How to learn German in Berlin

If you move to Berlin, you should learn German. In this guide, I show you different ways of learning German in Berlin: language schools, German apps, language tandems and more. I also show you how to get free German classes.

Do I need to speak German in Berlin?

No, but it’s a good idea. You can live in Berlin without speaking German. Many Germans speak English. Most immigrants speak English. There are many English-speaking jobs in Berlin. There are English-speaking doctors, lawyers, accountants and banks. Many people live in Berlin for years, and never learn German.

But if you don’t speak German, life is more stressful:

You don’t always get help in English. Some employees only speak German, even at the immigration office.
You can’t ask questions, negotiate, or solve problems without help. You need German-speaking friends to make phone calls and write emails for you.
You receive important letters that you don’t understand. You need someone to translate them for you.
It’s harder to make friends and join communities. You live in the expat bubble.
It’s harder to find an apartment.
It’s harder to find a job. Many jobs require German. There are fewer jobs in your language.

If you speak German, life is easier:

You can solve your own problems. You don’t need help to make phone calls or send emails.
You can participate in your community. People are happier to talk to you. It’s easier to meet people and make friends.
You understand what is happening around you. You can read signs, letters and news articles.

If you just moved to Germany, German classes can help you make friends and learn about German culture.

To study in Berlin

Some German universities have programmes in English, but most are only in German. If you want to study in German, you must speak German at a B1 to C1 level. You might need an official language certificate¹ to enrol in university.

Useful link: Search for university programmes in English – DAAD

To get your permanent residence

To apply for a permanent residence, you need a B1 language test certificate.² If you have a Blue Card, you only need an A1 certificate.

To get the German citizenship

To apply for German citizenship, you need a B1 language test certificate. If you speak German at a C1 level, you can get German citizenship 2 years earlier.³

How long does it take to learn German?

There are 6 levels of German.⁴ The levels are often divided in two. For example, B1.1, and B1.2. To know your level, take a placement test. Most language schools can do placement tests on the phone.

A1 – Beginner
You know basic words and expressions. You know very simple sentences for specific situations. You can answer simple questions about yourself, or order at the restaurant.
A2 – Basic
You understand a few sentences and expressions about family, shopping, work and giving directions. You have simple, direct conversations about certain topics.
B1 – Intermediate
You can understand what people say when they talk in a simple language about certain topics. You can do things like open a bank account without help.
B2 – Upper intermediate
You can understand complex texts, and complex discussions about topics you understand. You can express yourself, and have a conversation with native German speakers.
C1 – Fluent
You can express yourself easily. You don’t need to think about what you will say. You can write texts about complex topics. Many native German speakers are at this level.⁵
C2 – Master
You speak and write better than many native speakers. You can read and write academic texts.

Related link: Description of each language level

To complete one level, you need to take 50 to 100 teaching units (Unterrichtseinheit).⁶ Each teaching unit is 45 minutes.⁶ When you complete a level, you get a certificate.

If you take an intensive course, you can finish each level in 4 to 8 weeks.⁷ You can speak German in only a few months.

If you only take a lesson or two per week, you will need more time. You can speak German in 2 or 3 years. It also depends on how much you practice. If you only speak English with your friends and colleagues, it will take longer.

If you don’t take classes and you don’t practice, you will never really learn German.

German classes in Berlin

If you want to take classes in person, you can go to a language school, or get German lessons through your employer.

At work

Many employers will pay for German classes. Some will even have German classes at the office. You can learn German with your colleagues, and it’s free. The groups are usually very small: 2 to 6 people.

You can also take an educational leave (Bildungsurlaub). You can take up to 5 paid days to get training. You have to pay for the class, but your employer keeps paying your salary.

Public language schools

Goethe Institut
Goethe is a non-profit German cultural association.⁸ They offer online and offline classes.
Volkshochschule (VHS)
The community colleges (Volkshochschule) have German classes. To join a class, you must take a placement test. I tried to take classes at the VHS, but found it too difficult to sign up for classes.

Private language schools

Private language schools have smaller group sizes: 7 to 15 people. They sometimes offer special services like accommodation, or relocation help. Some schools also have business German classes, and private (one teacher, one student) lessons.

Most private schools also offer online classes.

Deutsche Akademie für Sprachen
Regular and intensive classes in Prenzlauer Berg. Private lessons are available.
DeutSCHule
Intensive classes in Neukölln.
GLS Language School
Regular and intensive German classes in Prenzlauer Berg. Private lessons are available. They also offer accommodation,⁹ and summer camps for kids and teens.
Kapitel Zwei
Regular and intensive German classes in Mitte, near Alexanderplatz. Private lessons and exam preparation courses are available. They also offer accommodation.¹⁰
LOGO Sprachenschule
Regular and intensive German classes in Prenzlauer Berg, near S-Bahn Schönhauser Allee.
Mapamundi
Everyday and business German courses, online or in person.
Speakeasy
Regular, intensive and super intensive courses in Friedrichshain. Private lessons are available. They can also help with your language visa application. They sometimes organise workshops and events.
sprachart
Regular and evening courses in Kreuzberg. Groups of 6 to 14 people. Private lessons are available.
sprachenatelier
Regular and intensive courses in Friedrichshain. Private lessons are available. They offer summer courses and language learning trips to Berlin.
Sprachsalon Berlin
Regular and intensive courses in Kreuzberg. Groups of 6 to 12 people. Private lessons are available. They also host events.
Sprachinstitut Berlin
Regular and intensive German classes in Mitte. Groups 4 to 8 people. Private lessons are available. They offer pronunciation training and other special classes.
Zeitgeist Zentrum
Regular and intensive German classes in Wedding. Groups of 6 to 12 people. They also have cultural events and a co-working space.

Private teachers

If you want small groups, or one-to-one lessons, get a private teacher. This is a more expensive option, but it lets you learn much faster. You can ask more questions, and skip the things you already understand.

Most language schools offer private lessons.

Chatterbug
This is my favourite way to learn German. You get one-to-one online video lessons with German teachers. There are lessons every hour, so you can make your own schedule. If you don’t like your teacher, you can always pick a different one. It’s also very cheap.
Italki
Similar to Chatterbug. You get one-to-one online video lessons with German teachers. Each teacher charges a different price.
Lingoda
Lingoda lets you have video classes with a teacher. You can have 1-to-1 classes, or join a group of 3 to 5 people. Lingoda is not as good as Chatterbug: the platform is worse, you can’t keep the same teachers, it’s harder to cancel classes, and it’s twice as expensive. You receive a certificate when you complete a level.

German classes online

Most of the language schools in Berlin offer online classes.

There are also many language learning apps for German:

Chatterbug
Private video lessons with a private teacher. You can book lessons every hour, so you can make your own schedule. Your teacher helps you complete exercises, and asks you questions. You can skip exercises you understand, or slow down to ask questions. If you don’t like your teacher, you can find a new one. It’s a great way to practice German conversations. In my opinion, this is the best way to learn German. Many of my friends also love it.
Babbel
Regular language lesson without a teacher. You learn German vocabulary and grammar, one module at the time. I used Babbel a lot when I moved to Germany. I like that it teaches you the grammar, and lets you choose what to study. I found it too boring.
Duolingo – free
This is a famous language learning app. It’s more interesting than Babbel, but the mobile app does not explain the grammar really well. I find Duolingo too limited. I recommend Babbel or Chatterbug instead.
Deutschable
Stream recorded videos of real beginner German lessons online.
Italki
Private video lessons with language teachers. Each teacher charges a different price. You can talk with your teacher on the Italki website, Zoom, Facetime, Skype or another tool.¹¹
Lingoda – from €11 per lesson
Lingoda lets you have video classes with a teacher. You can have 1-to-1 classes, or join a group of 3-5 people. Lingoda is not as good as Chatterbug: the platform is worse, you can’t keep the same teachers, it’s harder to cancel classes, and it’s twice as expensive. You receive a certificate when you complete a level.
Memrise – €5 per month
Regular language lesson without a teacher.

Language tandems

In a language tandem, you teach someone your language, and they teach you their language. It lets you learn and practice a language while making friends.

Language Tandem Berlin – Facebook, over 35,000 members
Find Your Tandem – Facebook, over 15,000 members
Language exchange events – Meetup.com
Tandem program at FU Berlin
Tandem.net – Built in Berlin
HelloTalk – Language tandem app

Workshops and events

Speakeasy and Sprachsalon Berlin sometimes organise workshops and events. It’s a good way to learn the language and make new friends. There are more language learning events on Meetup.com.

How to pay less for German classes

Ask your employer

Your employer might offer free German classes in your office. It’s very common. They might also pay for German classes. Many employers have a training budget for their employees.

Training voucher (AVGS or Bildungsgutschein)

If you are unemployed, or at risk of being unemployed, the Agentur für Arbeit can pay for your German classes. They give you a training voucher (Bildungsgutschein) or an AVGS voucher that pays for your classes. Some private schools don’t accept training vouchers.

How to apply for a Bildungsgutschein – CareerFoundry

Schools that accept training vouchers (in German) – Agentur für Arbeit

Unemployment benefits in Germany

DAAD scholarships

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers scholarships (Stipendium) for taking an intensive German summer course. You can find more language scholarships in different scholarship databases.

Useful links:

German courses with scholarships – DAAD
Scholarship database – DAAD

Educational leave (Bildungsurlaub)

You can take up to 10 days off to study German. During that time, you still get paid. This is your right. Your employer must allow it, with a few exceptions.

How the Bildungsurlaub works

Are German classes tax-deductible?

No. You can’t deduct German classes from your income tax.¹² If you are self-employed, you can get a VAT refund for it.¹³

If you learn another language (like Spanish or Italian), and it’s required for your work, then it’s tax-deductible as a work expense (Werbungskosten).

Personal recommendations

Since I moved to Berlin in 2015, I have tried different ways of learning German. I was not always motivated, but I finally found good resources to help me.

German classes

I used Babbel to learn the basic. It’s useful, but really boring. Duolingo was more interesting, but it did not teach me any grammar (maybe it changed).

I also took German classes at work. It’s nice because your employer pays for it. Sometimes, you even get lessons during work hours. If you are paid to learn German, do it!

Later, I wanted to take classes at the Volkshochschule, but I could not understand how to do it. Their website is really confusing.

When you take German classes, the teacher makes a big difference. If you get a good teacher, you learn a lot faster. Group size is also important. In a small group, you can ask a lot of questions. Private lessons are even better, because you control the lesson.

Now, I use Chatterbug, and I love it. Many of my friends also love it. I can book 45 minute blocks anytime I want, with any teacher I want. It’s very flexible. I can’t stay focused in class, so I take 45 minute lessons in the morning. Sometimes, I do the exercises, and sometimes I just talk with my teacher. It’s a great way to practice German conversation. There are also self-study exercises, but I don’t use them.

Useful websites and apps

I use dict.cc to translate words. It’s the best German dictionary I know. They also have an app.

I use Linguee to find examples. It shows you how words are used in a sentence, next to their translation.

I use DeepL to translate longer texts. It’s much better than Google Translate.

Other tips

Switch your browser to German. When you search for something on Google, you get German results first. It forces you to read more German. You will also get the German version of the page.
I like to read news with Google News, and watch German documentaries on Arte. Karambolage is really interesting. I play documentaries in the background when I work. I also listen to the news in German with the rbb24 podcast. Deutsche Welle also has a podcast where someone reads the news slowly. It’s much easier to understand.
There are many language learning communities. I like /r/german a lot. Their wiki has a lot of useful information.

Sources and footnotes