After a fifty-year lull Berlin is back - back as the capital of a reunified Germany and back as one of Europe's great cities. After World War II Berlin was a crippled pawn, sandwiched between East and West, with a literal and metaphoric wall deeply dividing the two halves.
Berlin even suffered the ignominy of losing its capital status as the West German government fled south to Bonn. Today, the city is a forest of cranes as a New Berlin emerges from the dust and rubble of the no man's land that used to be its dead heart, in the biggest construction project in Europe since World War Two.
Postdamer Platz is the largest project, but the most symbolic recent construction is at the Reichstag. British architect Lord Foster has rejuvenated the German parliament with an impressive glass dome that symbolizes the new transparency in German politics, that of a nation with nothing to hide that has freed itself from the ghosts of its past.
Coupled with this avalanche of new construction is a city laden with historical charm, from the old streets of East Berlin where little has changed in fifty years, through to the grand architecture of Museumsinsel and Unter den Linden and the green lung of the Tiergarten park.
Tourism is on the rise as visitors come to savor the intoxicating mix of old and new. The vast sprawl of the city has no definite center with pockets of attractions dotted all over the city.
To the north of the Infobox lie the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) and the Reichstag, sporting Lord Foster's new glass dome. The Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche, which is an old church, serves as a brutal reminder of World War II. The nearby Zoo and Aquarium also are worth visiting.
Visitors will be pleasantly surprised by a city with some of the liveliest nightlife in Europe. In Berlin today there are everything from authentic beer halls and old Soviet era haunts, right through to buzzing style bars and Latino nightclubs. Berlin's climate is equally eclectic with hot summer days giving way to freezing temperatures, with clear blue skies, in winter.
Today's quintessential Berlin experience is to laze through a summer day in the Tiergarten with the rabble of construction just out of earshot, sipping on a chilled pilsner beer, while you witness a city reinventing itself as one of the great European capitals.
It is the participant's responsibility to have a valid passport and any necessary visas and permits to study abroad. Visit G3Visas for comprehensive information on visa, passport, permit and general country entry requirements.
Students arrive at one of three Berlin airports: Airport Tegel in the northern city, Airport Schoenefeld south of Berlin or Airport Tempelhof in the city center.
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Berlin Wall
Brandenburg Gate
Pergamon Museum
New National Gallery
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Our school has become one of the leading teaching centers for German since it was established in 1983 and is now officially registered with the Berlin Senate.
It is housed in a recently restored commercial building in the western district of Schoeneberg and has two floors in the building. This area is one of Berlin's most popular districts and Marlene Dietrich actually once lived in a house across the street. The school is also a member of the Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprche (the association for German as foreign language).
The school facilities include 16 bright classrooms, social areas for the students, cafeteria, travel desk and all the modern facilities to learn German. The school cafeteria is open daily from Monday to Friday all year round, serving snacks like German cheesecake, sandwiches, soups, quiches or salads. In the summer the sun terrace is a perfect place for barbecues or just socializing after classes.
Other facilities: all students have with free access to Internet and email, students can also bring with them their laptop, and the school has plug in sockets. In house bicycle rental: join the locals and discover Berlin by bike, Bar hopping by bike, going to school by bike, biking along the line marking the former wall of Berlin, the school has several bikes that you can rent at budget prices, just for a day, a weekend or for a whole month.
The school is easy to reach by public transport and is close to the metro, the metro station Kleistpark on line 7(the blue line) is only a ten-minute walk from the school.
All courses are taught by highly qualified native teachers with university degrees and the school holds on average about 90 international students.
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Standard: 4 Lessons daily (20 lessons per week) Max. 12 students per class.
Intensive: 6 Lessons daily (30 lessons per week) Similar to the standard program, PLUS 2 additional lessons in the afternoon in smaller class sizes of 6 or less students. Click here for our business language training option.
Long Term Preparation for German Language Certificate: 4 Lessons daily (20 lessons per week) Max. 12 students per class, set course lengths- 8 or 12 weeks.
Our programs cater for all language levels from absolute beginners to the more advanced, include the use of course materials and provide a variety of options to enhance your program. All programs have a maximum class size of 12 students, with an average of 8 students. For more information please see Prices and Start Dates.
Each student will be expected to take a short placement test on the first Monday morning of the course (unless a complete beginner), to determine the students language level and ensure placement in the correct class. Lessons are usually held in the mornings, starting at 9.15 am, which leave the afternoons free for social or cultural activities, trips, workshops, short excursions or free time to relax or explore on your own.
From beginners to advanced - our teachers use a communicative approach and from the first day on, you will speak only German in classes. A placement test on the first Monday morning assesses your level of German. Regular exams every Friday allow you to monitor your progress. Courses finish with a school certificate describing your level of German in detail. All our teachers have university degrees and extensive experience in teaching German as a Foreign Language.
After classes are over for the day, our program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture, traditions, customs and everyday life. Our optional cultural and social activities allow you to make new friends among your new international classmates, experience cultural and social activities together, and also practice your new language skills in real life situations. In some cases, a small additional fee will be charged to cover local transport and entrance costs.
Students are normally offered a minimum of 3 activities in the winter and more in the summer months per week. Activities could include: a get-together in a traditional Berlin pub, a city walk to Scheunenviertel, a boat trip on the River Spree, trips to the Pergamon Museum or Dome, visits to Tiergarten or the Zoo and a night out in Berlin.
Every Thursday afternoon, after all courses have finished, we show a German film or give a seminar about Berlin. One of our teachers will give an introduction into the film and answer all questions you may have after having seen it. Films and seminars alternate, and topics of the seminars include: history of Berlin, German pop music, the former GDR, German film history, German literature, politics in Germany. After the seminar there´s still lots of time to ask whatever you want to know.
Every Monday at 19.30 students meet in a bar close to the school. New students have a chance to meet "old" ones, the school staff also attend, it is a great way to have some fun and practice your language skills. Stammtisch - regulars´ table - is what you call regular informal meetings in German, a very popular form of socializing in Germany, and so this is the school Stammtisch: From 19.30 till 20.30 there will be a free drink for everybody
Twice a month, usually on a Friday night, you can the school staff and prepare a German dish. A school member will get all the ingredients needed and then you cook - and of course - eat together in the cafeteria. You´ll see, there´s more to German food than just Bier and Sauerkraut. Finally, the school has several bikes that you can rent at budget prices, lots of the teachers come by bike all year except on days with snow and ice, as going by bike is often faster and more convenient than taking a bus or U-Bahn. Just ask the school for details upon arrival.
The school will also organize at least one weekend excursion per month in the winter and two in the summer to other cities in Germany and even Poland or the Czech Republic. The school will arrange all, train tickets, meals and accommodation and the students will pay the school direct ($10-$40). If you are interested in sight-seeing by yourself or with other class mates, our school staff are more than willing to assist you with any questions you may have and help you book local travel or excursions.
Some examples could include trios to: Hamburg, an elegant port city, Dresden, the Florence on river Elbe, Leipzig, in former socialist East, Dessau, city of the Bauhaus and Prague, capital of Czech republic. A teacher or school representative normally guides the school trip.
NOTES: Private lessons and additional options can be added to any program, lessons normally last 50 minutes in length and you will be studying with international students from around the world. Lessons run from Monday - Friday, you will be expected to arrive early on the first Monday morning to take a placement test and orientation meeting. During class only the local language will be spoken, the emphasis is to speak and think in the new language, a language proficiency certificate is available at the end of the program. The school is closed on all public holidays. Please see the program info and resource links, for additional information or please contact us.
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Host Family: (private room) 2 meals daily.
Living with a host family is probably the best and most effective way to become fully immersed into the language and culture of your chosen country. All families are chosen after a careful selection procedure and are visited regularly by the school to ensure that high living standards are maintained. As Berlin is a very large sprawling city, host families are usually not more than 50 minutes away, (average 30 minutes by metro, bus or bicycle).
NOTE: Transfer to the airport on arrival and departure is included, when staying with a host family.
Students have access to all living areas in the house and in most cases, will be expected to share the bathroom. All bed linens and pillows will be provided, however we suggest you bring your own towels. If your family does not provide a laundry service, they may allow you to use the laundry facilities for a small additional charge.
Staying in a family is a truly wonderful experience and many students make lifetime friends with their host family. However, you should also have realistic expectations and recognize that an element of flexibility is required to adjust to the local customs and way of life. Your host family may not have the same comforts as your own home but you will always be treated as a guest and free to come and go as you wish.
Apartment Share: (private room) no meals.
Apartment share is a popular form of living among Germans, especially in bigger cities. You have a single room in an apartment you share with one or more Germans and take care of all meals yourself. The Germans are aged between 20 - 50, either students at Berlin universities or professionals. Often you develop close contacts with the Germans in your apartment, this is great for practicing your german.
Included: single room with bed, table and closet, bed sheets and towels, bathroom which is shared, distance to school: max. 50 minutes, average 30 minutes by metro, bus or bicycle, reductions on public transport with school student ID.
NOTES: Airport transfers may be included or available, also extra nights can be booked before / after course (at an additional cost), please check price page for details. The Sunday night accommodation before your course begins on Monday, is included in the program price. All meals will be local custom and meal times may be different to what you are used to, however you are not obligated to eat all your meals with the family, just notify them when you will not be returning to eat.. Our families are diverse with young couples without children, couples with children (of all age groups) and older couples with grown children who are no longer at home. Please see the Accommodation link for additional information.
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