Over the years, Sylum has helped hundreds of expats and immigrants navigate German bureaucracy and build their lives in Germany. One question comes up constantly: where should I learn German? After working with clients at every level and in every situation, we have a clear picture of what actually works. Here are our honest recommendations.
Sylum's Recommendations by Level and Goal
Absolute beginners (A1): We recommend starting with a structured live course — either in-person at your local VHS or Volkshochschule, or online with a qualified tutor via italki. Apps like Duolingo are fine supplements but should not be your primary learning tool. The most important thing at A1 is building correct habits from the start: basic sentence structure, pronunciation, and the confidence to produce speech.
Preparing for the Integrationskurs (A2-B1): If you are entering or preparing for a state-funded Integrationskurs, supplement your course with Deutsche Welle's Nicos Weg (free, online, excellent A1-B1 video course) and Schubert-Verlag's free grammar exercises at schubert-verlag.de. These tools align well with the Integrationskurs curriculum and are completely free.
Exam preparation (B1/B2): For exam-focused preparation, we recommend working with a teacher who knows the specific exam format you are taking — Goethe, telc, or DTZ have slightly different formats, and targeted practice is more efficient than generic study. Join a preparation course (VHS or private language school) in the six to eight weeks before your exam and do at least two full practice tests under exam conditions.
Advanced German for professionals (B2+): At this level, the most effective tools are immersion and authentic content: German-language news (Tagesschau, Der Spiegel), podcasts for advanced learners (Slow German for B2, Deutschlandfunk for C1+), and regular professional conversations. We recommend finding a tandem partner in your professional field or joining a German-language professional association.
Free Tools We Recommend to All Clients
Deutsche Welle (dw.com/learn-german): Free, high-quality, available at all levels A1-B2. The Nicos Weg video course and Deutsch Warum Nicht audio course are outstanding. Schubert-Verlag (schubert-verlag.de): Free grammar and vocabulary exercises, well-organised by level. Excellent for drilling specific grammar points. Anki flashcard app (free): For building and maintaining vocabulary. The shared deck community includes excellent pre-made German decks. German-language subtitles on Netflix: Switch your German-language series from German audio / English subtitles to German audio / German subtitles — a surprisingly effective listening-reading combination.
The Sylum Learning Pathway
For clients who want a structured path, Sylum offers a personalised German learning roadmap: we assess your current level, identify your goals (and the certificate you need), recommend specific courses and resources, connect you with vetted course providers in your area, and check in with you at key milestones. This is particularly valuable for clients who are preparing for immigration milestones — Blue Card renewal, Niederlassungserlaubnis, or naturalisation — where the language certificate has direct legal significance and timing matters.
Whether you are just starting your German learning journey or are in the final stretch before an important exam, Sylum can connect you with the right resources and support. Get in touch at sylum.de/contact.
