“If you've never studied German before or think you know nothing about it, you might be in for a little surprise. You already know many German words. And you have the advantage of being an English speaker, which means that your knowledge of that language will be a helpful tool for learning German efficiently and comfortably.”
― The Everything Learning German Book: Speak, Write and Understand Basic German in No Time"
Historian. Littérateur. Scientist. Linguist. Polyglot. International Lawyer. Immigrant. For fun.
No matter your reason for learning German, the perfect tutor to teach you what you need to know is out there.
Whether you’re an absolute beginner, a student wanting to improve, or an advanced user wanting to learn specialized vocabulary, getting in touch with a private German tutor is a great idea.
See the various German classes in Pune.
What Kind of Instruction Do You Require?
The first thing to do before seeking out lessons from a German language trainer is to establish what is your current level of knowledge.
This may sound obvious, but it’s an important aspect of your student profile to establish because not all teachers are looking for students of your skill level. You certainly don’t want to enter a class expecting to be taught the alphabet, only to have the teacher expect you to already know Paritzip II.
You can take a level test to help you work out where you sit in terms of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. These results can be used to help you in your German tutorials.
The intersection of what you already know, what type of German you need to learn, and what the tutor can teach you is the sweet spot for receiving the best instruction possible.
Total Beginner
If you’re a beginner, then this step is simple: You need classes for beginners. You do not already know very much if any, German words or grammar.
You will need an instructor who can effectively teach German from scratch. Also, be sure to research the satisfaction of past students. Did they leave the class learning what they needed? Are they able to read, write, speak, and listen at an adequate level after working with this teacher or establishment?
Remember that the students who graduate from a beginner class will not be experts by the end. You will need to pursue more advanced classes after getting the hang of the basics.
Intermediate Learner
Having intermediate skills is both a blessing and a curse. Unless you are going through one provider’s courses, you might find that there is a mismatch in what you know vs what the teacher thinks you should know.
This is simply because some courses or tutors might teach some intermediate ideas in their beginners' class, but it might not be the same things that the new class expects you to know. For example, maybe your beginner’s course taught you all about colors and animals, but the intermediate course you enroll in assumes you already know about sports and weather.
While you will be behind when learning about those subjects, you will be ahead when the subjects of colors and animals come up.
This is not to dissuade you from joining a class! Remember, you just need to find the right tutor for your needs.
Just like beginners, you can research your prospective tutor or institution and its offerings. Look for a syllabus, student reviews, and accreditation if available. Also, don’t be afraid to get in contact and ask any questions you might have. A school might be able to recommend you a course to better suit you, and a tutor might be able to create a curriculum that suits your needs perfectly.
Advanced Learner, Studying for Accreditation
If you are past the beginner and intermediate stages of learning German, you might be looking for a more niche class.
This is where you will want to find courses or tutors advertising the exact type of vocabulary you need to know about. If you are in the field of science and need to effectively communicate technical scientific terms with German researchers, you will need a course that teaches exactly that.
If you are learning German with the intent to study in Germany, you will need to pass the Test DAF or the DSH language test.
If you need to prove your German comprehension for professional reasons, there are three recognised German exams: ZDfB, Widaf, and BULATS that you can take.
In any case, choosing a program that specifically focuses on your goals is vital. You will want to look for classes that utilize German 100% of the time in the class.
Make a List of What Qualities You’re Looking for in a German Tutor
After you’ve worked out your needs, you need to clarify your expectations.
Like a project manager looking for the best product for their customers, you’re looking for the best German tutor to help you improve your German.
What You Want to Learn
Ensure that your tutor or school is prepared to teach you the specific skills if any, that you require. This is more important if you’re needing to learn business German or another industry-specific vocabulary.
Teaching Style
Are you a methodical and studious pupil who needs their German language learning to be a serious process? Do you need someone to give you firm homework, and deadlines, and push you to succeed? Do you want a structured syllabus that you can print and put in a binder, along with a reading list?
Perhaps you’ll need an experienced and professional tutor or course. In this case, your German exercises will have more of an academic, structured feel.
On the other hand, do you need to speak a lot, discover the culture, and immerse yourself completely in order to learn German quickly? Do you want to be able to learn in a more relaxed, conversational setting? Are you looking to learn for fun, or with a looser time frame?
Maybe a native speaker of German is the best option for you. Native German tutors are often enthusiastic about sharing information about their country as well as teaching the language!
Personality Traits
If you are enrolling in a German program of your own volition, especially if you are doing so for fun, then it is important that you and the tutor are able to mesh well.
For a private tutor, see if you are able to have an informational meeting before you commit so you can see if you match well.
For a course setting, see if the institution will allow you to sit in for part of a class, or allow you to meet with the teacher. In any case, you can again look at past student reviews and see what they had to say about the teaching style.
Browse German language schools easily to find German classes in Bangalore or a city near you!
Define the Practical Aspects of the German Lessons
While the academic aspects are the most important when it comes to intensive German tutorials, you can’t completely ignore the practical aspects of your language course.
Firstly, you need to think about your schedule and when you're usually available for a tutoring session. If you make your availability clear right from the outset, you and your potential tutor will know immediately whether or not you are a match simply due to your schedules.
When working with in-person tutoring or courses, you’ll need to factor in commute time for you and/or the teacher. And if you receive tutoring at home, you’ll need to ensure that there will be no disruptions.
Online lessons offer a little more freedom since the travel portion of the timeframe can usually be cut out. However, you’ll need to ensure you have a quiet place with a strong internet connection. If you can’t get that at home, you’ll need to find a reliable place outside your home to use as your study.
Finding an online tutor also helps you find someone who can teach even during the odd hours of the day or night, since the teacher can teach from home, perhaps as a second job. Additionally, you’ll probably be able to find someone in a different timezone who thinks nothing of giving you 8PM lessons since it’s only 9AM for them!
Try looking for tutors on Superprof who can match all of your requirements for learning German!
Establish Your Budget for Learning German
The cost of German tutoring depends on the level of the lessons, the intensity of the lessons, the frequency of the lessons, and the expertise of the teacher.
A non-professional tutor will cost less than a professional private tutor. An accredited, intensive course that offers a certificate of completion will be more expensive than a learning-for-fun class that meets once per month.
Start taking lessons from a German language class today.
You may need to search around a little to find a teacher or language training course that suits your budget but be assured that there is a program out there that fits your needs.
You may be able to work out a deal or a payment plan with a tutor or an institution, as well. And don’t forget to search for any grants or scholarships that may be available, especially if you are learning German for University!
If all else fails, see if you are able to find someone who can teach German in exchange for another skill. The easiest way to trade is to teach each other a language, but perhaps there is another service you could provide, like landscaping or washing the car.
And don’t forget that there are a lot of free resources available as well. The internet and the library are great resources for free information! It’s not the same as a tutor, of course, but if you are dedicated, you will be able to teach yourself quite a bit!
Pursuing a German Language Course
If you decide that a course, rather than a tutor, is the way you want to go, then you’ll need to ensure the course you are taking will give you the certification you need.
If you’re learning for fun, the accreditation of the course doesn’t matter much, since you won’t need to show a certificate to anyone to prove you learned German.
However, if your intention is to work or study abroad, then you’ll need to be certain that your certificate of completion is recognized by your company or learning institution.
The Goethe Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural center that promotes German culture around the world. It offers various different German courses both online and in-person and is recommended by the German government. The Goethe Institut offers practice and real exams for proving literacy in German.
Find the best German language course here.
Homestays, Linguistic Tourism, and Language Trips
And, just to touch on these concepts, you can also choose a German course which allows you to travel to Germany!
The Goethe Institut is one organization that offers language trips, but there are many companies that specialize in immersion courses.
You can also look into homestays, where a host family allows you to stay with them, perhaps in exchange for work. With this setup, you can learn a lot about German language and culture for less cost.
And finally, if you want to have an educational vacation, you can always plan a stay in Germany and ensure to go out and learn straight from the locals! Though the education won’t be nearly as formal, you’ll learn all sorts of things from all sorts of people.
Remember that there are so many avenues to explore in your German learning journey. You can find tutors, classes, and courses that suit your needs, no matter what they may be!
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