German Classes NYC, New York

Best German Classes in NYC

The German language is hundreds of years old, and is the 11th most widely spoken language in the world. It is the official language of Germany, Austria, and Lichtenstein, and one of the official languages of Switzerland and Luxembourg. It is also the most commonly spoken language in the European Union. German has some similarities to other Germanic languages like English, Dutch, and Swedish. It uses the Latin alphabet, just like English does, however, it includes some additional characters. German is also known for having a lot of compound words, where multiple words are combined to create new words with specific meanings.

New York City has a strong connection to German culture. Thousands of people with German ancestry live there today, however, in the past, the German population was even larger. In the 1800s, thousands of German immigrants started migrating to New York City. By 1855, it had the third-largest concentration of German people in the world, after Berlin and Vienna. Many of these people lived in a neighborhood in the East Village which became known as Kleindeutschland, or Little Germany, and was a center of German life and culture. While this area is no longer the vibrant German neighborhood that it was in the past, a number of historical landmarks remain. New York City also has many other German restaurants, businesses, clubs, and organizations that help its German residents connect to their culture, and share it with others. For instance, the Goethe-Institut has been operating since 1969, and works to promote the German language and culture. 

Why You Should Learn German in NYC

Learning German can be beneficial if you want to work for a German company or if you’re involved in international business, education, or research. Germany has one of the largest economies in Europe, with many engineering, manufacturing, technology, and automotive businesses in particular. It is also known for its world-class universities and research programs.

Another reason to learn German is to better connect with its rich culture. Understanding German can be beneficial if you plan to travel there, but even if you don’t, you’ll find many examples of German culture, such as in New York City. Germany has made many contributions to music, literature, philosophy, and art. By understanding the language, you can more deeply engage with this extensive heritage.

In-Person German Classes & Schools in NYC

You can learn German by taking an in-person German class in New York City. ABC Languages offers Intro German Crash Course, which is $55 and runs for an hour and a half. Students in this class learn basic vocabulary and phrases, including greetings and travel phrases, and can get a good sense of whether or not this is a good language choice for them to pursue. They will also receive instruction in pronunciation and key challenge points in the language, and will be introduced to cultural topics. ABC Languages is a language school with locations across the country, including in New York City. It was founded in New York City in 1998.

Another class option for New York City students is German Beginner at the Bronxville Adult School. There are eight sessions in this class, and tuition is $120. It is designed for students with little or no background in German. Students will learn to understand basic spoken and written German, and to converse on everyday topics. In addition, they will write short German texts of their own. There is also an intermediate class, for students who complete the beginner course. The Bronxville Adult School is about 20 miles north of New York City. It is a nonprofit organization committed to enabling lifelong learning, and has been teaching students since 1942.

JacobiTeacher also offers German lessons in New York City. Basics About German Langugage Pronunciation costs $350 and has six sessions. Students who take this class learn the basics of pronunciation, and how the sound of the German language differs from English. They also learn about how Germans use their language in a more direct way. By the end of this course, students should have a better understanding of how the language works, and also about how to teach themselves German. Nicolas Jacobi is a native German speaker and has more than ten years of teaching experience. He graduated from the University of Cologne in 2008, and has worked in four different schools in Cologne, Krefeld, and Berlin, Germany.

Virtual German Classes & Schools

Another way to learn German is to sign up for an online German class. In recent years, virtual classes have become increasingly popular. According to global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, “[i]nterest and participation in online learning continues to grow: 2020 saw record enrollment. . . . From doctoral students to lifelong learners, people are increasingly accessing online tools to learn and acquire new skills.” The flexibility of online learning is one reason for its popularity; you can take an online class from any school in the country as long as you have a computer and an internet connection.

There are a few things to consider if you’re thinking about learning virtually. One is that you might sometimes have to deal with technological problems like internet or computer issues. Another is that when you learn online, you usually need to supply your own materials, in contrast to an in-person class, where materials are often supplied. When it comes to learning German, this probably won’t be too much of a problem though.

Fluent City offers a virtual German class called German–Level 1. This is made up of ten sessions, and costs $399. It is intended for beginners who want to start learning the basics of conversational German, and is also appropriate for people who need a refresher course because they haven’t spoken any German in a long time. Students learn the basics of reading and writing in German including verb conjugation in the present tense, number and gender agreement, question form, plurals, and possessive adjectives. They also have the chance to practice conversational German with the teacher and other students in the class. There are a maximum of ten people in one class. After completing this course, students should be able to introduce themselves, talk about their day, and describe their profession and hobbies.

Another virtual German option for beginners is German–Beginner 1, offered by ABC Languages. This class is appropriate for people with no knowledge of the German language. Students learn through formal learning sessions where the instructor talks about grammar and the structure of the language. They also take part in verbal sessions where they converse in German with other students. The course covers basic conversation skills, vocabulary, and grammar. There are six sessions in total and tuition is $250. Students meet via Microsoft Teams.

You can also take a virtual German class from the International School of Languages, which was founded in 2006 and based in Washington DC. German Beginner 1 is for students who don’t know any German. It covers communication basics, such as introducing yourself, providing personal information, counting, talking about your occupation and daily routine, telling time, and understanding a schedule. Students also learn a large number of vocabulary words.

Students need to purchase the book, Aussichten A1.1. This class costs $300, and has eight sessions.

Private Group German Classes in NYC

Private group classes can be a great way to engage and entertain people at a variety of different types of events, including birthday parties and work team-building events. CourseHorse offers private group German classes, and many different other group options. Not only can CourseHorse provide a class to fit your needs, but they will make the booking process easy, with no registration and no booking fees, and a confirmation of your booking sent out within 24 hours. For most group events, as long as you meet the minimum group size, you can even make changes to your booking up to 72 hours before the event date.

One of CourseHorse’s popular group classes is the Virtual Team Building Improv Workshop, which is a 60-minute class designed to help group members make quick decisions and collaborate better, while having a lot of fun. Participants enjoy a series of games and exercises that improve listening, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration, at the same time as encouraging them to be silly and have fun. You don’t need to be funny to enjoy this workshop. The class can accommodate up to 40 people. It costs $500 for the first ten people, and $25 for each additional person after that.

CourseHorse also offers a variety of group trivia events, such as Virtual Trivia: True Crime, which runs for an hour. In this event, participants split into teams, and take part in four trivia rounds, with questions about a variety of different true crime stories. Questions are designed to be challenging, but not impossible. This class costs $360 for up to 15 people, and $10 for each additional person after that. Up to 200 people can attend at once. The trivia rounds can be customized for an additional $150.

Many CourseHorse providers can come to your home or office, or they can hold the event at an external venue. Most virtual events are run via Zoom, but Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, or WebEx can be used instead. Contact CourseHorse to get more information about private group events.