How do I find the best language school for a German course?

The following guide provides a brief and concise summary of the seven most important criteria to help you decide which language school is best for you:

• What makes a good German language school?
• A comparison of 7 criteria
• Case study: the iQ Lingua language school
• Checklist: Finding the best language school for a German course
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Summary

At a good language school, you don’t just learn grammatically correct German. A good language school should also meet the following seven 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

Best of all, you can check all these criteria before you enrol and compare the providers objectively. This will help you find the best German language school for you.

2. Qualified teachers

One indicator of a good German course is the teacher’s training. You should therefore look specifically at the teachers’ qualifications: Is the teacher a native speaker, and are they perhaps studying German? Might the teacher even be a qualified teacher or a university lecturer?

Why is teacher training important? Trained teachers and lecturers generally have a great deal of pedagogical knowledge. This means that they have been specifically trained to impart knowledge and are familiar with specialised methods for explaining grammar to you in the most effective way and providing you with targeted support when you encounter difficulties.

Bear in mind: the higher the standard of teachers’ training, the better.

3. Small learning groups

The smaller the learning groups, the more individual attention each pupil receives. You should therefore pay attention to the size of the learning groups before deciding on a German course. German courses are often listed on a language school’s website according to the type of teaching:

• Private tuition, one-to-one, one-to-one lessons, one-to-one course
  These course titles indicate one-to-one tuition. This means you are alone with the teacher and have the teacher’s undivided attention for the entire session.
• Duo course
  These course titles indicate a 2:1 tutor-to-student ratio. This means that, apart from you, there is only one other person in the German course. You will therefore be supported by a teacher as a pair.
• Small-group course, Classic
  These course titles refer to small learning groups. Small learning groups usually consist of 4–6 participants.
• Group course
  This course title usually refers to a group course. The course size is not specified here. There could be 4–6 participants, or up to 30. It’s best to enquire if you’re unsure.

Bear in mind: the smaller the group size, the more individual support you’ll receive from the teacher. The names of the German courses can give you a good indication of the size of the learning groups.

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

A good German course should be well-organised and work towards a specific goal. In other words, it must be clear that, with the help of a German course, you will be able to sit a particular exam or reach a specific language level.

What is a language level?

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

The advantage is that if you state your language level, the person you’re speaking to will know straight away what language skills you have. It’s important for job applications, employers and even universities to know this.

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’ stands for ‘The European Language Certificates’. This is a language certificate that is recognised throughout Europe. You can take the telc certificate in many languages (including German, English, Turkish, Ukrainian and Russian).
• Goethe Certificate: The Goethe Certificate is an internationally recognised qualification that attests to your language proficiency. With a Goethe Certificate, you can therefore demonstrate your knowledge of German anywhere in the world.
• TestDaF: The term ‘TestDaF’ stands for ‘Test of German as a Foreign Language’. This is the most relevant German language examination if you are an international student wishing to study at a German university and need to prove your knowledge of German.

5. Flexible course formats

A good language school will offer flexible course formats. This means there is a range of courses organised in different ways: face-to-face courses, online courses, intensive courses, one-to-one courses and evening courses.

• Face-to-face courses: A face-to-face course takes place in the traditional way, in person at the language school.
• Online course: An online course is a language course that takes place partly or entirely online. This means you can take it from anywhere.
• Intensive course: An intensive course is characterised by the fact that you attend a large number of sessions in a short space 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: A one-to-one course consists of private lessons. This means you receive one-to-one support from a teacher. In a one-to-one course, everything is tailored to you and your individual learning objectives.
• Evening course: An evening course usually takes place in the evening. It is particularly suitable for people in work. This allows you to combine your job with learning German in the best possible way. Evening courses can take place either in person (= face-to-face course) or online (online course).

Remember: Check whether the language school offers a course format that best suits your needs and your lifestyle.

6. Funding opportunities

As well as paying for the course yourself, there are other ways to fund a German language course: the Education Voucher from the Jobcentre, state-funded integration courses, or employer subsidies. A good language school will be aware of the various funding options available and will also advise you on them, so that you can find the right programme for you and the corresponding German language course.

• Employment Agency education voucher: The Employment Agency’s education voucher is a very well-known funding option for a German language course. The Employment Agency provides financial support for your continuing vocational training, for which a German language course qualifies.
• State-funded integration courses: These are free integration courses funded by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
• Employer subsidies: There is also the possibility of receiving financial support from your employer for a German language course. It is best to speak to your employer about this.

Please note: There are various funding options available for German language courses. A good language school will be aware of the different funding options, advise you on them and work with you to identify the most suitable German language course.

7. Transparent pricing

A good language school is transparent about the prices of its German courses: all costs should be disclosed and explained. This is very important so that, once you’ve signed the contract, you don’t end up having to pay any hidden costs that might exceed your budget. Check the costs for each German course and pay particular attention to the small print or asterisks (*). This will help you plan your finances and make the best choice for you.

Bear in mind: a good language school always provides clear information about the prices and all other costs associated with its German courses. Hidden costs are always a sign of an untrustworthy provider.