Please keep an eye on … tonight).
- Listening: a short handover in which you pick out the key information.
- Role play: you give the handover yourself while the teacher asks questions as a colleague would.
- Feedback: correction of the most important mistakes, especially word order and tenses.
Lessons are taught in German. At lower levels, our teachers can also explain difficult points in English or Polish if needed, so that nothing remains unclear.
Challenges
Learning German: common challenges and how we tackle them
German has a reputation for being difficult. But the challenges are well known, and there is a strategy for each one.
| Challenge | Example | Our approach |
|---|---|---|
| Articles | der Tisch, die Tür, das Fenster | always learn nouns with their article, use rules for endings such as -ung, -heit, -chen |
| Cases | Ich gebe dem Kollegen den Schlüssel. | accusative and dative in fixed expressions first, the full system later |
| Verb position | Ich weiß, dass er morgen kommt. | practise sentence patterns aloud until they become automatic |
| Separable verbs | Ich rufe Sie morgen an. | targeted practice of common verbs from working life |
| Du or Sie | du with the team, Sie with customers | discuss the rules and conventions in companies |
We do not teach grammar in isolation, but where it causes misunderstandings. A wrong article rarely gets in the way, whereas the wrong verb position in an instruction can lead to confusion.
Companies
German courses for international professionals and their employers
Companies that recruit skilled workers from abroad know that the professional fit is often there from day one, while language takes time. A well-planned German course shortens onboarding and makes it easier to integrate into the team.
How we support employers
- a needs analysis focused on the specific tasks of new employees
- placement and group formation, including across several sites
- lessons during working hours or around shift patterns
- regular reports for HR on attendance and progress
Corporate courses start from €40 net plus VAT per 45-minute lesson. You can find more about organisation and reporting on our page Language courses for companies. Our article Learning German as a skilled professional explains what professionals themselves should bear in mind when learning German.
Everyday life
German for everyday life, the authorities and living in Bavaria
When you move to Germany, you need German for more than just your job. Registering your address at the Bürgeramt, talking to your child’s nursery, doctor’s appointments, your tenancy agreement: many situations are highly formal and linguistically demanding. We practise them specifically, using real forms and typical letters. You will also find helpful explanations in our article Understanding official German.
Standard German and regional accents
We teach standard German. But if you work in Fürth, Ansbach or Regensburg, you will soon notice that your colleagues do not sound like the coursebook. On request, we practise understanding regional pronunciation and common expressions, so that conversations in the canteen do not become a puzzle.
Learning paths
Online German teachers and typical learning paths
Our teachers of German as a foreign language are trained in teaching methodology and experienced in working with adult learners from many different countries. Only 1 in 25 applicants passes our selection process. Many have learnt foreign languages themselves and know where German is particularly difficult for learners whose first language is English, Polish, Spanish or Arabic.
An engineer aiming for B2
Rahul works for a technology company near Nuremberg. His team speaks English, but customers and production speak German. He has one-to-one lessons twice a week, focusing on meetings, technical documentation and phone calls.
A small group for new employees
A logistics company hires several skilled workers from abroad, all at around A2. They learn in a group of four, scheduled around their shift pattern, with content on safety, the warehouse and communicating with drivers.
Preparing for an exam
Elena needs proof of language skills to have her qualifications recognised. After her placement, she practises exam tasks and writing in a targeted way. Find out more on our Exam preparation page.
Comparison
Online German course or classroom course, one-to-one or group?
State-funded courses, such as integration courses or job-related language courses (Berufssprachkurse), have fixed structures, groups and times. For many people, they are a good option. Our lessons complement them or offer an alternative when flexibility is needed: with shift work, frequent business travel, a tight timetable before an exam or the wish to focus on job-related content.
| One-to-one online | Small group online | Classroom course | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduling | your choice | fixed | fixed |
| Content | individual | shared objective | set curriculum |
| Speaking time | very high | high, maximum six people | depends on group size |
| Travel | none | none | yes |
One-to-one lessons are the most effective format and are available to individuals from €49.99 incl. VAT per 45-minute lesson.
Guides
Learning German: 11 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
From which level can I start?
From A1, so with no prior knowledge. We teach up to C1.
In which language are things explained?
We mostly teach in German. If needed, teachers can also explain in English or Polish.
Do you prepare for German exams?
Yes, we prepare specifically for common German certificates. You sit the exam itself at an official exam centre.
Can my employer pay for the course?
Yes. We invoice companies and also organise courses for whole teams.
Do courses take place on site?
No, all courses take place online by video. You learn without travelling, wherever in Germany you live.
How long does it take to get from A1 to B1?
That depends on your previous knowledge, the number of lessons and the time you spend with German outside lessons. After your placement, we give you a realistic estimate for your situation rather than a one-size-fits-all figure.
Do you also teach specialist language, for example for nursing or engineering?
Yes. We combine general German with the vocabulary and situations of your profession, such as handovers in nursing, work instructions in production or customer conversations in service roles.
Can I study regularly even though I work shifts?
Yes. For one-to-one lessons, we arrange times around your rota. For company groups, we agree the times with the employer.
Will I learn standard German or dialect?
You will learn standard German. On request, we also practise understanding regional pronunciation, for example in Bavaria, Austria or Switzerland.
Can you help with job applications in German?
Yes, as part of your lessons. We practise cover letters, CV phrasing and typical interview questions so that you can present yourself confidently and appropriately. You remain responsible for the content of your documents; we work on language, style and impact.
Can family members of skilled workers take part too?
Yes. Partners and adult family members can learn in one-to-one lessons, as a pair or in a small group. On request, we can invoice the employer.