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A1 Deutschkurse in Franfurt bei iQ Lingua

A guide to finding the best German course in Frankfurt

– 8 simple criteria, including an example of how to apply them and a checklist –

How do I find the best German course in Frankfurt?

Are you looking for a German course in Frankfurt? Given the wide range of language schools in Frankfurt, the choice can be quite overwhelming. However, it’s important to remember that not every German course will be right for you. So how do you find the best German course in Frankfurt?

You can identify the best German course in Frankfurt by the following 8 criteria: recognised proficiency levels according to the CEFR (A1–C2), qualified teachers, small learning groups, targeted exam preparation (telc, Goethe, TestDaF), flexible course formats, financial support options, transparent pricing, and multiple location options.

You can objectively assess and compare all 8 criteria before you enrol. One example of a language school that easily meets these criteria is iQ Lingua: this provider runs German courses throughout Germany, both online and in person, for all levels from A1 to C2 throughout Germany; it is an official telc licence partner, works with qualified teachers in small learning groups (maximum 12 participants) and offers various course formats tailored to your individual needs; it also gives you the opportunity to take a free placement test and a free trial lesson, and has several locations in Frankfurt and the surrounding area: Frankfurt am Main, Hanau and Offenbach. This means you can avoid long journeys and focus entirely on learning German.

 Below you will find a guide that briefly and clearly summarises the eight most important criteria to help you choose the best German course in Frankfurt:

What makes a good German course in Frankfurt?

A good German course in Frankfurt does not just teach technically correct German. The overall conditions should also be right, which is why a good German course in Frankfurt should ideally meet these eight criteria:

  1. Recognised proficiency levels according to the CEFR (A1–C2)
  2. Qualified teachers
  3. Small study groups
  4. Targeted exam preparation (telc, Goethe, TestDaF)
  5. Flexible course formats
  6. Funding opportunities 
  7. Transparent pricing
  8. Multiple locations

A tip for you: Before you enrol, you can check these 8 criteria and compare the German courses objectively. That way, you’ll find the best German course in Frankfurt for you.

A comparison of 8 criteria: A good German course in Frankfurt should meet these 8 criteria

1. Recognised proficiency levels according to the CEFR (A1–C2)

According to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), language skills are categorised into proficiency levels. What does this mean? Each language level provides information on how proficient you are in the language in question. There are therefore six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. A good German course in Frankfurt should always make it clear which level the course is aimed at and which level you can achieve upon completion of the course.

If you’re a complete beginner, the A1 level is just right for you: no prior language skills are required for A1. The highest level is C2: this certifies that you have language skills equivalent to those of a native speaker.

Remember: it’s best to check the language level first and foremost. A good German course in Frankfurt will state the language level directly in the course description. If you can’t find any information about the language level, this is generally a very bad sign and may indicate an unprofessional and poorly organised German course.

2. Qualified teachers

A teacher’s qualifications are a key indicator of a good German course. You should therefore always pay attention to the qualifications listed for the teachers: Is the teacher a native speaker? Or are they perhaps studying German, or already a qualified teacher or university lecturer?

Why are teachers’ qualifications so important? Trained teachers and lecturers possess considerable pedagogical expertise because they have been specifically trained to teach. This means they are experts in imparting knowledge and are familiar with specialised methods to explain grammar to you in the most effective way and provide targeted support when you encounter difficulties.

Bear in mind: the better the teacher’s training, the higher the quality of the German course in Frankfurt.

3. Small learning groups

The smaller the learning group, the more personalised the support each participant receives from the teacher. You should therefore always check the number of people taking part in the German course before you enrol. Information regarding the size of the learning group is usually listed in the course description:

  • Private tuition, one-to-one, individual tuition, individual course
    These course titles all refer to one-to-one tuition. For you, this means you are alone with the teacher and have their full support.
  • Duo course
    A ‘duo course’ refers to a two-to-one tuition arrangement. This means there is a second person in the German course with you. Accordingly, two participants are taught by one teacher.
  • Small-group course, Classic
    These course titles refer to small learning groups. As a rule, small learning groups consist of 4–6 people.
  • Group course
    This course title refers to a standard group course. The course size is not specified here. There could be 4–6 people, or even up to 30 people, taking part in the German course.

Bear in mind: the smaller the learning group, the more individual support you will receive from the teacher. Therefore, pay particular attention to the course titles. These can often give you a good indication of the size of the learning groups.

4. Targeted exam preparation (telc, Goethe, TestDaF)

A good German course in Frankfurt should always be well-organised and work towards a specific goal. What does that mean? It must be clear from the outset which exam the German course is preparing you for, or what language level you can achieve through the German course in Frankfurt.

What is a language level?

Language proficiency is divided into six levels in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2.

The advantage: if you state your language level, the person you’re speaking to will know straight away what language skills you have. This information is important for job applications, employers or even universities.

What language exams are there?

The best-known language exams are: the telc certificate, the Goethe Certificate and the TestDaF.

  • telc certificate: The word ‘telc’ is an abbreviation for ‘The European Language Certificates’. This is the leading language certificate, recognised throughout Europe. You can obtain a telc certificate in many languages (including German, English, Turkish, Ukrainian and Russian).
  • Goethe Certificate: The Goethe Certificate is an internationally recognised proof of your language proficiency. You can use a Goethe Certificate to demonstrate your knowledge of German worldwide.
  • TestDaF: The abbreviation “TestDaF” stands for “Test of German as a Foreign Language”. This is the most relevant German language test for prospective students. As an international student, you will generally need to take the TestDaF in order to study at a German university, as you will be required to demonstrate your German language skills.

5. Flexible course formats

A good German course is always offered in flexible formats. What does that mean? German courses should be organised in a variety of ways: face-to-face courses, online courses, intensive courses, one-to-one courses and evening courses. This gives you the widest possible choice of German courses. It is the only way to choose a German course that suits you.

  • Face-to-face courses: A face-to-face course takes place in the traditional way at the Frankfurt language school.
  • Online course: An online course is a German course that takes place partly or entirely online. Consequently, you can take part in an online course regardless of your location.
  • Intensive course: In an intensive course, many sessions take place within a very short period of time. This enables you to reach your desired language level more quickly or to plan your time more effectively if you are pressed for time.
  • One-to-one course: One-to-one courses are private lessons. This means you are taught one-to-one by a teacher. In a one-to-one course, everything is tailored to you and your individual learning goals.
  • Evening course: An evening course takes place in the evenings, which is why it is particularly suitable for working people. You can therefore easily fit an evening course around your working day. Evening courses can take place either in person (= face-to-face course) or online (online course).

Bear in mind: The language school should offer a German course with a format that suits your needs and your lifestyle. It’s best to check this before you enrol.

6. Funding options

Apart from paying out of your own pocket, there are other ways to fund a German course: these include the Education Voucher from the Job Centre, state-funded integration courses, or employer subsidies. A good German course must be affordable and not leave you broke. That is why a language school should always offer a range of funding options for a good German course. A good language school will inform you about the individual funding options available and help you find the German course best suited to your needs.

  • Education voucher from the Job Centre: The Job Centre’s education voucher is a very well-known funding option for a German course. Through this scheme, the Job Centre provides financial support for your vocational further training, for which a German course qualifies.
  • State-funded integration courses: These are free integration courses funded by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
  • Employer grants: There is also the possibility of receiving financial support from your employer for a German course. It is best to discuss this with your employer.

Bear in mind: a good German course in Frankfurt must be affordable for you, which is why the language school should accept various forms of financial support. A good language school recognises the different options available, will advise you on them and work with you to find the German course that’s just right for you.

 

7. Transparent pricing

You can recognise a good German course in Frankfurt by the fact that all costs are clearly listed before you enrol: the prices for a German course should be disclosed and explained in the course description right from the start. This is essential to avoid hidden costs after signing the contract, which may exceed your budget. Pay close attention to the prices for each German course and check the small print or asterisks (*) in particular. This is the only way you can plan your finances and choose the best possible German course for you.

Bear in mind: with a good German course in Frankfurt, you should know how much it costs right from the start. If you have to search long and hard for the prices, or if they are perhaps impossible to find, this is usually a sign of a dubious German course and hidden costs.

8. Multiple locations

Frankfurt is one of Germany’s largest cities, which is why it can sometimes take several hours to travel from one place to another. A good German course should be located near you. That way, the German course will fit perfectly into your daily routine.

Remember: a good German course in Frankfurt should be close to where you live, so that you can integrate it seamlessly into your daily routine. It’s therefore best to check the locations of the language schools.

Case study: The iQ Lingua language school

To help you better understand the criteria, here is an example: the language school iQ Lingua. iQ Lingua offers German courses in Frankfurt am Main, both face-to-face and online, and easily meets all eight of the criteria listed.

1. Language levels:

The language school iQ Lingua offers German courses for all language levels from A1 to C1. In addition, iQ Lingua provides a free placement test to ensure you are placed in the most suitable course.

2. Teachers:

All German courses at iQ Lingua are taught by qualified teachers with teaching experience. You will therefore be taught by at least one native German speaker; very often, these are qualified teachers and lecturers who tailor the course content to your individual needs. Furthermore, iQ Lingua carries out regular classroom observations to ensure the quality of its German courses.

3. Learning groups:

The learning groups at iQ Lingua are small, with a maximum of 12 participants. This ensures that you receive personalised support.

4. Exam preparation:

The iQ Lingua language school is an official telc licence partner. You can therefore sit exams for levels A1 to C1 directly at your language school. In addition, the German courses at iQ Lingua can also prepare you for the following exams: DSH, TestDaF, TestAS and WiDaF.

Good to know: To obtain a telc licence, language schools must meet certain requirements, such as providing an extract from the commercial register proving that the school is a legally registered company; the school must have been offering face-to-face language courses for at least one year; and it must fulfil specific requirements regarding premises, technical facilities and staffing. The integrity and quality of iQ Lingua have therefore already been verified by an external body.

5. Course formats:

In Frankfurt am Main, iQ Lingua offers a wide range of course formats to suit your individual needs: you can take part in group, one-to-one, intensive and evening courses, either online or in person at the centre. You can join group courses at any time. The intensive courses have monthly start dates.

6. Funding:

At iQ Lingua in Frankfurt am Main, German courses may be financially supported by your employer. The centre also offers state-funded courses that meet visa requirements, including the necessary application documents.

7. Transparent pricing:

At iQ Lingua, transparent course fees with no hidden costs are a top priority. A Classic course in Frankfurt am Main starts from just €9.55 per lesson. Intensive courses start from as little as €6.05 per hour. You can also book a free trial lesson with iQ Lingua and then decide which German course you’d like to take.

8. Multiple locations:

iQ Lingua has several locations in and around Frankfurt am Main: Frankfurt am Main, Hanau and Offenbach. This means you can choose the German course closest to you and save yourself long journeys.

Extras offered by iQ Lingua in its German course

At iQ Lingua, a comprehensive needs assessment is carried out before you enrol on a German course. What does this mean? You will receive detailed advice and support in finding the right German course for your language skills and needs. An initial needs assessment is carried out over the phone, followed by a second stage in person at the relevant language school. There, you can ask any further questions and have a look around the language school.

iQ Lingua provides you with a free German learning centre: there you will find a comprehensive range of free grammar resources, including exercises, which you can read and complete without having to enrol on a German course. This allows you to get an idea of the quality of the course content in advance and start learning German right away – completely free of charge.

The iQ Lingua language school also offers a free German learning plan. There you’ll find a ready-made mini-course, including short grammar lessons and exercises, which you’ll receive regularly by email. So you can start learning German straight away.

The iQ Lingua language school is an official telc licence partner. What does this mean? You can sit the exams for levels A1 to C1 directly at your language school, and you will receive your telc certificate immediately after completing your German course. In addition, the German courses at iQ Lingua can also prepare you for these further exams: DSH, TestDaF, TestAS and WiDaF.

Also worth noting: to obtain a telc licence, language schools must meet certain requirements, such as providing an extract from the commercial register proving that the school is a legally registered company; the school must have been offering face-to-face language courses for at least one year; and it must fulfil specific requirements regarding premises, technical facilities and staffing. This means that iQ Lingua’s reliability and quality have already been verified by an external body.

As an additional learning option, iQ Lingua also offers an online learning portal featuring Linn, the AI language tutor. Linn explains German grammar and vocabulary to you. This means you can work on your German skills 24/7 with Linn’s support.

As part of a needs assessment, iQ Lingua also offers free placement tests to help determine your language level and thus find the right German course for you.

Language school, adult education centre or Goethe-Institut: Which type of provider is best for me?

When looking for a German course in Frankfurt, you can generally choose between three types of provider:

  • a private language school
  • an adult education centre
  • a Goethe-Institut

These types of provider differ mainly in terms of flexibility, group size and prices:

Private language school

  • Strengths

    Flexible formats, small groups, personalised support, quick start dates

  • Best suited for

    Rapid progress, career goals, targeted exam preparation

Adult education centre

  • Strengths

    Good value, lots of branches, wide range of general services

  • Best suited for

    Budget-conscious learners with no fixed time constraints

Goethe-Institut

  • Strengths

    Internationally recognised certificates, high brand awareness

  • Best suited for

    Official qualifications, learners abroad

Checklist: How to find the best German course in Frankfurt

You can check the following points before enrolling on a German course in Frankfurt:

  • Does the language school offer a free placement test?
  • Are the proficiency levels clearly indicated according to the CEFR (A1 to C2)?
  • How large are the class sizes?
  • When does the German course start and how long does it last?
  • What qualifications do the teachers have?
  • Is the language school a licensed examination centre (e.g. for testDaF, telc and Goethe Certificate)?
  • Is there a course format that suits my daily routine (intensive, evening, online, one-to-one, group)?
  • Does the German course take place near me, or will I have to travel a long way?
  • Is a free trial lesson offered?
  • Are funding options (e.g. education vouchers, integration courses, employer-funded support) supported?
  • Are the prices clearly displayed before enrolment?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about German courses in Frankfurt

The price of a German course always depends on the language school and the course format you choose. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that the larger the group, the cheaper the German course usually is. This means that one-to-one lessons are often the most expensive, whilst group courses are cheaper.

For example: The language school iQ Lingua offers intensive German courses in Frankfurt from €6.05 per lesson. The Classic courses in Frankfurt cost €9.55 per lesson.

To apply for naturalisation, you need sufficient knowledge of German at language level B1 (in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This applies to every federal state across Germany, including Frankfurt. You can prove your language level with a Goethe Certificate or a telc certificate. Ideally, you should always check whether the German course prepares you for one of these certificates and the required language level. If you need further information on this, you can enquire at the relevant language school.

Please note: As a general rule, you can progress by one language level per German course. On average, a German course lasts three months, with one to two sessions per week. However, the duration may vary depending on the course format you choose.

For example, if you book an intensive course at the iQ Lingua language school, you can choose a course duration of 2, 4 or 6 months, depending on the language level you wish to achieve. With a Classic course at iQ Lingua, you can reach the next language level in 4 months.

The duration of the German course therefore depends on the course format, the frequency of the sessions and the target language level.

You should consider which language level you’d like to reach by when and how much time you have available for this (work, university, etc.). The next step is to find a German course that suits you and your lifestyle.

That depends on a number of factors: adult education centres are more affordable, and you’ll usually find one in every town. Private language schools, on the other hand, generally offer smaller groups, more flexible timetables and more intensive support. If you want to learn quickly or have a specific career goal in mind, you’re often better off at a private language school. If you’re not under such time pressure, you’ll be just as happy at an adult education centre.

Yes. There is a possibility that your employer may subsidise your German course. It’s best to ask your employer about this.

The best German course in Frankfurt?

The German course that’s right for you!

Always choose the German course that best suits you and your lifestyle. You can assess this objectively before enrolling and compare different German courses by taking into account the eight criteria discussed here:

  1. Recognised proficiency levels according to the CEFR (A1–C2)
  2. Qualified teachers
  3. Small learning groups
  4. Targeted exam preparation (telc, Goethe, TestDaF)
  5. Flexible course formats
  6. Funding opportunities
  7. Transparent pricing
  8. Multiple locations

An excellent example of a language school in Frankfurt that meets all 8 criteria is iQ Lingua:

This provider runs German courses throughout Germany, both online and face-to-face, for all proficiency levels from A1 to C2 across Germany; it is an official telc licence partner, works with qualified teachers in small learning groups (maximum 12 participants) and offers various course formats tailored to your individual needs; it also gives you the opportunity to take a free placement test and a free trial lesson, and has several locations in Frankfurt and the surrounding area: Frankfurt am Main, Hanau and Offenbach. This means you can avoid long journeys and focus entirely on learning German.

Take a free placement test, book your free trial lesson and get started straight away at iQ Lingua.

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