German language classes in Hamburg

Will take an advice of what would be the best place to attend German classes. thank you. preffer in russian/ but English is fine as well.

See also: Integration Language Courses in Hamburg

I am looking for german integration lessons too and I am hesitating between Inlingua, big school in the center of the city and Akademikerbund which is a very small school. Inlingua has classes with 20 people, and Akademikerbund has a group with 7 people. So, i don't knpw which one to choose, how could i know which one is better?

I checked Colon school, but they already started yesterday, Sprachfix (they don't offer integration lessons anymore) and Steinweg Schule (started 3 weeks ago)

I will be really happy if someone can give me advice...

It was good to read your thoughts on the German classes and the actions you have taken..choosing scools and etc.,...when i get there in the end of September, i guess i will find out for myself how it will work out! I wish all of you only the best !!

Hey olen'ka! Dud you already find a school for the integration lessons? The lessons in Akademikerbund start this friday, so I think I 'll go and have a look. The group is very small which is maybe better if you want to learn fast. Inlingua start the classes monday and i'll try to go too I think it's a very good school, but the group is really big - 20 students and maybe more. so difficult choice

Hi KIki13! Thank you. WHat is "integration" classes...is it connected with work?
I am not in Hamburg yet, but will be there in the end of September..very excited!:) I will have to look for a job and take some classes...i know nothing about German really..so will be fun!

hope you are well! and all the best with the classes!

Integration ...

hi olen'ka! miwild sent a link regarding the integration lessons and it resume pretty good the idea of this kind of classes:) thanks, mewild! The good think is that if you are eligible for integration lessons you pay only 1 euro per hour, so 600 euros during the 6 months you have to be at school. I never learned german before, so i have to start really from the beginning Do you speak some german or you gonna learn it here?

Privet Olen'ka!

I was in TANDEM and I think they are pretty good. Lessons are in German (not in English or Russian). It also depends how long and what for you are planning to study German. If it's for a month and just to learn German so you can go around, then I would recomend it. There are students who are learning German for 6 months and longer to prepare for TestDAF and they are not very happy.

Btw, I'm also from Russia originaly :-) If you have any questions, I'll be glad to help.

Pokedki!

Leyli

And even if you're not able to get the state-supported integration classes, if you have to do a normal German course you can claim the costs on your tax return for the year, as long as you have some income that is!

How would I go about claiming tax back as a PAYE (ie. not self employed) tax payer over here? Excuse my ignorance, I'm new to the world of paying tax.

Get a Steuerberater if it's your first time I'd suggest - there are lots of threads about it on here. First thing, make sure you keep all your invoices, receipts etc. Tax return you'll be doing next year for 2007.

If German knowledge is important for your job, then you can claim the course costs as Werbungskosten, and as long as you work in a German office and use the language daily, that can count as 'important'. They may or may not also accept them as Weiterbildungskosten as well, though it makes no difference to the amount you get back.

I am in the beginner course at Colon that started on the 3rd. We got new people for the first 1.5 weeks, so 1 day behind would have been fine. I think there are 10 people in the course now. The two teachers I have are excellent. The beginner course starts again in 2 weeks. I believe you can request a one-free-lesson voucher to see if it's the right level and/or to see if the school is right for you. Hope this helped. =)

THanks for the information. It gives me an idea what to look for! Again, thank you. DO you find yourself picking up "things" fast during the class?

The teachers are excellent. I think the explanations are clear and easy to understand. However I can only speak for myself. I understand most content in one explanation, but it takes some of the others longer, thus slowing my learning. So really the only complaint I have are other students. Some are not willing to use their own time for practice and study, wasting class time by not understanding or needing more repetition done. Maybe this is only the beginner course, I don't know.
I am here to learn as much as I can as fast as I can. It's unfortunate how people ruin these things for others.
I don't think I'd have any complaints once in the intermediate course, but getting there may take longer than I originally thought.
It's possible this is the case in other schools but I am not sure. I might try the 1-on-1 lessons.

Hi my name is Bernie and I have moved to Hamburg from Ireland. I am living in Geesthacht, it is a nice place about 20 minutes drive from hamburg city.

The reason I am writing is because I want to start a german course. I only have a small bit of German from school which was about 11 years ago and to be honest I spent most of my time standing in the hall cause I got kicked out for laughing (ahh the good old days eh. ). I need help choosing a course. I have saved enough money to last me 3 months so I could do a fulltime course for the three months. I have heard that I might be able to do a course in Bergedorf but it would be no problem to go to Hamburg city.

I was a PA in Ireland but I have no chance of getting an office job without German. I would be most grateful for any help you could give me.

Thanks in advance

Bernie

Topics merged by admin

Have a look at courses from the Volkshochschule: http://www.vhs-hamburg.de/vhsspezial/deuts...remdsprache.cfm (English flyer as link on RHS)

There are plenty of threads in here about the other language schools such as Colon (and many others)

Get in touch with the VHS in

Bergedorf/Billstedt

Leuschnerstraße 21

21031 Hamburg

Tel.: 72 54 08 - 0

Thank you very much for your help