FAQ about our German lessons
Frequently asked questions about the German language
How long does it usually take to become fluent in German?
This is a tough question to answer, as it depends on several factors, such as frequency and duration of lessons, talent for learning languages, the amount of time people can invest in homework and revision outside of lessons, and so on. I'm trying to give a more detailed response to this question in my blog post, "How long does it take to learn German?". You will find more information on the time frame and my private German lessons page here. If you're keen to learn German fast but prefer being part of a small group of fellow students, check out my new intensive German courses. The average time to advanced level (C1) with our small German classes is about 24 months, to C2 level around 32 months.
Are there any recources you recommend to learn German?
Our German language blog "Auf Deutsch, bitte!" blends grammar guidance with vocabulary expansion, and is designed to support learners of all levels in mastering the German language with confidence and ease.
Frequently asked questions about our private German lessons
Do I need to commit to a certain number of lessons when learning German with you?
No, when booking private German tuition with us, we only have a 24-hour cancellation policy. So you can stop taking lessons with us whenever you choose.
Can I get a regular weekly slot, or do we need to rearrange after each lesson?
Most of our students have a regular weekly slot unless they prefer to keep their lessons more flexible, or my availability is so limited that I cannot offer a regular slot. The latter is usually just a matter of weeks.
Do you teach in the evenings and on weekends? And where do you usually teach?
Yes, we offer tuition every day from early morning to late evening: Monday to Friday, 8am to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 9pm. Our lessons are usually held at our Hampstead office, online, or at our students' premises or office.
Do you offer German lessons near me, or are any of your German tutors near me?
Yes, we teach all over London, though most of our clients are in zones 1-3. We also offer online German lessons, so there are many options.
Should I opt for private or group lessons? What is the biggest difference between them?
The most significant difference between one-on-one German lessons and learning in a small group is the intensity of the teaching you receive. We all know that it's relatively easy to stay quiet in a classroom setting if you don't want to contribute to the lesson. This is not possible in private lessons where the focus is on you. While this might sound scary, this is how you learn most effectively. That's why students progress more quickly through private lessons than group classes. On average, you can cut down the time it takes to become fluent in German by more than half in one-to-one tutorials compared to a class of 10 or more students and by more than a third compared to my smaller group classes with a maximum of 5 participants. The ideal compromise for many of my students are my intensive German courses that allow you to learn German fast, while being less expensive than private tuition. You'll find more information on my intensive German courses here.
Do you work with a book or any specific material?
We usually work with a combination of our material, tailored to our student's requirements, and texts and exercises from various sources. There is no such thing as the perfect textbook, and there is no material that suits everyone, so this strategy is usually in the best interest of our students and makes learning German challenging but also rewarding.
How does payment work, and what payment methods do you accept?
Our private German lessons run on a pay-as-you-go basis, with the first lesson paid in advance. From then on, we invoice you monthly. For our group classes, the first class must be paid in advance. After that, we ask for an advance payment for five classes. We accept payments by bank transfer, PayPal, or in cash.
Frequently asked questions about our German classes
1. How many lessons does each class involve?
We don't run our classes on a term basis or for a specific number of weeks. Instead, our German classes run for as long as our students like, and groups progress with us from one level to another. So join one of our classes until you have reached your goal.
2. Do I need to commit to a certain number of classes? And how much are they?
Try the first class at our standard rate of £40 for 90 minutes. If you enjoy the class and decide to continue, we ask students to firmly commit to 5 or 10 classes dates at a time. With our Standard and Saver rates, they have to be consecutive classes, but our Flex rate allows you to reschedule one in five dates with more than 24 hours' notice. You will find more information about our rates on our German classes page.
3. What happens if I miss a class?
Unlike larger language institutes where you might no longer be able to follow the course if you miss a class or two, we provide Zoom recordings for missed sessions and are happy to see you for 'catch-up' lessons, where you revise what was covered in the lessons you missed. These revision sessions are usually one-on-one lessons with us at £80 per hour, but of course, it's possible to split the cost with other students if they also miss the class. After the revision session, you should be able to follow the next group lesson with ease. Normally, two group lessons equal one private lesson.
4. Do you assign homework, and how much time do I need to spend outside of your classes on German?
Yes, we are firm believers in homework. This might sound old-school, but your German won't improve as quickly as you might like without regular revision of what we covered in class. So, you should spend another 90 minutes a week doing your homework and revising vocabulary.
5. How long does progressing from one level to another take?
Due to the small size of our German classes, our students progress quickly. On average, they move up one language level every three months, e.g., from A1.1 to A1.2. With most classes being held just once a week, that's very fast. However, if students join two or more weekly classes, progress can be made faster. Check out our new super-intensive German courses for more information.
6. Do I need to buy a book for my course?
It depends on the level. We usually work with a combination of our own material, texts, and exercises from various sources. There is no such thing as the perfect textbook, and there is no material that suits everyone, so this strategy is usually best for students.
7. Is it possible to switch classes?
Your timetable might have changed, and you're hoping to join a class at the same level on a different day. No problem. Provided there is enough space in the other class, it's possible to switch. Unlike larger language schools where you automatically move from one level to another, irrespective of your actual progress, we carefully monitor our students' progress and recommend a change of class whenever that's in the interest of our students- either because they picked up the language more quickly than their classmates or because they need more time to digest what they learnt. Everyone learns at their own pace, and that's how it should be.
8. Can I join a class and work with you privately to accelerate my progress?
Yes, it is possible to combine group classes and one-to-one lessons. However, as you would progress more quickly than the other students in your group class, you might need to move to a higher-level course when you have reached that level. Email us, and we are happy to advise.
9. Do you offer any German classes near me?
Yes! We run German evening and weekend courses in Hampstead, South Kensington, and the City of London. We also offer hybrid courses that can be attended in person or online.
10. Do students get enough out of their evening German classes after a long day at work?
Our teachers are quite engaging and do their best to make our classes as fun and interactive as possible. The feedback we usually get from clients is that they find it easier than they expected to switch off after work and concentrate on our classes. My advice would be to try one class and see for yourself.
11. Can I get a certificate at the end of my German course?
While we don't produce certificates, our students perform very well during exams at the Goethe-Institut and other test centres. Please email us, and we will be happy to advise. Of course, we are glad to produce letters confirming your attendance in class and progress reports.
12. What payment methods do you accept?
You can pay us by bank transfer, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and all major credit cards. The payment for the first class needs to be made in advance. If you're happy to continue, we require an advance payment of five classes as a deposit.
13. My company pays for my German classes. Do you produce invoices?
Yes, of course. If you need an invoice, we are happy to email it to you.
14. Are your online German classes just as effective as in person classes?
While some clients initially have their doubts about the effectiveness of remote language classes, student feedback has been almost unanimously positive, so much so that most of our clients say they prefer to have the classes from the comfort of their own homes.