Our communication-focused German course consists of lessons taught on our platform that are primarily based around practising speaking and listening skills.  They are supplemented by learning resources posted in the pupils’ area on our website, including extra material upon request to help you focus on specific areas.

In addition to online classes, students will be able to enjoy personal tutorial sessions with any of our teachers to revise or practise the particular skills or topics that they need support with.  Each student can book a maximum of 12 sessions lasting 15 minutes each over the duration of the course, and can use up to 2 sessions at once to have a half-hour tutorial if they wish.  Students who would like to have more than 12 tutorials per year can purchase extra sessions in blocks of 10.

We offer you the flexibility to change group or level over the 12 months of the course as you progress and reach the goals set out at the beginning of your study.  Your teacher will monitor your personal improvement to situate you in the best class according to your individual capacity and needs at all times, giving you the best service and attention possible.

Teachers will use a variety of digital materials that help students to perfect their communication skills in a fun and direct way, developing fluency, pronunciation, general understanding and knowledge of vocabulary.

	Oral expression: students will participate in discussions and debates on a number of culturally significant topics in class, prepare presentations and do speaking activities that challenge them to improve their self-expression in German and become more confident communicators.
	Listening comprehension: we use both formal and informal recordings and videos on current affairs and appealing topics that are appropriate to each level in order to increase pupils’ exposure to all types of spoken German and practise the grammar and vocabulary suitable for their ability.
	Grammar and vocabulary: our teachers will separate grammar into manageable points that students can understand without difficulty or monotony, saving most practice exercises for homework. Vocabulary will be seen in readings and heard in listenings, aided by lists for each topic, and is always explained using definitions and examples.  Students will then put this vocabulary into practice by doing energetic and entertaining activities or playing interactive games.
	Reading comprehension: pupils will work on reading for gist in class and for homework, as well as their ability to comprehend written texts completely and discuss the themes they have read about.  Readings will be on interesting cultural subjects and contemporary issues that widen their general knowledge and expose them to key vocabulary and grammar.
	Written expression: We demonstrate in class how to write different kinds of functional texts that students may need to write in everyday life using a clear and consistent style that native German speakers can understand.  We provide a selection of writing models for pupils to structure their work around, and will set these tasks for homework.

Throughout the course, three tests will be carried out:

• An initial level test, (including an oral assessment)  which will help us to place you in the class best suited to your current level.
• A follow-up test, which will be taken partway through the course in order to check that you have absorbed the material studied so far.
• A final test, which will evaluate how you have assimilated all the content and if you have reached the level set out by the course.

Each level is designed to cover the linguistic needs essential to achieve the proposed objectives.

VOCABULARY:

• Personal information
• Countries, languages, nationalities
• Family
• Food & meals
• Colours
• The home & furnishing
• Numbers
• Time, days, months
• Weather & seasons
• Profession & work
• Public places
• Transport, directions, travel
• Leisure activities
• The body, illness, medical appointments
• Media & telecommunication
• Clothes
• Celebrations

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

• Introduce themselves and others.
• Talk about family and hobbies.
• Arrange meetings and make appointments.
• Give thanks and make requests.
• Inform themselves.
• Describe their daily routine.
• Talk about the past.
• Express agreement and disagreement.
• Describe houses and flats.
• Tell and understand the time and date.
• Have simple conversations.
• Express intentions and wishes.
• Understand and write short texts like postcards or emails.
• Give private and occupational information in the present and past.
• Understand simple instructions and advice.

VOCABULARY:

• Celebrations
• Social life & relationships
• Feelings, conflicts, advice
• School & education
• Work & jobs
• House & home
• Travel & holidays
• Food & meals
• Sport & health
• Wishes & dreams
• Communication & the media
• City & urban life
• Weather
• Services & facilities
• Hobbies & interests
• Events
• Plans & goals

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

• Talk about everyday situations.
• Understand notifications at the workplace.
• Invite somebody.
• Give advice and express opinions.
• Speak about past plans and wishes.
• Express and ask about interests.
• Ask for favours and make recommendations.
• Write and understand short text messages.
• Make a phone call at the workplace.
• Understand propositions about education.
• Make a proposal and react to it.
• Express their opinions.
• Understand and give directions.
• Understand traffic news and weather forecasts.
• Describe and compare items.
• Understand impersonal facts.
• Book trips and make phone calls to a travel agency.
• Communicate in a bank and post office.
• Understand interviews and disputes.

VOCABULARY:

• Daily life & habits
• Social life & relationships
• Work & the work environment
• Work experience & applications
• Politics & society
• Environment & climate
• Entertainment & culture
• Childhood & biography
• Personal experiences
• Services & complaints
• Wishes, dreams & fears
• Technology & digital media
• Rules of conduct
• Health & nutrition
• Luck & bad luck
• Strengths & weaknesses
• Products & publicity

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

• Talk about childhood and memories.
• Describe characteristics of objects and people.
• Report on an occurrence.
• Ask for and give advice.
• Write a job application and conduct a job interview.
• Criticise politely and react politely to criticism.
• Speak about appearances and reality.
• Complain and demand.
• Express assumptions, plans and promises.
• Describe a problem and take advice.
• Understand and summarise a newspaper report.
• Talk about moral issues and make a point.
• Have a customer conversation in a shop.
• Talk about work processes.
• Assess, compare and suggest improvements.
• Talk about statistics.
• Conduct a presentation and ask follow-up questions.
• Express approval, indifference and conviction.
• Comment emotionally.

VOCABULARY:

• Applications & CVs
• Relationships & lifestyle
• Valuations & presentations
• The Internet
• Communication at work
• Negotiating strategies
• Friendship & love
• Opinions & discussions
• History & culture
• Science & art
• Feelings & conflicts
• Future visions
• Home & abroad
• Learning & studying
• Cities & infrastructure
• Wishes & comparisons
• Phrases & expressions

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

• Understand newspaper reports and write to the editor.
• Write greeting cards and personal emails.
• Make a business phone call.
• Present news reports.
• Write a personal advertisement.
• Conduct a counselling interview.
• Understand a report and subject-specific interviews.
• Explain meanings.
• Write a formal letter.
• Understand a specialised presentation.
• Write a blog post.
• Compose a cover letter.
• Write a text summary.
• Understand film critics on the radio.