Almost every guide about life in Germany ends with the same advice: learn German. You know it matters for work, for your child’s school and for feeling at home. But between jobs, school runs and paperwork, who has time?
This guide gives you a plan that fits real life, from A1 (beginner) to B1, the level most permits and applications ask for.
What Do A1, A2 and B1 Mean?
- A1: you can introduce yourself and handle very simple situations.
- A2: you can talk about everyday topics such as shopping, family and work in simple sentences.
- B1: you can deal with most daily situations, talk to a doctor or a landlord, and write simple texts. B1 is the level often needed for permanent residence, and for citizenship you will need a higher level.
How Long Does It Really Take?
Language schools usually estimate about 200 hours per level, so reaching B1 means roughly 600 to 800 hours of study, spread over a year or more. If you study 30 minutes a day and attend a class twice a week, B1 in 12 to 18 months is realistic. Faster is possible, but only with daily practice.
Start With the Integration Course
If you have a residence permit that allows it, the integration course (Integrationskurs) is usually the best value. It is organised with the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and normally includes:
- A language course of 600 lessons (six blocks of 100), aiming at B1.
- An orientation course of 100 lessons on German law, history and society.
- A final exam with a certificate that many offices accept.
According to the BAMF you usually pay a contribution of €2.29 per lesson, so a full 700-lesson course comes to about €1,600. Some people, for example employees below an income limit, can be exempted, and you must apply before the course starts. Ask your Ausländerbehörde or the BAMF whether you are entitled or can be admitted, and ask about part-time and evening courses, and courses with childcare, if you have young children.
A Weekly Plan for a Busy Parent
| When | What | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Daily, any gap | Flashcards or a vocabulary app: 10 new words, review old ones | 10 min |
| Daily, commute or school run | Listen to a slow German podcast or children’s songs | 15 min |
| 3 evenings | Grammar exercises and short writing | 20 min |
| Weekend | Speak with someone: a neighbour, a tandem partner or a group | 30 min |
That is about 4 hours a week. Short and regular beats long and rare.
Make German Part of the Day
- Label the house. Put sticky notes on the fridge, door and bed with the German word.
- Use real situations. Practise phrases for the pharmacy or the town hall in advance. Our guide to German phrases for the Behörde is a good start.
- Learn with your children. Read children’s books together, since the language is simple and the pictures help.
- Change your phone language to German once you reach A2.
Free and Low-Cost Resources
- Deutsche Welle (DW) “Nicos Weg”: a free video course from A1 to B1.
- Volkshochschule (VHS): city-run adult schools with affordable courses and sometimes childcare.
- Library and community groups: many offer free conversation cafés and tandem meetings.
- Our language app: practical lessons made for African families in Germany. Take a look here.
Common Mistakes
- Waiting until you feel ready to speak. You never will, so start speaking early, even with mistakes.
- Only studying grammar. Speaking and listening matter just as much.
- Skipping the exam preparation. Practise with sample tests for the Goethe, telc or ÖSD B1 exams, since the exam format is different from daily German.
- Giving up after a bad week. Progress is slow, then sudden.
Course entitlements, fees and exam requirements depend on your residence permit and city, so check with the BAMF, your Ausländerbehörde or your local Volkshochschule.