No questions match your search.
How long does a course take?
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My courses take as long as they take. You got 24/7 access for 12 months (only paid courses, free courses don't guarantee any access period). How long it takes for you to work through them is totally up to you, your education, your intelligence, your language learning aptitude, your motivation, your situation, your age, possibly your gender etc.
Nobody can predict how long it will take YOU to finish a level. Learning German at SmarterGerman is NOT about finishing a course but understanding and implementing the knowledge presented to you.
Do not rush anything in your course. Your deadline is made up to begin with. The only exceptions are exams for visa or citizenship.
The most important thing when learning any language is to enjoy doing so. In many language schools intensive courses often take 2-3 months but that doesn't necessarily mean everyone will have reached the designated level by then. If I take a look at the integration course stats of the BAMF, roughly only 50% of students pass B1 after 6 months of intensive classes.
So, try to worry less about how long things take but do your best, work smarter and follow the advice of your teacher.
How much does it cost and how can I pay?
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If you scroll down on my homepage you'll come to a pricing table which shows the current pricing. If you are a student or come from a weak economy and are really motivated to learn German, check out the FAQ right under the pricing table and look for my massive discounts.
Alternative Payment Options? Teachable offers quite a few payment options depending on your country of residence. Check that out first because I got a wonderful deal with them which allows me to offer my courses 5% cheaper. BUT if for whatever reason you can't use any of these options, reach out to me. We'll find a way.
What payment methods do you accept?
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You can pay securely through Teachable: major credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay (if available in your country) and in some countries local payment methods.
Best Practices to Avoid Payment Problems:
- Foreign Currency Transactions - Teachable processes payments in Euro. Your bank must allow foreign currency payments.
- Recurring Payments - Subscriptions require automated recurring billing. Some banks block this by default.
- International Payments - Payments go through Teachable's US-based system. Ensure your bank allows international payments to the US.
Can I pay via IBAN, wire transfer, or bank transfer?
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IBAN is only possible if you live in Germany. I am limited by Teachable but they take care of all payments worldwide, so I prefer to stick to them.
If you can't use any available payment method, reach out to me. We'll find a way.
I only offer a 14 days money back guarantee for 5-year plans. All other memberships can easily be cancelled in time by you yourself.
If you're within 14 days after your purchase, send me a short message saying you'd like your money back. I'll initiate the refund within 24 hours.
Beyond 14 days? There's nothing I can do. After day 14 I'll have paid all taxes and fees already.
Can't pay this month? Don't just sit that out. Reach out to me asap and we'll find a solution. If you sit it out, you'll be unenrolled after 3 email reminders.
Do you offer discounts or scholarships?
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Yes! Check the menu point "Discounts" or the FAQ under the pricing table for Low Budget (9.90/mo) or Scholarship (1/mo) discount.
Do not send me an email. Use the links provided. I will ignore your email.
I trust that you won't abuse my good will and only apply if you truly can't afford the regular price. In return, you owe society the promise to pay this favor forward when you have more money than you need.
When does the course start/end?
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All my courses are proper online courses for self learners - they start when you want to start and end when you want to stop. You can work whenever and wherever you want. There are no live events or meetings with a real tutor included.
If you need support, consider becoming a support member for access to my online community and live Q&A sessions.
How long do I have access?
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You get access as long as your plan says. I got monthly, yearly and 5-year plans. Monthly and yearly renew automatically - make sure to cancel in time if you won't continue. The 5-year plan ends automatically and includes a 14-day money back guarantee.
I can't log in or see my course!
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Don't worry.
Request a new password at smartergerman.com and check your inbox AND spam folder. Common problems: typing "gmial" instead of "gmail" or ".co" instead of ".com".
If that doesn't help, send me a message.
Been unenrolled? If you missed payment instalments, reach out to me and I'll send you a fresh link to reactivate. First time is free, 2nd time costs 10 (easily avoidable - you get 3-4 reminder emails).
Yes, of course. Take a break for weeks or months - when you come back, everything is still there. Worst case (platform migration): just click through lessons to restore your position.
Can I use the course on mobile?
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Yes! The mobile version is beautiful. Use Chrome to avoid technical issues with my custom tools. Unfortunately there's no offline version available.
Teachable's iOS app works for reading and listening, but my custom tools won't work inside it.
What do your courses teach?
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All my courses teach you everything needed to reach the designated level. It's the same stuff you'd learn at Goethe, Berlitz or any other professional language school - just packaged far more interestingly and explained a lot clearer.
How do I know what's my language level?
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Quick Guide by Hours:
- Under 200h = A1
- 200-400h = A2
- 400-600h = B1
- Over 600h = B2/C1
Completed Duolingo/Babbel? That's A2 level max.
If you're near the upper limit, aim for the next level. Try the free trial and see how it feels. I can easily switch your courses within 14 days if you're in the wrong level.
How long does it take to reach each German level?
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Based on the
CEFR framework, here are realistic time estimates to reach each level (assuming 10-15 hours per week of focused study):
A1 (Beginner): 80-200 hours (2-5 months)
Basic phrases, introduce yourself, simple questions.
A2 (Elementary): 200-400 total hours (5-10 months)
Routine tasks, simple conversations about familiar topics.
B1 (Intermediate): 350-650 total hours (9-16 months)
Travel independently, describe experiences, understand main points.
B2 (Upper Intermediate): 600-1000 total hours (15-25 months)
Fluent conversations, understand complex texts, express opinions.
C1 (Advanced): 800-1200 total hours (20-30 months)
Near-native understanding, nuanced expression, academic/professional use.
C2 (Mastery): 1000-1500+ total hours (25-38+ months)
Native-like fluency, effortless understanding of everything.
For details, see my
blog post on German language levels.
Is there speaking practice?
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Yes! I've created techniques to practice speaking on your own: Preaching (A1+), Reading aloud (A1+), Presentations (A2+), Oral translation (B2+). They'll prepare you for real conversations.
From A2 onwards I also recommend languagegym - ridiculously cheap for what you get. Use it to gain confidence speaking. Teaching and correction you get in my courses.
Do I need extra materials?
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No! All courses are complete. Any additional materials I recommend are completely optional.
Courses are not available offline. No downloads like vocab lists because lists are irrelevant for memorizing - they're only useful as overview, which is how I use them.
I'll save you 50+ hours - everything you need is in one place.
Do your courses prepare me for exams?
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My courses provide everything you need to reach the designated level but aren't exam-specific.
For exams I've created prep courses for A1 and B1 (most important exams). A2 is useless; B2 tips are in the B2 course itself. C1 course is closest to exam format.
You can also search online for model exams for your level and institution (TELC or Goethe).
Can I get a certificate?
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No - such a certificate wouldn't be worth the paper. You need a Goethe, TELC or OSD certificate as those are the most acknowledged worldwide.
You can PREPARE with our courses and take those exams as an external examinee. Our courses prepare you as well as theirs.
Proof of completion? While not worth much, I'll reluctantly issue one if you really think it benefits you.
I provide technical support to all members. For personal guidance or language questions, subscribe to my Personal Support Membership.
That gets you access to a dedicated community group where you can ask any question, plus live Q&A sessions in English twice per month (usually Wednesday 6pm Berlin time).
What if I have a technical issue?
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Don't panic! Never invest more than 10 minutes on a technical issue.
Try these fixes (99% success rate):
- Clear browser cache
- Try a different browser (Chrome works best)
- Disable VPN or Ad-Blocker
- Check for company firewalls
Still stuck after trying all measures? Report it - I respond immediately to technical issues.
Do you offer private tutoring?
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Currently not offering 1:1 coaching - I'm focusing on improving courses and supporting online students.
In my opinion, 90% of learners don't need a private tutor. My online courses do the job at a fraction of the cost.
If you really want a tutor, I recommend:
- Alessio Bona (German Grammar Genius course creator)
- Andrea from Lively German (for exam preparation)
How does automatic payment work?
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All payments are taken automatically - you won't receive payment reminders or links. If you subscribed Oct 1, 10am, you'll be charged Nov 1, 10am.
Make sure:
a) Sufficient funds in your account
b) Credit card details are valid (update in account settings)
c) If payment fails, call your bank immediately (especially Indian banks)
Been unenrolled? Don't panic - your progress is saved. Contact me to restore access.
Yes! Invoice is sent automatically after purchase. Save that email as PDF yourself.
Need company details on invoice? Enter everything BEFORE you finalize purchase. On checkout there's a link for businesses to enter VAT ID.
Need changes after purchase? Only option is refund + repurchase with correct details.
How many hours should I study?
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You CAN study 24/7 - you're 100% flexible with no teacher or classmates to wait for.
Study as much as you CAN and ENJOY. If you only have 30min a day, that's how long you study. If you're tired, take a break. If things flow, keep going.
Reference numbers: At 3h/day + homework: 2 months for A1, 2 months A2, 2 months B1, 3 months each for B2 and C1.
Quality beats quantity and speed. Rushing produces crappy German. Take your time, digest what you learn.
Do you have a referral program?
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Yes! When you refer a friend, both of you get 20% discount on next purchase.
You must already be a customer to participate. Find your referral code in account settings.
Limitations (Teachable's rules): can't stack multiple referrals, can't refer existing customers.
Do you accept Bildungsgutschein?
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No. That would be a bureaucratic nightmare and they wouldn't pay anyway since my courses aren't certified and they prefer live classes.
However, you can currently work with my courses for free (A1-B2 as of June 2025). Use them next to your Jobcenter-supported courses. Those teach in German only which I don't recommend based on 25+ years of experience - German should be taught in English (or your mother tongue).
When and where are the classes?
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SmarterGerman offers online courses for self learners. No live classes, no tutor or classmates involved. In my professional opinion, most people don't need one if they have a well-structured course.
100% online - learn wherever you have internet, whenever you want. No traveling to school, no annoying classmates, learn at your own speed.
Not disciplined? Either you are or you aren't - there's nothing you can do to become more disciplined. But that's fine! When you feel overwhelmed or unmotivated, a) give it time - moods pass, and b) reach out to others in my Community.
