Learning German your way

In a group or on your own, at a school or around town, with or without a textbook – there are many ways to learn German. Which way works for you?
by Janna Degener

Do you want to learn German and have already taken a placement test at a language school or on the Internet? Now you can look for a German course that fits your needs. Study-in.de can help you decide which is right for you.

The classic - Group courses

Many people learn German in groups at language schools, universities or Goethe Institutes in Germany or abroad. If you're currently enrolled in an English-language degree programme and have little time to learn German, you might find that an accompanying course is the right choice for you.

If you want to make fast progress in a short time, you ought to enrol in an intensive language course. Many German universities offer summer courses during the semester breaks. Such courses can help you make tremendous strides in a matter of weeks and offer a diverse accompanying programme to introduce you to the country and culture.

If there are no language courses offered in your town or you're too busy to participate in one, you can take an online group course which allows you to communicate with your teacher and "virtual class" via e-mail, voice chat or forum. For a one-month intensive language course, plan on paying between 200 euros (at a adult education centre) and 900 euros (at a Goethe Institute in Germany). The price of online courses also starts at 200 euros or so.  

The great thing about learning in a group is that you meet lots of nice people who have similar interests, questions and difficulties and who can help each other.

Hint: Before signing up for a language course, find out how large the groups are. The smaller the group, the faster everyone can learn.

Personal: Language tandems

Forming a language partnership is a very personal, flexible and inexpensive way to improve your German skills. The idea is that you regularly meet with a German student who would like to learn your native language. You both take turns teaching one another – on a walk, cooking in the kitchen, chatting online. The advantage is that you can practice speaking more often than in a classroom situation. On top of that, your language partner can teach you a lot about Germans and life in Germany in a colloquial manner that you probably won’t learn from any textbook. 

However, you will require a professional to teach you the specifics of German grammar and written language. If you wish to prepare to study in Germany, then a language partnership should only be a supplement to a comprehensive language course.

Learn more: A German-Italian language tandem tells study-in.de how the learn together.

Flexible: Learning on your own

Do you travel a lot? Are you very busy and can never predict when you'll have time to learn German? Are you one of those people who learn grammatical structures best at three o'clock in the morning? If you're interested in learning German quickly and intensively when and where you want, there are many ways to improve your language skills by yourself – e.g. private tutoring, at a university self-study centre or by using various media (textbooks, radio, television, CDs, Internet, etc.). For only 99 euros, you can book a six-month course with the Deutsch-Uni Online which provides you with a learning module and includes technical support, a forum, chat and electronic translation service. Many institutions support self-study and offer individualised support through remote tutors who can answer your questions by mail or e-mail, correct homework and offer learning advice. To learn on your own, you have to be disciplined and self-motivated. Learning German can be fun, but after a long day at work, meeting friends at a pub may seem more tempting than sitting down and probing the pitfalls of separable verbs!

Hint: Some distance learning programmes offer virtual get-togethers with other self-learners on a regular basis.

Video: How much German do I need in Germany?