Speakeasy offers German courses at all levels: from the very beginner (A1) to the advanced (C1) level. Our teaching is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which describes what language skills a person should have achieved at each level. We are here to help you achieve your desired language competence level within this framework. Within our Intensive Courses, Super-Intensive Courses and Evening Courses the CEFR levels are split into different course levels. For an overview please refer to our graph below.
Are you still unsure, which level is the right one for you? Go ahead and take our free placement test.
You know you want to learn German, but you wonder what the letters A, B and C mean? It’s simple: They tell you how advanced your knowledge of a foreign language already is.
Generally, A means it’s the beginner level, B means it’s intermediate and C indicates the advanced level – but it’s a fluent passage between the levels. In accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, we at speakeasy group our courses into these different levels.
Please note the different progression in intensive and evening classes - it is due to the number of lessons per week. The intensive course with four lesson days per week has twice as many appointments as the evening course with two lesson days per week.
We’ve put together an overview so that you can easily check which topics and grammar conundrums await you in the different levels of the intensive course.
Are you new to Hamburg? Come over to us, get to know your new city and its people and learn your first sentences in German. In your A1.1 German Intensive Course you will learn how to ask and answer important questions. You’d like to know the price of something at the shop? Or perhaps you need to ask for directions to the Elbphilharmonie? Once you’ve completed this course, you’ll have no problems doing that!
These are the topics which will be covered in the A1.1 Intensive Course:
Do you still experience difficulties in every-day communication? In this course, you'll learn how to ask for specific information or ask somebody for help. In addition, you’ll practice how to make appointments (for example with friends or the doctor), learn about your household, get to grips with how to give directions and become acquainted with many other important aspects to use German in daily life. You’ll also get the opportunity to find out more interesting facts about your surroundings and new city.
Here is an overview for you what you will learn in the Intensive Course A1.2:
You have now learned some of the most important and basic rules as well as the essential words, however you sometimes still feel your German skills are limited for those everyday conversations? No problem: In this course we will further develop everything we have learned so far and practice making appointments, making suggestions or making requests. In addition, we will systematically expand our vocabulary from other important areas of life.
These are the topics and the grammar which you will get acquainted with in your Intensive Course A2.1:
To express one's own opinion correctly is very important! And that is exactly what you’ll be learning on this course. In addition, you’ll practice making suggestions, wishes or convince others with your assertions. Naturally, many other topics from our lives are also feature in this program. Our teachers will also actively encourage you to bring your own topics and ideas to class so that they can be discussed in a group.
Here we can see an overview of all the topics you will do in the Intensive Couse A2.2:
Welcome to the advanced level! You now have good grasp of basic vocabulary and grammar. At the B1.1 level it’s time to start expanding into different areas, so that you can communicate well in situations that are no longer commonplace. You’ll be practicing writing e-mails, presenting short topics and handling more complex discussions. This will come handy in every-day situations where you might need to communicate with your landlord or future employer for example.
Here you find a content overview of the German Intensive Course B1.1:
At this level, you will systematically work on expanding your vocabulary. That's why you’ll be faced with a variety of topics such as the arts, cultural events, the climate and environment, fashion, film and so on. We’ll also work on more complex German grammar textual and linguistic structures.
This is everything that awaits you in the Intensive Course B1.2:
Practice makes perfect! That's why this course will continue to introduce a wide variety of topics - and at a high level. However, we won’t be neglecting everyday life topics such as making phone calls, writing notes to friends, or having discussions. We’ll also explore themes about the media/ social media, psychology, life in the city, and much more.
In the tables below you can see the themes and the grammar of the Intensive Course B2.1:
(Please note: In order to complete the B2.2 course at the intensive level you will need to complete two course months - split into two parts. However, it doesn’t matter in which order you complete the two parts.)
You’ll be finished with the intermediate level soon! At the B2.2 we’ll be putting the final touches to your verbal and writing skills. But we promise this won’t be daunting- we’re still planning on having fun during stimulating group discussions and conversations. In addition, you will learn how to structure a text well and how to clearly express your feelings and opinions, so that your conversation partner (or reader) always gets the gist of what you are saying!
In the Intensive Course B2.2 you will discuss the following:
(Please note: In order to complete the C1 course at the intensive level, you will need to complete four course months - split into four parts. However, it doesn’t matter in which order your complete the four parts)
Congratulations - you have completed the intermediate level! We’ll now be focusing on the spontaneous, fluent and demanding use of the German language. In the C1 Intensive Course you’ll be faced with many abstract topics such as economics, literature, psychology, sociology, technology and many more for a more diversified vocabulary and precise language style.
These topics await you in the Intensive Course C1:
The speakeasy Evening Course divides a level into two parts; the course with the "+" always represents the second part of a level. For example, A1.1 is the first part of the A1.1 level. The second part is represented with a +: A1.1+. Below is a helpful overview with lots of useful information on the course contents of the various evening course levels.
This course requires no previous knowledge! This is where’ll we’ll introduce you to the German language. You’ll learn how to introduce yourself, how to tell people where you’re from and where you live, and many other important aspects to do with everyday life. You’ll also learn fundamental basics such as the German ABC, numbers, etc.
Here you find the content overview of the Evening Course A1.1:
Have you completed the A1.1 Evening Course? Or perhaps you’re not new in Hamburg and already know some of the basics? This course (marked by +) is the second half of the A1.1 level. This is where you’ll start talking and having short conversations about what you did last weekend, describing what your hobbies and interests are, etc.
Here are the topics from the Evening Course A1.1+:
You’re already able to have short and simple conversations? Then you are exactly right in the A1.2 evening course. This is where you will learn how to express wishes, how to ask for help or how to voice your opinions. Of course, our lovely city of Hamburg will be discussed and explored. Together we will talk about the exciting and funny aspects of this stunning north German city we call home.
These are the topics in the Evening Course A1.2:
This course (marked by +) is the second half of A1.2. Have you already completed the first steps and would like to expand your German knowledge? You’ve come to the right place. In this follow-up course to the A1.2, you will learn how to ask for things, request information and voice wishes. You will also learn how to talk about the weather, parties and celebrations.
Here you can have a look at what awaits you in the Evening Course A1.2+:
You already know some important words and grammar rules, however in everyday life things are not always running so smooth with the language? Then on to the evening course A2.1! Here you will learn how to arrange appointments, make suggestions or respond to those made by others. We will also learn how to apply declensions to adjectives- a very important topic in the German language- something we will practice extensively in this course.
Here is the overview of what you learn in the Evening Course A2.1:
This evening course (marked by +) is the second part to the A2.1 level. In this course you will continue to develop your basic vocabulary and expand your linguistic expertise in everyday communication in Hamburg. You will also practice expressing concern or thanks, as well or how to order something to drink or eat.
Here you find what you learn in the Evening Course A2.1+:
In this evening course you will further deepen your ability to express opinions and wishes. You will additionally continue to practice how to make suggestions. We will also delve into many topics from your very own everyday life. Do you have a specific topic request? Go ahead and suggest it to your teacher! They’ll be more than happy to incorporate your ideas and topics into the lesson plans.
This is the content of the Evening Course A2.2:
This evening course (marked by +) is the follow up course of the evening A2.2 Evening Course. We will be the first to admit: forming complex sentence structures with subordinate clauses in German is not that easy. But fear not! In this course we will guide and show you how simple and easy it can be. We’ll create more complex sentences and talk about the media, events, and experiences abroad.
In the Evening Course A2.2+ you will learn the following:
Congratulations - you are no longer a German language beginner! You’ll now be learning how to use the language independently. Based on what you have learned so far, we will expand on topics and start producing texts such as e-mails and shorter notes. At this level we will continue to practice the bane of every German language learner’s life: the cases! The Accusative and Dative will cease to be your foes and become your best friends!
Here is the overview with the topics of the Evening Course B1.1:
This evening course (marked by +) is the follow up course of the B1.1 Evening Course. In this course we will cover the second half of the B1.1 level and deepen your knowledge of complex German grammar. This is where we will overcome some hurdles which will enable you to speak spontaneously and fluently. In addition, you will work on expanding your vocabulary so that you can easily share your interests or your future plans with others!
The Evening Course B1.1+ contains the following topics:
Gradually, the themes in the courses are no longer just about daily routines. Now you also venture into more abstract and complex topics. For example, in your B1.2 evening class you will talk about art, social issues, or politics. At the same time, we will continue to train our grammar - so that we are able to express ourselves freely and at a higher level. You’ll slowly discover that your linguistic possibilities are extended and stretched – to enable you to easily chat with your new friends in Hamburg!
This is the overview with the topics and Grammar of the Evening Course B1.2:
This evening course (marked by +) is where you'll be completing the second half of the B1.2 German Evening Course. This is where you’ll be completing the second half of the B1.2 German evening course. We will work on improving our oral expressiveness using themes we encounter less in our everyday life. We’ll discuss whether smoking should be prohibited everywhere or what steps we need to take to save the honeybee. In this course, you'll learn how to express yourself on complicated topics and how to debate correctly in German.
Have a look at the overview to see what topics you will learn in the Evening Course B1.2+:
You should now feel a bit more comfortable about speaking. You’re slowly becoming more and more fluent and this course is where we continue to train our German language skills on a higher level with a variety of topics. We will debate, discuss, and argue about practical life issues and more complex topics to do with research, studies, and your professions. In addition, we will practice skills such as making a phone call in German or giving a presentation.
These topics and grammar you will learn in the Evening Course B2.1:
This evening course (marked by +) is the follow up course of the B2.1 Evening Course. In this second half of the B2.1 level we will continue to work on fluency and grammatical correctness- whether it is in group discussions, texts you produce, or phone calls you make. We will practice creating complex sentence structures and expand our vocabulary so that we are comfortable also in formal professional situations.
The overview shows you which topics you will discuss in the Evening Course B2.1+:
(Please note: in order to complete this evening course level B2.2, you will require four course months - divided into four parts. However, it doesn’t matter in which order you complete the four parts.)
In this evening course, your oral as well as writing skills will be fine-tuned. We will have stimulating conversations about love or the Hamburg nightlife. We will also train speaking in formal situations or completing a job/university application. Our teachers will be very happy to incorporate any topics you think are interesting or important into the lessons. Just let them know!
Here you find a compact overview of the topics in the Evening Course B2.2:
(Please note: in order to complete this evening course level, you will require eight course months – divided into eight parts. However, it doesn’t matter in which order you complete the eight parts.)
Congratulations - you have left the B level behind and now you’re ready to become a real German professional! In the evening C1 course we will delve into a wealth of different topics and aspects of the German language. We will focus on commenting on different issues, utilizing different linguistic styles. By the time you complete this level, you’ll be comfortable expressing yourself to your friends, colleagues at work, or university lecturer with confidence and success. We’re going to cover many topics such as economics, politics, psychology, society, science, media, intercultural communications, and much much more.
This is what awaits you in the Evening Course C1: