What You Learn at Each German Level (A1–C2): A Practical Guide to Our German Courses
- Jens Olesen
- 39 minutes ago
- 29 min read
If you have ever wondered what learners actually study in a German course at A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2, this guide will give you a clear picture.
You may already know that the CEFR language levels describe what learners can do in a language. But many students still ask practical questions such as:
What grammar do you actually learn at A1 German?
What should you know by the end of A2 German?
How much vocabulary do you need for B1 German?
What makes B2 German such an important milestone?
What do advanced learners study at C1 and C2?
In this guide, we explain what students typically learn at each level in our German courses at Olesen Tuition, one of the top-rated German language schools in London. This article is designed to help you understand how German develops from complete beginner to near-native mastery, and which course might be right for you.
Table of Contents
Why German levels matter in real courses
The CEFR framework is useful because it gives students and teachers a shared language for progress. However, many learners do not just want a theoretical description such as “A2 means elementary” or “B1 means intermediate”. They want to know what this looks like in practice. That is exactly what this guide explains.
At Olesen Tuition, our courses are carefully structured around the CEFR levels so that students build the right skills in the right order. That means:
beginners build a strong foundation in grammar and pronunciation
elementary learners expand their confidence in everyday communication
intermediate learners become more independent and flexible
advanced learners refine fluency, accuracy and nuance
If you are not yet sure what your current level is, it helps to read our guide to CEFR language levels from A1 to C2 and then take our German placement test to find the right starting point.
What You Learn German A1 Level
In our Beginner German courses, students start with the absolute basics and gradually build a foundation in the language. We focus on essential grammar and everyday vocabulary right from the start. For example, during an A1 German course at Olesen Tuition, you will learn:
Fundamental grammar building blocks: We begin with the building blocks of German. This includes mastering personal pronouns (ich, du, er/sie/es, etc.) and learning how to conjugate German verbs in the present tense (e.g., ich komme, du kommst, er kommt – I come, you come, he comes). These basics are crucial for forming any sentence, so we drill them early on. You’ll also learn the conjugation of a few common irregular verbs (like sein – to be, haben – to have) because they are used constantly.
Talking about yourself (and getting to know others): A big goal of A1 is being able to introduce yourself in German and exchange personal information. We practice dialogues where you share your name, age, nationality, where you’re from, and what languages you speak. Expect to master phrases like “Ich heiße Maria. Ich bin 30 Jahre alt. Ich komme aus Spanien.” (My name is Maria. I’m 30 years old. I come from Spain.) and to understand questions like “Woher kommst du?” (Where are you from?) or “Was sprichst du?” (What do you speak?). By the end of A1, you’ll feel comfortable meeting someone new and covering the basics about yourself.
Basic everyday vocabulary: We cover a range of useful vocabulary topics relevant to everyday life. This includes talking about your family (family member terms like Mutter, Vater, Schwester, Bruder, etc.), hobbies and interests (so you can say things like “Ich spiele gern Tennis.” – I like to play tennis), ordering food and drinks (names of common foods, how to ask for things politely, etc.), days of the week, months, and numbers (to manage dates and times), weather expressions, and common places (Supermarkt, Bahnhof, etc.). By covering these topics, you can have simple conversations, such as describing your home (“Meine Wohnung ist klein.” – My apartment is small), talking about your routine, or saying what you like/dislike.
Simple interactions and polite phrases: We prepare you for typical scenarios like shopping, eating out, and asking for directions. For shopping, you’ll learn numbers and phrases to ask prices or for specific items (and of course, understanding the answers!). In a restaurant, you’ll practice polite phrases like “Ich hätte gern ein Wasser.” (I would like a water) and how to ask for the bill. For directions, you’ll learn basics like “Wo ist…?” (Where is…?) and answers such as “geradeaus” (straight ahead), “links/rechts” (left/right). Role-playing these common interactions in class helps build confidence so that, for example, ordering a coffee in German or buying a train ticket won’t feel intimidating.
Pronunciation and listening skills: Right from A1, we work on German pronunciation. German has some sounds that might not exist in your native language (like the “ü” in müde or the “ch” in ich), so we practice them early to ensure you develop good habits. We also practice spelling out loud (German has its own alphabet pronunciation, and you’ll often have to spell your name). Additionally, we get you used to hearing questions you might be asked. For example, “Wie schreibt man das?” (How do you spell that?) or “Können Sie das wiederholen?” (Can you repeat that?) so you can navigate situations like someone asking you to spell your surname.
Basic German sentence structure: German word order can differ from English. At A1, we introduce you to the standard sentence patterns. You’ll practice forming simple statements (Subject – Verb – Object, like “Der Mann sieht den Ball.” – The man sees the ball) and yes/no questions (Verb – Subject – Object, like “Kommt er aus England?” – Does he come from England?). We also touch on “W-questions” (questions starting with wer, was, wo, wann, wie, warum, etc., e.g. “Wo wohnst du?” – Where do you live?). Understanding that the verb is typically the second element in a statement and first in a question is an important concept we drill at A1, since word order is foundational to making sense in German.
As the A1 course progresses, we also introduce some foundational concepts that prepare you for A2 (without expecting full mastery yet, just exposure):
Introduction to cases (in a gentle way): German grammar includes the concept of cases (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive), which can be daunting. At A1, we don’t throw all the cases at you in depth, but we start gradually. For example, you’ll learn the accusative case in the context of common phrases and through things like possessive pronouns. You’ll learn that mein (my) changes to meinen in the accusative for masculine objects (e.g., “Ich habe meinen Vater besucht.” – I visited my father). This way, you get used to the idea that words change form depending on their role in the sentence, without having to memorise all the rules at once.
Gender and noun basics: We teach that every German noun has a gender (der/die/das), and we encourage learning nouns with their article (e.g., it’s better to memorise “der Tisch” than just “Tisch”). You’ll learn some rules of thumb for gender (like nouns ending in -ung are feminine, etc.) to help, and we’ll practice plural forms of common nouns. Understanding gender is important because it affects articles and later adjectives; at A1 you start building that intuition.
Basic adjectives: You’ll learn to use a few descriptive adjectives in simple sentences (without worrying about all the complex adjective ending rules yet). For instance, “Die Wohnung ist groß.” (The apartment is big.) or “Das Wetter ist gut.” (The weather is good.). We focus on word order with adjectives (that they come before the noun they describe when used attributively, or after the verb sein when used predicatively) and save the detailed adjective endings for later levels.
Recognising nominative vs. accusative: By the end of A1, you should start to recognise the difference between the subject of a sentence (which is nominative case) and the direct object (which is accusative case) in basic contexts. For example, in “Der Mann sieht den Ball,” you see der Mann (subject) but den Ball (object) – noticing der changed to den is an A1 skill we point out. We practice this concept with both nouns and personal pronouns (ich/mich, du/dich, etc.), so you start to feel how German marks who is doing what in a sentence.
Two-way prepositions (basic exposure): German has certain prepositions (like auf, in, an) that can take either the accusative or the dative depending on context (these are called two-way or dual prepositions). At A1, we don’t delve deeply into the grammar rule, but we introduce some fixed phrases so you can see them in action. For example, “im Wohnzimmer” (in the living room – literally in dem Wohnzimmer), “auf dem Tisch” (on the table). You’ll use these in describing locations (which we do at A1) without stressing why it’s dem not den – that explanation comes later, but by then you’ll have seen it.
By the end of German A1, our students can hold and understand simple conversations on everyday topics. You’ll be able to introduce yourself, ask others about themselves (Where are you from? What do you do? etc.), talk about daily routines, and handle basic needs in German (like shopping or asking for directions). In terms of vocabulary, you should recognise and be able to use around 500 German words (give or take, depending on the course and your self-study). These would include the most common verbs, everyday nouns (food, family, places, etc.), basic adjectives (colours, sizes, simple qualities), numbers, days, months, and so on. A lexicon of ~500 words gives you enough to express basic ideas and to get the gist of beginner-level listening and reading materials.
(Approximate vocabulary size at A1: ~500 words.)
What You Learn German A2 Level
At the Elementary (A2) level, we build upon the A1 basics and significantly expand your abilities so you can communicate more broadly and confidently. An A2 German course at Olesen Tuition deepens your grammar knowledge and greatly increases your usable vocabulary. Key focuses in our A2 German courses include:
Mastering all four cases in German: While A1 introduced the idea of nominative (for subjects) and gave you a peek at accusative (for direct objects), A2 tackles all four cases in German – nominative, accusative, dative, genitive – in a more systematic way. Don’t worry, we approach it step by step! We practice the accusative and dative especially, since those are used frequently. For example, you’ll learn common accusative prepositions (für, durch, ohne, etc.) and dative prepositions (mit, nach, von, zu, bei, etc.), so you can use phrases like “für meinen Freund” (for my friend – accusative) or “mit meiner Mutter” (with my mother – dative) correctly. We drill the dative case forms (e.g., ich gebe dem Mann das Buch – I give the book to the man) and help you understand when to use dative vs accusative (for example, after certain prepositions or to indicate the indirect object of a verb). We also introduce the genitive case (used for possession, among other things) in common expressions and simple contexts, though we don’t emphasise genitive too heavily until higher levels because it’s less common in everyday speaking compared to the other cases. By the end of A2, you might still make mistakes with cases (that’s normal even at B1), but you will have a much clearer framework and ability to decline articles and pronouns correctly in many common situations.
Adjective declension: One major grammar hurdle at A2 is learning how adjective endings work in German. You’ve been using basic adjectives since A1; now we explain the rules for adjective declensions – i.e., why it’s “ein großer Garten” but “einen großen Garten” in accusative, or “mit einem großen Garten” in dative. We cover the different declension patterns (after definite articles, after ein-words, and with no article) in a structured way. It’s a lot to take in, so we usually start with one pattern and gradually add the others, using plenty of examples and practice sentences. Mastering adjective endings allows you to add much more detail to your speech and writing accurately (e.g., saying “die schöne alte Stadt” for “the beautiful old city” with correct endings). By the end of A2, you should be able to use adjectives with the right endings in many straightforward contexts (though truly nailing all the exceptions can take until B1/B2 to feel natural).
More complex German sentence structure: In A1, you learned how to handle simple statements and basic word order. In A2, we introduce you to subordinate clauses (Nebensätze) and more complex sentences. This means you’ll learn how to use connectors like weil (because), dass (that), ob (whether/if), wenn (when/if) etc., which send the verb to the end of the clause. For example, instead of two separate sentences – “Ich lerne Deutsch. Ich möchte in Deutschland arbeiten.” – you’ll learn to combine them: “Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Deutschland arbeiten möchte.” (I’m learning German because I want to work in Germany.) We practice a lot of these, as getting used to the verb-final structure is a big step. You’ll also learn relative clauses at a basic level (like “Das ist der Mann, der mir geholfen hat.” – That is the man who helped me.) Mastering these structures lets you speak in longer sentences and express more complex thoughts.
Discussing a wider range of topics: Vocabulary and conversation practice in A2 broadens significantly. We move beyond the immediate personal topics and cover themes like family and relationships (talking about relatives, describing people’s personalities in a simple way), work and school (so you can describe your job or studies more, talk about your daily schedule), travel and vacations (describing trips, using past tense to talk about where you went), media and technology (learn words for computer, smartphone, discussing a simple news story you read), hobbies and free time in more detail, and basic cultural topics (perhaps discussing holidays, traditions, etc.). Each theme brings a bunch of new vocabulary. For example, when talking about travel, you’ll learn words for different countries and cities, modes of transport, and how to say things like “Ich war schon einmal in …” (I have been to ... before). When discussing media, you might learn terms for types of TV shows, social media, etc. By diversifying topics, you’ll be prepared to engage in small talk or simple discussions about many aspects of daily life.
Expressing opinions and simple arguments: At A2, we encourage you not just to state facts, but also to give your opinion (in a basic way) and to agree/disagree politely. You’ll learn phrases for expressing opinions, such as “Ich finde, dass…” (I find/think that...) or “Meiner Meinung nach…” (in my opinion...). You’ll also practice phrases for agreeing (“Ich stimme dir zu.” – I agree with you) or polite disagreement (“Das sehe ich anders.” – I see that differently). We also cover how to make suggestions (“Wir könnten ins Kino gehen.” – We could go to the cinema) and how to respond to them. These skills push you toward a more interactive use of German – not just responding to questions, but actively contributing thoughts and preferences in a conversation.
Introducing more verb tenses: A2 is typically when students become comfortable talking about the past and future, not just the present. We ensure you can use the Perfekt tense (present perfect) with confidence, since it’s the most common past tense in spoken German. For example, forming sentences like “Ich habe gestern Fußball gespielt.” (I played football yesterday) – we’ll practice lots of regular and irregular past participles. We also introduce the Präteritum (simple past) for some very common verbs, mainly sein (was) and haben (had), and a few modal verbs, because you’ll often hear those in everyday language (e.g., “Früher war ich Student.” – I used to be a student, or “Ich konnte gestern nicht kommen.” – I couldn’t come yesterday). Additionally, you’ll see the Futur I (future tense) structure so you recognise it (though in conversation, Germans often use present tense + context to talk about the future). For example, “Morgen werde ich meine Oma besuchen.” – Tomorrow I will visit my grandma. By knowing the future tense, you can express plans more explicitly, even if often “Ich gehe morgen...” suffices. The aim is that by A2’s end, you can comfortably narrate what you did yesterday, what you do generally, and what you will do tomorrow.
Passive voice and introductory subjunctive: Toward the end of A2, we introduce (lightly) some more complex grammar concepts, such as the Passive voice and the Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) for polite requests or hypotheticals. For example, we’ll show you how to form sentences like “Der Kuchen wird gebacken.” (The cake is being baked) to get the idea of passive construction, and we’ll practice common subjunctive forms for courtesy, like “Ich würde gerne ein Bier bestellen.” (I would like to order a beer) and “Könnten Sie mir helfen?” (Could you help me?). At A2, we don’t expect mastery of passive or subjunctive, but we introduce them so that when you encounter them (in reading or from a person), you’re not completely lost. Plus, using “würde” + infinitive for polite requests is a very useful communication skill in everyday interactions.
Throughout the A2 course, we continue to emphasise communication and practical usage of German:
Speaking & listening practice: We ramp up the complexity of speaking exercises. You’ll do longer role-plays, like perhaps simulating a job interview scenario (to practice talking about your skills and past experience in simple terms) or a doctor’s visit (to practice health-related vocabulary and explaining symptoms). We also encourage more open-ended discussions in class on A2 topics (e.g., which season you prefer and why, describing a memorable trip, etc.). Listening materials also become a bit more challenging: we might use short audio dialogues at near-normal speed or simple excerpts from German media. For instance, you might listen to a short radio announcement or a voicemail message and answer comprehension questions. The goal is to train your ear to understand normal-paced (but clear) German on everyday topics.
Reading & writing tasks: In A2, you’ll start reading slightly longer texts. This could include short articles on cultural aspects (maybe a paragraph on Oktoberfest or German Christmas markets), simple stories or dialogues, or personal letters/emails. We teach you strategies to infer the meaning of new words from context, since at A2 you’ll definitely encounter texts that have some words you haven’t learned directly. Writing tasks might include writing a reply to an email invitation, composing a short cover letter for a fictional job application (to practice polite, formal writing), or writing a brief narrative such as “Describe your last holiday.” These help consolidate past tense and structured expression of ideas. By writing regularly, you become more accurate and start to internalise grammar patterns (writing gives you time to think and apply rules, which reinforces learning for speaking later).
By the end of German A2, students can converse about familiar topics (family, daily activities, plans, opinions on simple matters) and handle daily life in German with more confidence. You should be able to travel in Germany/Austria/Switzerland and “get by” in German for most basic interactions without switching to English. For example, you can book a hotel room over the phone, describe symptoms to a doctor (in a basic way), or engage in small talk about the weather or your background.
Vocabulary-wise, our A2 learners typically acquire around 1,000 words or more. This larger vocabulary, combined with stronger grammar control, means you can catch the general meaning of many authentic materials. For instance, you might be able to understand the main headlines of a newspaper or get the gist of a simple news report on TV, even if some words are new. A2 sets you up with the tools to then dive into intermediate content at B1.
(Approximate vocabulary size at A2: ~1,000+ words.)
What You Learn German B1 Level
Students in our B1 German courses are transitioning into the intermediate realm, where they develop the ability to discuss not only facts and simple opinions, but also more complex or abstract topics. B1 is all about achieving that “independent user” status – you can start to manage most situations in German on your own. Here’s what we cover at B1 to help learners solidify and expand their skills:
Discussing abstract and real-world topics: At B1, we intentionally introduce and practice talking about broader subjects, including some abstract ideas, not just concrete daily routines. This can include themes such as personal values (e.g., discussing what qualities are important in a friend), cultural differences (talking about how holidays are celebrated differently), hypothetical situations (what would you do if… scenarios), and current events in simple terms. Common conversational themes might be: describing people’s personality traits (so you’ll learn words like ehrlich – honest, schüchtern – shy, etc.), discussing concepts of friendship and relationships (maybe comparing what makes a good friend vs a good coworker), social etiquette and customs (like how formal or informal one should be in certain situations), and comparing lifestyles (city life vs. country life, which you prefer and why). These discussions encourage you to use more complex sentences to explain why you think something, not just what you think.
Vocabulary expansion in new domains: As we explore new topics at B1, vocabulary expands significantly. For example, if we discuss technology or media at B1, you’d learn terms related to social media, basic technical terms, etc. If we talk about news or politics at an introductory level, you’d learn common words for government, elections, environmental issues, etc., at least in basic form. The idea is to equip you to talk about what’s happening in the world around you, not just personal life. By B1, you’ll likely know 2000+ words, and we continue adding idiomatic expressions and phrases that Germans commonly use to sound more natural.
Expressing and justifying opinions: While at A2, you learned to give simple opinions, B1 focuses on explaining your viewpoints with reasons. You practice making arguments in German. For instance, you might have a classroom debate on a light topic (say, “Cats vs. Dogs as pets”) where you not only state your preference but give supporting points (“Ich finde Katzen besser, weil sie unabhängiger sind.” – I find cats better because they are more independent). We teach phrases for structuring arguments: “Erstens…, zweitens…” (Firstly…, secondly…), “Auf der einen Seite…, auf der anderen Seite…” (On one hand..., on the other hand...), etc. This not only improves your language, but also your critical thinking in the language as well.
Narration in past and future: We ensure by B1 that you can comfortably narrate events in different time frames. This involves solid mastery of the Perfekt and Präteritum (simple past) for storytelling. At B1, we expect you to use Präteritum more, especially in writing or storytelling contexts (e.g., “Als Kind hatte ich einen Hund.” – As a child I had a dog, or “Gestern ging ich ins Kino.” – Yesterday I went to the cinema). We also cover the Plusquamperfekt (past perfect) so you can indicate sequences in the past (e.g., “Ich konnte den Film verstehen, weil ich das Buch schon gelesen hatte.” – I could understand the film because I had already read the book). For the future, we reinforce Futur I and introduce Futur II (future perfect) conceptually, although it’s not commonly used outside specific contexts. The goal is that you can tell a coherent story about something that happened to you, or describe your plans and aspirations clearly.
Deeper grammar topics: B1 is often where we dig into some complex grammar that wasn’t fully tackled at A2. This includes:
Detailed use of conjunctions: You learn a wider range of connectors to make complex sentences: not just weil and dass, but also obwohl (although), während (while), damit (so that), deshalb (therefore), etc. Using these helps you express cause, contrast, purpose, etc.
Refining the use of cases with adjective endings and pronouns: By now, we expect more accuracy with cases. We introduce two more two-way prepositions and practice when they trigger accusative vs dative (e.g., “Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand.” vs “Das Bild hängt an der Wand.”). We also practice relative pronouns extensively (der/die/das as “who/which”) so you can form relative clauses beyond the basics.
Passive voice (fully) and more subjunctive: We teach you how to actively use the Passive voice in German to shift focus in a sentence (e.g., “Die Wohnung wurde renoviert.” – The apartment was renovated), not just understand it. We also cover Konjunktiv II in more depth for hypotheticals (“Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich mehr lesen.” – If I had time, I would read more) and for polite modal usage (e.g., “Ich hätte gern ein...” and “Ich würde sagen,...” to soften statements). We might even touch on Konjunktiv I (used for reported speech), which is usually B2, but at least to recognise it.
Listening to faster, authentic German: In B1 classes, we incorporate more authentic listening materials – perhaps a clip from a German news program (with clear standard speech), excerpts from movies or interviews (with some simplification or scaffolding), or audio from exam preparation materials which simulates real-life situations (like an answering machine message, public announcement, etc.). These conditions teach you to handle the fact that in the real world, not everyone will speak slowly and clearly like your A1/A2 materials. We also practice strategies like listening for key words, using context, etc., to improve comprehension of things even when you don't catch every single word.
Reading longer texts: We’ll give you longer texts to read at B1 – for example, a 2-3 page short story or a news article – and teach you how to skim for information, infer meaning, and deal with unknown words (like using context or German-German definitions). A common exercise might be reading an interview or a blog post and then discussing or summarising it. You’ll also likely read one short novel or graded reader over the course of B1 to build reading fluency and stamina.
Writing with structure: We assign writing tasks that require a bit of planning and organisation, such as writing a short essay or argument. For example, we might ask you to write about the advantages and disadvantages of living in your country vs. abroad, or to write a formal letter of complaint about something. We emphasise structure (intro, body, conclusion, or proper letter format) and clarity. Also, we introduce typical phrases for formal letters (like “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,” as a greeting, “Mit freundlichen Grüßen” to close, etc.). By practising these, your writing becomes more versatile, and you prepare for B2/Exam styles.
By the end of German B1, you should feel quite comfortable doing things like: living and maybe working in a German environment in a basic capacity, following along with native speakers on everyday topics (even if you occasionally ask them to clarify a word), and expressing yourself in most situations.
Most importantly, you’ll have the tools to continue learning on your own in many ways (since at B1 you can attempt to watch German TV with subtitles, read books with a dictionary, etc., which will further accelerate you).
(Approximate vocabulary size by end of B1: perhaps ~2,000–2,500 active words, and understanding of many more in context.)
What You Learn German B2 Level
At Upper Intermediate (B2), our courses take students into a realm of high-level language use. By B2, you’ve already got a solid base; now it’s about refining it, expanding it, and making your German more nuanced and native-like. In B2 courses, we emphasise fluency, precision, and the ability to tackle more complex content. Key aspects of our B2 German courses include:
Fluent conversation on practically any general topic: We ensure that by B2, you can hold your own in discussions ranging from everyday life to society, culture, or abstract ideas. Class conversations might cover things like current events in depth (e.g., discussing a news story about technology or environment), debating social issues (like pros and cons of social media, opinions on a new law, etc.), or talking about literature/films at a deeper level (perhaps everyone reads a short story or watches a movie and then analyzes themes, characters, etc.). These activities aim to help you speak at length, express complex opinions, and respond spontaneously to others. We correct any remaining issues in grammar or word choice that affect clarity, and we introduce lots of idiomatic expressions to help you sound more natural.
Advanced grammar fine-tuning: At B2, the grammar topics are often about mastering nuances and exceptions:
Konjunktiv I (Reported Speech): We practice using and recognising Konjunktiv I forms for reported speech in German (e.g., Er sagte, er habe keine Zeit. – He said he has no time). This is useful for formal writing and understanding news reports (journalistic style often uses Konjunktiv I).
Complex sentence structures: We work on more complicated relative clauses (like using wo(r) + preposition or da- compounds for connecting sentences), conditional sentences of different types (not just the basic würde ones, but also ones mixing tenses for hypothetical past situations, etc.).
Verb prefixes and nuanced verb usage: By B2, you encounter lots of trennbare vs untrennbare Verben (separable vs inseparable verbs) that may change meaning (e.g., übersetzen (to translate) vs übersetzen (to set something over something)). We highlight these and ensure you can use context to figure them out. Also, lots of practice with the various verb + preposition combinations (e.g., warten auf, teilnehmen an, sich kümmern um, etc.), which are essential for more precise expression.
Passive with modal verbs, passive alternatives: How to say things like “It can be seen” (es kann gesehen werden) or using “man” or reflexive constructions as alternate ways to express passive meaning.
Nuances of modal particles: Those little words like doch, ja, wohl, halt, eben that Germans sprinkle in for tone – at B2 we often start explaining their usage so you can both understand and begin to use a few of them to sound more fluent.
Writing formal and informal texts with ease: We give a variety of writing assignments: perhaps a report or essay that requires argumentation, a cover letter or CV in German for job applications, a review of a book or film, and maybe even a short opinion piece as if for a magazine or blog. We focus on clarity, register, and persuasiveness. For formal writing, we ensure you know the conventions; for informal, we make sure you can adopt a conversational tone. By B2, you should be able to produce writing that could pass for a native’s work in many contexts (aside from minor tell-tale errors).
Specialised vocabulary and topics: B2 often allows for some customisation based on student interests, but generally, we delve into more specialised topics like economy, technology, environment, politics, arts, etc. For example, you might learn to discuss issues like climate change, education systems, or cultural differences in a more analytical way. We’ll introduce domain-specific vocabulary (not extremely technical, but enough to discuss common themes in those domains). The result is you won’t feel lost if a conversation or article touches on these broader subjects.
Reading authentic materials: At B2, we often incorporate reading real newspaper articles, excerpts from literature (maybe a short story by a famous German author), opinion columns, or even segments of academic texts (depending on the class composition). We practice reading strategies for different purposes: skimming vs detailed understanding, and deducing the meaning of idioms from context. We might also read a short novel during the course, or each student might read a book of their choice and present it. The idea is that by the end of B2, reading in German should be a normal activity for you – not just an exercise.
Listening to a variety of German accents and speeds: We use audio and video that include different speakers – perhaps interviews where people speak with an Austrian or Swiss accent lightly, or faster conversational audio between two people. We also might watch German TV shows or movies (with German subtitles at first, then without) as part of training your ear. By B2, even if dialects can still be tricky, standard High German at any normal speed should be largely comprehensible to you. We also teach strategies like listening for tone (to catch sarcasm, etc.) and understanding humour or implied meanings in speech.
By the end of German B2, you are well-prepared to live or work in a German-speaking environment with minimal difficulty. You could start university courses (with some initial adjustment), work in an office where German is the primary language, or participate in meetings and social events nearly as easily as you would in your native tongue.
Many learners stop formal classes at this stage because they can continue improving through immersion: reading books, watching movies, interacting with native speakers daily – all of which you can fully do by yourself once you’re B2. But some continue to C1 to polish off any rough edges and reach near-native proficiency.
(Vocabulary by end of B2: likely 4,000+ words actively, comprehension of many more; essentially, you have the lion’s share of everyday vocabulary.)
What You Learn German C1 Level
Our Advanced German (C1) courses cater to learners who already communicate very well in German and want to reach a level of mastery for academic, professional, or personal fulfilment. C1 is about fine-tuning and expanding the last frontiers of your German knowledge. Here’s how we guide students at C1:
Polishing language for near-native fluency: We focus on the subtleties that separate B2 from C1. This means lots of feedback on natural phrasing (perhaps replacing a very formal structure you used with what a native would more likely say, or introducing idioms to replace plain language). We work on eliminating persistent grammar errors – for instance, by C1 you should never mix up der/dem/den in easy sentences, or verb position in subordinating clauses, etc. We provide exercises and corrections to iron out these last issues and solidify complex structures (like conditional clauses, Konjunktiv, passive, etc.) until they become second nature.
Academic and professional communication: If students need German for academia or high-level business, we tailor parts of the course for that. This could involve learning how to write an academic abstract, practising presentations on complex topics (followed by Q&A sessions to simulate defending an idea in German), or writing formal reports/proposals. We expand formal vocabulary (like synonyms for common words that sound more academic, e.g., erreichen vs erzielen, etc.) and practice strategies for time-filling and eloquence (like using filler phrases to buy time in a presentation or discussion without breaking the flow).
Deep dive into idioms and nuanced expressions: At C1, we curate lists of idiomatic expressions, sayings, and colloquialisms that are common in educated speech and writing. For example, you might learn idioms like “Das ist Schnee von gestern” (that’s yesterday’s snow – meaning it’s old news), or “zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen” (kill two birds with one stone). We not only teach their meanings but also practice using them in context. We also explore Redewendungen (common phrases) and perhaps a bit of slang, so you can understand different registers and use them appropriately.
Understanding and producing subtle forms of language: This includes things like irony, sarcasm, metaphor, and humour in German. We might analyse a satirical article or a comedy sketch to see how language is used playfully or critically. We also practice writing creatively – maybe composing a short story or a witty commentary – to employ the language in less literal ways. The goal is to make you comfortable with German in all its layers, not just straightforward communication.
Extensive listening practice with varied media: At C1, we use podcasts, news debates, documentaries, films – possibly without any subtitles or transcripts – to challenge your listening. After listening, we discuss not just comprehension, but also the speaker’s tone, bias, and intentions. For example, we might listen to a political debate and then identify which arguments were made and what stance each speaker took, analysing the language that indicated their stance. This trains you to pick up implied meanings and rhetoric.
Reading high-level texts: We typically include reading of literary works (maybe a novel or a selection of poems), academic papers, and advanced journalism (think long-form essays from German magazines). We discuss these in depth. For literature, we might have book club-style discussions analysing characters and themes. For academic texts, we practice summarising and critiquing the arguments. You’ll also learn a lot of field-specific terms depending on the texts (e.g., if we read something about psychology, you’ll pick up those terms; if it’s about economics, other terms, etc.). The idea is not to memorise all jargon, but to become adept at reading unfamiliar advanced texts and still grasping them through context and inference.
By the end of German C1, you are effectively operating at near-native proficiency. You can confidently engage in or lead complex discussions, produce clear and well-structured writing on almost any topic, and understand virtually everything you encounter in German (except maybe some very dialect-heavy speech, which even natives find tough!). C1 speakers often get mistaken for natives in written communication, and if they have a minimal accent, they might pass as native in speech for a while too, especially to non-linguists.
After C1, the journey isn’t over – many go on to refine stylistics at C2 or learn highly specialised vocabulary – but C1 is often considered fluency for all practical purposes.
(By the end of C1, active vocabulary could be around 6,000-8,000 words or more; comprehension may be 10,000+ – essentially, you have vocabulary for most things except very specialised or rare terms.)
What You Learn German C2 Level
Reaching C2 is a rare achievement, and our approach at this level is often highly individualised. At C2, different learners have different specific goals – perhaps one needs to polish writing to a publishable level, another wants to eliminate all traces of accent, another might be focused on literature analysis at a near-native level, etc. Generally, a C2 tutoring or course will involve:
Tailored focus on specific weaknesses: Since at C2 you’re already extremely proficient, we would identify any areas that are not quite native-like and target them. This could be certain pronunciation issues, perhaps a slight insecurity with idioms, or maybe writing lacks some stylistic flair. For example, if a learner still occasionally misplaces stress on certain German words or has trouble with “der/die/das” in spontaneous speech, we drill those until errors are eliminated.
Diving into niche fields: If you have particular interests (say law, medicine, philosophy, etc.), we incorporate texts and discussions from those areas to ensure you have the high-level vocabulary and discourse style needed. For instance, a C2 student preparing for a Goethe C2 exam or similar might practice summarising complex texts or interpreting literary excerpts, because those can be components of such exams.
Accent and speech refinement: Some C2 learners aim to sound indistinguishable from a native. We provide feedback on any remaining accent issues: perhaps certain phonetics (like the French learner who nails everything but still says “sinking” instead of “thinking” style errors, but for German), intonation patterns, or rhythm of speech. We might use shadowing exercises (repeating after a native audio exactly as heard) or record and analyse speech to correct these subtleties.
Cultural and historical nuance: To truly function at a native level, one often needs a broad understanding of the culture and history. We might incorporate content like watching and analysing classic German films, reading important works from different eras of German literature, or discussing historical events and their influence on the language (for example, how East vs West German slang differed, or references people from the 80s would make that younger folks might not get, etc.). This knowledge often seeps into language use in terms of idioms or references.
Playing with the language: At C2, we sometimes do creative projects that even natives find challenging – like writing poetry in German, doing wordplay (German has plenty, like elusive compound word jokes or tongue twisters), or translating difficult text from your mother tongue to German with attention to style. These kinds of activities push you to use the language extremely flexibly and can be quite fun.
However, some general focuses at C2 include:
Near-native comprehension of idioms and figurative speech: We ensure that things like proverbs, figurative expressions, regional sayings, etc., are familiar to you. For example, if someone says “Da liegt der Hund begraben,” you’d immediately know they mean “that’s the heart of the matter” (literally “that’s where the dog’s buried” – a weird one if you don’t know it). We might compile a list of such expressions and quiz them in context, or better yet, encounter them naturally in advanced readings and make sure you catch them.
Adaptability in language style: We practice switching registers and dialects as needed. Perhaps role-play scenarios: giving a formal speech vs chatting in a bar, and examining the differences in language used. Suppose you are familiar with a specific dialect or regional variant (Swiss German, Austrian terms). In that case, we incorporate some exposure to those, so you’re not thrown off by variant vocabulary or pronunciation in high-level contexts.
Consistency and error elimination: At C2, even small mistakes stand out because they’re so rare. We aim for consistency, meaning if 9 out of 10 times you say something correctly, but 1 time you slip, we try to find out why and eliminate that slip. This might involve drilling certain tricky grammar points to make them absolutely second nature (for instance, certain verb-preposition combos or case usage after particular idioms – ensuring you never slip on “angesichts dessen” vs “angesichts dem”, etc.). It’s polishing work.
By the end of German C2, you will be a bilingual speaker. Consuming German media or literature is as comfortable as in your native language. You can express any thought or concept with precision and finesse. You may even start to develop your own “style” in German (as native speakers do – some are more formal, some more humorous, etc., and you can choose how to be in German too).
Many C2 learners go on to use German in professional translation, teaching, or writing. It’s truly a level very few reach, but those who do often find that they sometimes forget a word in their native language because the German one comes to mind first!
(Re: vocabulary – at C2 you might know 10,000-15,000 words actively, and understand 20,000+; but at this point, counting words is less relevant than how you use them.)
In summary, our courses are aligned with CEFR levels to support you at every step of this journey. Whether you’re starting out at A1 learning how to say hello, or debating philosophy at C1, we structure our classes to build you up to the next stage. Olesen Tuition, as a top-rated German language school, offers a range of German courses and lessons to help you reach these goals. Our offerings include:
How many words do you know at each German level?
Vocabulary size is only one part of language ability, but it is still a helpful guide.
German Level | Approximate Active Vocabulary |
A1 | 500 words |
A2 | 1,000+ words |
B1 | 2,000–2,500 words |
B2 | 4,000+ words |
C1 | 6,000–8,000 words |
C2 | 10,000–15,000+ words |
These figures are approximate, but they show how German develops from basic functional language to advanced fluency.
Which German level should you choose?
If you are unsure where to start, here is a simple guide:
Choose A1 if you are a complete beginner
Choose A2 if you know some basics but cannot yet communicate comfortably
Choose B1 if you can manage everyday conversations but want more independence
Choose B2 if you already speak German fairly well and want stronger fluency
Choose C1 if you need German for academic or professional purposes
Choose C2 if you are already advanced and want near-native refinement
The easiest way to decide is to take our German placement test and compare your result with our guide to German language levels from A1 to C2.
Learn German with Olesen Tuition
At Olesen Tuition, we offer a wide range of high-quality German learning options, including:
As the top-rated German language schools in London, Olesen Tuition is known for expert teaching, excellent client reviews, and a wide range of German services for adults, professionals and school students.
If you are not sure which level or course is best for you, start by reading our guide to CEFR language levels explained, then take our German placement test, and explore our weekly German classes and intensive German courses to find the best next step.
Final thoughts
Understanding what learners actually study at each German level makes it much easier to choose the right course and set realistic goals.
From A1 German for complete beginners to C2 German mastery, each stage builds on the previous one and opens up new possibilities for communication, confidence and fluency.
Whether you want to learn German for travel, work, exams or personal enrichment, choosing the right level matters. And with structured guidance, strong teaching and regular practice, progress becomes far more efficient.
If you are ready to move forward, explore Olesen Tuition’s German courses, take our placement test, and continue building your German with one of London’s most highly regarded German language schools.
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