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German curriculum

53 lessons from A1 to B2. Each level is built on the level description of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), has a mock exam in the format of the official one, and every part of that exam is linked to the lessons that teach it.

The curriculum prepares you for the level and the exam. The official certificate is awarded by the body that runs the exam, not by the platform.

How you practise speaking

  1. The lines of the lesson dialogues are recorded: you listen to the line.
  2. You record yourself saying it, play the two back to back and compare by ear.
  3. Then you try again.

No teacher listens and there is no score: you compare by ear, and your recording stays on your device — it is never sent anywhere.

A1

Level A1

Basic user

Official text

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce themselves and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where someone lives, people they know and things they have. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

Source: Council of Europe (2020), Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment — Companion volume, p. 175

Lessons (14)

  1. A1.1 Alphabet, Pronunciation and Spelling

    This lesson teaches the German letters and their spoken names, the sounds that are new for Arabic speakers, and how to spell your name and address and state your numbers clearly.

  2. A1.2 Greeting and Introducing Yourself

    This unit teaches you to greet people and introduce yourself in German in formal and informal situations, to tell Sie from du, and to use the core present-tense verbs.

  3. A1.3 Family and Friends

    This lesson is about family and friends in German. You learn to say whose things and relatives they are, to say what you have or do not have, and to congratulate people on birthdays and weddings.

  4. A1.4 Numbers, Time and Date

    This lesson teaches you to say large numbers, years and prices, to tell the time and the date, to name days and months, and to arrange an appointment by phone in German.

  5. A1.5 Daily Routine and Free Time

    This lesson teaches you to describe your daily routine in German, to talk about your free time and hobbies, and to invite friends or accept or decline an invitation with a reason.

  6. A1.6 Shopping, Food and Prices

    This lesson teaches you to shop in German: ordering politely, stating quantities, asking about prices and paying, and choosing an item and referring back to it.

  7. A1.7 Flat, Rooms and Furniture

    This lesson teaches the names of rooms and furniture, how to describe a flat and what it has, how to say where things are, how to ask about a flat and read its advert, and how to introduce yourself to neighbours.

  8. A1.8 Transport, Directions and Tickets

    This lesson teaches you how to say how you travel, ask for directions and understand them, and buy a ticket while asking about the time and platform.

  9. A1.9 Jobs and Work

    This lesson teaches you to name your job and ask about other people's work, form feminine job titles, talk about the workplace and holidays, and understand a simple work instruction.

  10. A1.10 Health, the Body and the Doctor

    This lesson teaches you to ask about health and say where it hurts, to register your details at a doctor's, to understand instructions from doctors and pharmacists, and to call the emergency number 112.

  11. A1.11 Weather, Clothes and Colours

    This lesson teaches you to talk about the weather and temperatures, describe clothes and colours, and ask for a size and colour in a shop and say what you like.

  12. A1.12 Yesterday: Perfekt and war/hatte

    This lesson teaches you to talk about yesterday and the weekend using the Perfekt of 15 verbs, and to use war and hatte to say you were ill or had an appointment.

  13. A1.13 Forms, Offices, Post and Bank

    This lesson teaches you to fill in forms, ask staff for help politely, say what you need at an office, a bank or the post office, and read simple signs.

  14. A1.14 Start Deutsch 1 Exam Practice

    This lesson is practice for the Start Deutsch 1 exam: listening, reading, filling in a form and writing a short message, then speaking without preparation.

Mock exam: Goethe-Zertifikat A1 (Start Deutsch 1)

  • Listening

    • Hören - Teil 1
    • Hören - Teil 2
    • Hören - Teil 3

  • Reading

    • Lesen - Teil 1
    • Lesen - Teil 2
    • Lesen - Teil 3

  • Writing

    • Schreiben - Teil 1
    • Schreiben - Teil 2

  • Speaking

    • Sprechen - Teil 1
    • Sprechen - Teil 2
    • Sprechen - Teil 3
A2

Level A2

Basic user

Official text

Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

Source: Council of Europe (2020), Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment — Companion volume, p. 175

Lessons (12)

  1. A2.1 My Education and Work Biography

    This lesson teaches you to tell your school, training and work history in German using the Perfekt, to separate vocational training from university studies, and to order your life events with vor, nach and seit.

  2. A2.2 Flat Hunting, Landlords and Neighbours

    This lesson teaches you to read a flat advert, arrange a viewing by phone, report a fault to the caretaker, write a polite note to neighbours, and tell apart position and movement with prepositions.

  3. A2.3 The Doctor, the Pharmacy and Talking About Health

    This lesson teaches you to talk with a doctor and pharmacist about symptoms and treatment, to understand instructions with sollen and dürfen, to give reasons with weil and dass, and to write a short message to an employer.

  4. A2.4 Childcare, School and Parents

    This lesson teaches you to talk about nursery and school with teachers, to write an excuse note for your child, and to use reflexive verbs and possessive articles correctly.

  5. A2.5 Shopping, Comparing and Complaining

    This lesson teaches you to compare products, ask a shop assistant for advice, order by phone, and complain about a faulty item in simple and polite language.

  6. A2.6 Bank Account and Insurance

    This lesson teaches you to ask a bank employee politely, report a lost card, use verbs with prepositions, and write to an insurance company about a change in your details.

  7. A2.7 Trains, Buses and Announcements

    This lesson teaches you to understand station announcements and delays, read a timetable, ask for an alternative train, and write a short message to a friend about a delay.

  8. A2.8 The Working Day, Rosters and Colleagues

    This lesson teaches you to talk about the working day, report that you are ill to your boss, agree a shift swap, ask about tasks, and write a polite message to your boss with a reason.

  9. A2.9 Phone, Internet and Media

    This lesson teaches you to ask polite indirect questions, use verbs with prepositions, understand radio and TV announcements, and phone an employer or a caretaker.

  10. A2.10 Invitations, Celebrations and Relationships

    This lesson teaches you to invite friends in German, accept or decline an invitation with a reason, congratulate someone on a birthday or wedding, and make light small talk with neighbours.

  11. A2.11 Official Letters, Appointments and Applications

    This lesson teaches you to understand an official letter and find the deadline and documents, ask a clerk politely, fill in an application form, and write a short formal request.

  12. A2.12 Goethe A2 Exam Practice

    This lesson is practice for the Goethe A2 exam: reading, listening, writing and speaking. You talk about yourself and plan something with a partner.

Mock exam: Goethe-Zertifikat A2

  • Reading

    • Lesen - Teil 1
    • Lesen - Teil 2
    • Lesen - Teil 3
    • Lesen - Teil 4

  • Listening

    • Hören - Teil 1
    • Hören - Teil 2
    • Hören - Teil 3
    • Hören - Teil 4

  • Writing

    • Schreiben - Teil 1
    • Schreiben - Teil 2

  • Speaking

    • Sprechen - Teil 1
    • Sprechen - Teil 2
    • Sprechen - Teil 3
B1

Level B1

Independent user

Official text

Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Source: Council of Europe (2020), Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment — Companion volume, p. 175

Lessons (16)

  1. B1.1 Expressing Opinions and Feelings, Resolving Conflicts Politely

    This unit trains you to express your opinions and feelings in everyday situations, to disagree politely with people, and to reach a solution with neighbours and colleagues.

  2. B1.2 Job Search: Job Ads, CV, Cover Letter and Interview

    This unit takes you from reading a job advert to the interview in Germany: you understand the advert, call the employer, write the cover letter and negotiate the salary.

  3. B1.3 Employment Contract, Payslip, Leave and Rights

    This unit teaches you to read an employment contract and a payslip, to handle situations such as sickness, holiday requests and shift swaps, and to know your rights at work.

  4. B1.4 Education: School, Vocational Training and Further Education

    This unit teaches you to talk about education, experience and training in Germany, from vocational training to continuing education and university, and to ask advisers about the options open to you.

  5. B1.5 Tenancy Agreement, Service Charges, Flat Problems and Notice

    This unit helps you understand a rental contract, the additional costs and the deposit in Germany, write a formal complaint and talk politely with neighbours about noise.

  6. B1.6 The Health System: Health Insurance, GP, Specialist and Check-ups

    This unit teaches you the health system in Germany, from insurance to the GP and specialist, and how to talk with a doctor about treatment and your fears.

  7. B1.7 Formal Letters and Emails

    This unit teaches you to write letters and e-mails to offices, landlords, schools and employers in a clear, polite structure, choosing the right form of address.

  8. B1.8 Democracy, the Basic Law, Elections and State Institutions

    This unit introduces the state system in Germany: the constitution, parliament, government, elections and parties, described in neutral German.

  9. B1.9 Rights, Duties, Equality and Resolving Disputes Lawfully

    This unit helps you distinguish rights from duties, talk about equality and basic freedoms in Germany, and resolve disputes through talk and compromise rather than conflict.

  10. B1.10 German History and Responsibility

    This unit takes you through German history from 1848 to reunification and Europe, and shows you how to narrate events in the correct past tenses and link them to your own journey.

  11. B1.11 Society: Family, Upbringing, Religion and Living Together

    This unit teaches you to talk about family, equality, religion, education and living together in Germany, and to express your views with relative clauses and zu-infinitives.

  12. B1.12 My Federal State, My Town and Local Participation

    This unit introduces your federal state and town in Germany, how you can take part in local decisions, and how to ask the town hall politely.

  13. B1.13 Permanent Residence and Citizenship: The Language of Applications and the Required Level

    This unit teaches the language of residence and citizenship procedures in Germany: key terms, conditional clauses with wenn and falls, and the passive, so you can write and ask politely at the office.

  14. B1.14 The «Leben in Deutschland» Test and the Citizenship Test: The Language of the Questions

    This unit teaches you to read questions from the 'Leben in Deutschland' and naturalisation tests accurately, noticing negation words, modal verbs and the passive before you choose an answer.

  15. B1.15 Exam Practice: Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ)

    This unit trains the German of the DTZ exam: announcements, instructions, official letters, and polite speech for introductions, suggestions and agreement.

  16. B1.16 Exam Practice: Goethe/ÖSD B1 and telc B1 (including Sprachbausteine)

    This unit trains the German of the Goethe and telc B1 exams: understanding, writing, speaking, and the gap-fill tasks that need the right word.

Mock exam: Goethe-Zertifikat B1

  • Reading

    • Lesen - Teil 1
    • Lesen - Teil 2
    • Lesen - Teil 3
    • Lesen - Teil 4
    • Lesen - Teil 5

  • Listening

    • Hören - Teil 1 (Aufgabe 1 je Text: Richtig/Falsch)
    • Hören - Teil 1 (Aufgabe 2 je Text: a/b/c)
    • Hören - Teil 2
    • Hören - Teil 3
    • Hören - Teil 4

  • Writing

    • Schreiben - Teil 1
    • Schreiben - Teil 2
    • Schreiben - Teil 3

  • Speaking

    • Sprechen - Teil 1
    • Sprechen - Teil 2
    • Sprechen - Teil 3
B2

Level B2

Independent user

Official text

Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with users of the target language quite possible without imposing strain on either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Source: Council of Europe (2020), Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment — Companion volume, p. 175

Lessons (11)

  1. B2.1 Arguing, Discussing and Taking a Position at B2

    This unit teaches you to build a balanced argument in German: weighing advantages and disadvantages, forming hypotheses, proposing alternatives and agreeing with your partner in a discussion.

  2. B2.2 Giving a Presentation and Answering Questions

    This unit teaches you to give a structured oral presentation in German: announcing your plan, linking ideas with connectors and answering questions politely.

  3. B2.3 Formal Correspondence at B2: Enquiries, Complaints and Requests

    This unit teaches you to write enquiries, complaints and formal requests in German, choosing a polite register and stating the facts clearly before you ask.

  4. B2.4 Media, Environment and Society (B2 Reading and Listening)

    This unit teaches you to understand German texts on media, the environment and society: the main idea and the details, how to unpack long sentences, and the speaker's stance.

  5. B2.5 Workplace Language: Meetings, Phone Calls and Emails

    This unit teaches work German: formal speech and writing, telephone calls, taking part in meetings, and understanding written instructions with the passive.

  6. B2.6 Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications, Step by Step

    This unit teaches the German of recognising foreign professional qualifications: understanding official terms, talking about your qualification and writing an enquiry to a counselling office.

  7. B2.7 Nursing Language: Admission, Shift Handover and Documentation

    This unit teaches the German of nursing: polite admission questions, a clear handover between shifts and an objective nursing report.

  8. B2.8 Nursing Exam Practice: telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege and FSP Pflege B2

    This unit trains the German of nursing exams: turning form data into report sentences, speaking with patients and colleagues, giving a short talk and discussing.

  9. B2.9 Doctor–Patient Language: Taking a History and Explaining Diagnosis and Treatment

    This unit teaches you to talk with patients in German: taking a clear medical history and explaining diagnosis and treatment in simple language.

  10. B2.10 Fachsprachprüfung Practice for Doctors: The Three Parts of the Exam

    This unit trains medical German: writing the history in doctors' language, explaining to patients in simple words, and presenting a case to a colleague with precise terms.

  11. B2.11 Exam Practice: Goethe-Zertifikat B2 and telc Deutsch B2

    This unit trains the German of the Goethe and telc B2 exams: writing the right text type, using advanced connectors, speaking and discussing to reach agreement.

Mock exam: Goethe-Zertifikat B2

  • Reading

    • Lesen - Teil 1
    • Lesen - Teil 2
    • Lesen - Teil 3
    • Lesen - Teil 4
    • Lesen - Teil 5

  • Listening

    • Hören - Teil 1 (Aufgabe 1 je Text: Richtig/Falsch)
    • Hören - Teil 1 (Aufgabe 2 je Text: a/b/c)
    • Hören - Teil 2
    • Hören - Teil 3
    • Hören - Teil 4

  • Writing

    • Schreiben - Teil 1
    • Schreiben - Teil 2

  • Speaking

    • Sprechen - Teil 1
    • Sprechen - Teil 2
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