Learn German with live online classes and lessons

The German language, Deutsch, is a West Germanic language mainly spoken in Central Europe. It is the most widely spoken and official or co-official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Italian province of South Tyrol. It is also a co-official language of Luxembourg, Belgium and parts of southwestern Poland, as well as a national language in Namibia. German is the second most widely spoken Germanic language after English. German is also widely taught as a foreign language, especially in Europe, where it is the third-most taught foreign language after English and French, and the United States. One of the major languages of the world, German is a native language to almost 100 million people worldwide and is spoken by a total of over 130 million people. It is the most spoken native language within the European Union. The German-speaking countries are ranked fifth in terms of annual publication of new books, with one-tenth of all books (including e-books) in the world being published in German.

Lingoda

Lingoda is a well-known online language-learning service that combines convenience, high-quality instruction, and a low cost. Their system is versatile, allowing you to choose between individual classes (lessons scheduled at your convenience) and group classes (lessons scheduled at a set time). At $9.50 per session, the group class is reasonably priced, with classes typically containing three to five students.

Lingoda also offers a certificate based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which can be useful for students studying abroad or professionals looking for work in a German-speaking country that requires a certain level of proficiency. After completing 90 percent of your chosen proficiency level, you will be awarded your certificate.

DeutschAkademie

DeutschAkademie is an app that is free and contains approximately 50,000 grammar and vocabulary exercises, 800 hours of interactive online classes, and a free audio course. In contrast to other popular free apps like Duolingo or Babbel, which have quickly become overwhelming and impersonal, DeutschAkademie is specifically designed for learning German and has an online forum where a native German teacher will personally answer your questions. DeutschAkademie, which is structured according to the CEFR framework’s six double levels (A1 to C2), allows you to easily jump back into learning German if you’ve already started and guides your continued progress. However, as with many low-cost options, the free course is best used for practise rather than learning the structure of the language. If you like the free app, you can upgrade to one of the company’s paid online live courses, which cost $60 to $150. A free language assessment test and a tutor, as well as a small class size, are included in the majority of course options.

Rocket Languages

Regardless of how you learn, Rocket German covers all of the fundamentals. You could begin with a crash course in functional German using a series of podcasts with written transcripts, flashcards for memorising vocabulary for listening comprehension, quizzes to test yourself, and even speaking software that corrects your pronunciation. The beginner course walks students through the nitty-gritty grammar exercises before moving on to the “language and culture” course, which delves deeper into grammar and vocabulary specificities. The mobile app, on the other hand, allows learners to access the 20- to 30-minute lessons while on the go. The courses are divided into three levels, each of which costs $150, with an instant lifetime access to your purchase and 60 days money back guarantee if dissatisfied with the content. 

GermanPod101 is a collection of thousands of podcasts and videos in German that are sourced from native German speakers and discuss real-life situations, giving you a good idea of what to expect from a real conversation with a German speaker. For an auditory learner, GermanPod101 is a godsend. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re an Absolute Beginner, a Beginner, an Intermediate, an Upper Intermediate, or an Advanced. Your personal dashboard will show your level-specific lesson plans as well as track your progress. During a 7-day free trial, a learner will also have full access to premium content, voice recording tools, interactive lesson quizzes, and a German audio dictionary, among other platform features; however, paid subscriptions after 7 days will only offer select features depending on the plan chosen (Basic at $4, Premium at $10, and Premium Plus at $23).

The Premium edition includes a personalised learning programme that includes assignments and assessments from a dedicated teacher. Students are advised to seek out alternative resources in order to improve their vocabulary, writing and reading skills, and pronunciation. 

Goethe-Institut

With offices from New York to Cairo, the Goethe-Institut is a highly regarded cultural institution dedicated to sharing and promoting German culture around the world. It provides CEFR-compliant courses (A1 to C2). The Goethe-Institut provides classes without a teacher or with a teacher (depending on the students’ preferences), in an online group or individual classes. There is also an option for teenagers aged 14 to 17. While the Goethe-Institut lessons are the most traditional of the online German classes, they are also the most expensive. While $835 for individual lessons with a teacher for approximately 6 months may appear to be expensive, it is the cheapest in the industry and comes with a certificate of attendance, which could be useful for students looking to study abroad or professionals applying to jobs in Germany. 

The language has been influential in the fields of science and technology, where it is the second most commonly used scientific language and among the most widely used languages on websites.  The majority of its vocabulary derives from the ancient Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family, while a smaller share is partly derived from Latin and Greek, along with fewer words borrowed from French and Modern English. Modern Standard German is a West Germanic language in the Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages.  

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