The Best Way to Learn German Before Moving to Germany

The best way is simple: know your target level, learn in the right order, and start speaking from day one. Everything after that is just detail.

I teach this every week. The students who arrive in Germany ready almost always got these few things right before they packed a single box.

First, know your target level

Don't learn German in general. Learn it for your goal, so you actually know when you're finished.

• A1 for the Chancenkarte or family reunification
• B1 for an Ausbildung
• B2 for nursing recognition or university

These levels vary by your situation and the authority deciding your case, so check the official rules on Make it in Germany before you commit. If the Opportunity Card is your route, I break down exactly which German level the Chancenkarte needs.

Learn in the right order

Order is what makes German stick. Go A1 to A2 to B1, step by step — not random words scraped from an app.

A clear structure means every lesson builds on the last, so nothing feels like it came out of nowhere. That's the whole idea behind my German for moving to Germany course.

Practise daily, and speak early

A little every day beats weekend cramming, every time. Fifteen honest minutes a day will take you further than one exhausted three-hour Sunday.

And speak from the start, even badly. Waiting until you feel "ready" is the slowest route there is — you get ready by speaking, not before it.

Preparing for a certificate?

If you need proof of your level, train in the exam format — Goethe or telc — from day one. The format is a skill of its own, and surprises on exam day are expensive.

Want a realistic timeline first? Here's how long A1, B1 and B2 actually take.

One last thing: once you land, immersion accelerates everything you've built. The groundwork you lay now is exactly what makes those first German weeks click instead of overwhelm.

Want to start the right way before you move? Start your 5-day free trial and see how it feels. 🚀