German Lessons: Are You Paying for Progress or Just Time?

So, I've just had a very pleasant introductory call with a potential client. He was really keen on improving his German quickly so as to be able to integrate better and take the next step in his career in Switzerland.

During our mini trial session, we established what his current level of German was, identified areas that needed improvement, and also set a realistic goal that we could aim for should we decide to work together.

It is only at this stage that I start talking about my offer, because the chemistry needs to be right between us – otherwise I would not move forward. I explained that I always work with clients for a period of three months, which is a length of time that allows you to make good progress towards your goal and, at the same time, that milestone doesn't seem too far off.

I then show the prices of the different packages that are available, before proceeding with the details about how everything works. As he had told me that he was looking for at least a couple of hours a week, I had already directed him towards the most suitable package and was about to explain what exactly was included when I saw him reaching for his phone and – eyes darting back and forth between the computer screen and his phone – starting to work out ... Can you guess what I'm going to say? ... THE HOURLY RATE!

If you're thinking now “That's exactly what I would do”, you are not looking at the right data to establish whether or not an offer constitutes good value for money. Bear in mind that the price of the package at this stage is clearly visible on the screen, so there is no doubt about the sum of money the client would need to invest in himself to reach his goal in the short space of time that he is aiming for.

Let me ask you this: What does it tell you if you work out that, say, 45 minutes of a teacher's time would set you back 50, 100, or 150 francs? Does it tell you anything about how qualified the teacher is? Does it help you understand the teachers approach? Does it give you an idea of what the teacher provides outside of lesson time to support you on your language journey?

Of course, it all depends a bit on past experience in terms of language lessons and how that has made you feel. Have you previously attended classes where too many students were put in one class, didn’t have the same level and you didn't get much of a chance to speak? Have you had an online teacher that you found on a platform and you spent most of your lesson time filling in gaps of random worksheets off the Internet? Have you been to conversation classes that lacked both structure and guidance, where you felt lost and weren't sure whether you actually learnt anything new?

I can understand that you wouldn't want to pay a lot of money for that. But imagine how a different experience would feel. Something a bit more like a massage at that fantastic spa hotel, where you briefly hesitated when you saw the price list, but then immediately forgot about your investment as you enjoyed it so much from the first minute on?

The cosy dressing gown and slippers they gave you, the comfy bed you lay down on, the soothing smells, the relaxing treatment and the lovely cup of tea and small piece of cake they gave you afterwards – you even got to keep the slippers ...! You walked out of there feeling like a different person.

In fact, when you thought about it over the following days, it still put a smile on your face and you were left so impressed with the skills, manner and professionalism of the therapist that you’ve already left them a 5-star review and recommended the spa to a couple of your friends.

This is what you should be looking for when you choose a German teacher. An experience where you feel looked after, where you can forget about your worries and just enjoy the time of day. So, make sure you look for all the small things that make an experience great. Here are my top 10 suggestions of what to check for:

Is the content of the lessons tailored to your specific needs? Are you taught language you need in the workplace, for example?

Does the teacher give you different examples of how new words are used in context and make these relevant to your life?

Do you get to practise what you’ve learnt? Are there enough speaking opportunities so you can experiment with new words and grammar and grow your confidence?

What’s the material like? Does it seem carefully prepared and perhaps even written by the teacher or is it more a random collection of things that don’t seem to be connected?

Does the teacher take detailed notes during the lesson that are then sent to you afterwards so you can refer back to them?

Do you receive specific tips and recommendations on what else you can do outside of lesson time to improve your German? (And no, not D**lingo!)

Are you given extra practice material to consolidate understanding? Does the teacher check your homework and send it back to you with clear annotations before the next lesson?

Does the content of the lessons meet the requirements of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in case you wanted to take an German exam such as Goethe or telc at a later stage?

Are the lessons purely focused on teaching the language or are you also looking at other issues that may stand in your way? For adult learners in particular, it is often their mindset rather than the language that holds them back.

Is modern technology used in a creative way for additional support? Think Whatsapp messages for extra speaking practice, a course platform with explanatory videos or an online community where you can stay in touch with your teacher and other learners, for example.

And finally, a few more things to consider that may not be obvious. It is a common misconception that 1:1 lessons are always best because you get all the teacher’s attention and maximum speaking time. True, all the focus is on you, but have you considered that you’re missing out on interaction with others? Getting used to speaking to a range of different people in German will be so beneficial in the long term as you will get used to different accents and learn how to navigate more complex conversations.

?A group programme can also be tailored, for example a specific course for learners at B2 level who want to start speaking German at work may provide them with the skills to give presentations or project status updates in German, teach them how to deal with conflict in a culturally appropriate way or even tackle job interview questions. The added benefit is that group programmes are often more attractively priced.

?Generally, less is often more. It’s not spending three hours a week in 1:1 lessons that will make you succeed in the long term. We all have a lot on and often can’t find enough time in the day to fit everything in, so don’t put additional pressure on yourself. The brain loves repetition, and it is probably far more effective to have two shorter sessions rather than one long one and then nothing for a whole week.

?Online lessons are fantastic for busy professionals as you can quickly log on from the office, but they’re also more tiring. See above.

?Hopefully, this gives you a better idea of how a teacher can provide value and how to choose a teacher or programme that is right for you. As a guideline, if you have two 45-minute lessons a week, be that in a group or 1:1, you will ideally be spending at least another 90 minutes a week revising and preparing – and the same is true for your teacher, who’ll be checking your work and preparing lessons. And then we’re not really looking at an “hourly rate”, are we?

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