Advertorial · Permanent move to Germany
The 100 hours I wish I had studied before moving to Germany
I planned the visa, flat, insurance and removal van. I treated German as something I could “pick up later”. That decision made every ordinary task harder than it needed to be.
Editorial note: This is a composite, illustrative account rather than a report about a named person. Course links lead to independent providers and official resources. Requirements, fees and availability change; check current information directly.
Three weeks after arriving in Cologne, the heating stopped. I knew the German words for train station, coffee and thank you. I did not know how to explain that the boiler pressure kept falling.
The landlord replied quickly, but the appointment window, access instructions and technician’s questions arrived in German. Translation apps helped with individual sentences. They did not give me the confidence to decide whether I had understood the important part.
Language is part of the move, not an activity after it
Permanent relocation is made of small conversations: registering an address, speaking to a doctor, understanding a work meeting, asking a neighbour about bins, reading a school email. English may carry you through some workplaces and city centres, but it cannot be assumed in every office, service or emergency.
“I had budgeted for deposits, furniture and paperwork. I had not budgeted time for the skill that connected all three.”
A course does more than add vocabulary. A good one creates regular speaking practice, correction and a sequence from what you know to what you need next. The best format depends on when you move, your schedule, budget and whether you learn better alone or with people.
A realistic runway
My 90-day plan before the flight
The target is consistency, not fluency by moving day. Even a basic foundation makes arrival less disorientating.
Build a dependable A1 routine
Placement check, pronunciation, introductions, numbers, dates, directions and the language of forms.
30–40 minutes dailyPractise relocation scenarios
Housing messages, appointments, shopping, transport, workplace introductions and asking for clarification.
Two live sessions weeklyConnect learning to your city
Prepare your registration vocabulary, rehearse calls and identify a local classroom course for after arrival.
One mock task each weekFormat finder
Where should you begin?
Choose the constraint that matters most. This quick guide does not collect or transmit your answer.
Independent course directory
Useful places to compare
No single format suits everyone. Check level, teaching hours, cancellation rules, examination goals and whether a course meets any immigration requirement relevant to you.
Goethe-Institut online courses
Teacher-led and independent online formats across recognised A1–C2 levels; useful before departure and for continuity after arrival.
Compare online formats ↗vhs-Lernportal
Free A1–B2 digital German courses with tutor support, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Open learning portal ↗Goethe-Institut classrooms
Intensive, evening and other classroom formats at German locations, with placement before the appropriate level.
Find an on-site course ↗BAMF integration courses
Language and orientation courses for eligible participants. Admission, obligations and cost support depend on individual status.
Search nearby providers ↗Before paying
Six questions for any course provider
- Which CEFR level will I start at, and is placement included?
- How many live teaching hours are included?
- How much speaking and correction will I receive?
- Does the timetable survive my move and new job?
- Is exam preparation included or separate?
- What are the cancellation and transfer conditions?
Pack the language before you pack the kitchen.
You do not need perfect German at the border. You need a routine, a realistic next level and enough practice to keep learning when life becomes busy.
Compare course formats