Online German courses

You can decide which German course suits you the best based on your goals and preferences. Berlitz India offers online German lessons for all ages and learning styles:

• Online private classes: Get the undivided attention of a live instructor in a one-to-one online setting. Perfect if you want personalized guidance, faster progress, and the flexibility to learn from anywhere.
• Online group lessons: A great option if you enjoy learning with others. In small virtual groups, you’ll take part in natural conversations, build confidence, and stay motivated through live online interaction.
• Self-paced online courses: Ideal for independent learners who want total flexibility. Study independently with interactive exercises and smart AI-powered tools and move through the material entirely at your own pace.

• Blended learning programs: Combine flexible self-paced online study with live coaching from Berlitz instructors. This online mix lets you learn freely on your schedule while reinforcing your skills with real-time speaking practice.

• Online private courses for kids and teens: These one-to-one online lessons give your child a fully personalized learning experience tailored to their pace and personality. With dedicated instructor attention, they gain confidence faster and stay motivated throughout the process.
• Online group lessons for kids and teens: Small live online groups make German learning social, fun, and naturally interactive. Kids stay engaged through conversations and activities that boost real-world communication skills.
• Corporate language training: Master workplace German entirely online — from everyday communication to industry-specific terminology. Ideal for busy professionals who need practical, career-focused language skills.

Before you start learning German with Berlitz, you will take our online placement test to assess your current language level. This way, you will be recommended a course that is adapted to your level and your needs.

If you want to learn to speak German, it is important to speak the language actively. Your progress can be supported with a number of learning techniques that help you improve your skills naturally:

• watching TV shows
• listening to music
• reading books in German

Once you are ready to move to the next step, you can select one of our German courses.

With our courses to learn German, you will:

• Understand and use relevant language in different social situations.
• Improve your communication skills by actively speaking German.
• Learn to navigate in both familiar and new environments.
• Develop your confidence in using German in everyday conversations.

The most widely recognized German language tests in India are the Goethe-Zertifikat, TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache), and telc Deutsch exams. These certifications are accepted by German universities, employers, and immigration authorities, and are often required for studying, working, or relocating to Germany. They assess practical language skills across all CEFR levels (A1–C2), ensuring learners can use German confidently in academic, professional, or everyday contexts.

German proficiency is commonly described using the CEFR framework (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), which is widely accepted across the wrold, including India. At Berlitz, we also use our own Berlitz Language Level system (1–10), which aligns closely with CEFR and provides a more detailed breakdown of skills. This makes it simple to track progress and set clear learning goals.

Here’s how the two systems compare, along with the functional abilities at each stage:

Functional Ability

Berlitz Level 1 | CEFR A1

You can introduce yourself and ask simple questions (e.g., where someone lives, how they are, or what they like). You can answer such questions about yourself and take part in very simple conversations, provided the other person speaks slowly and repeats if necessary.

Berlitz Level 2 | CEFR A2.1

You can understand and communicate simple, everyday messages. You manage clear, basic information and short conversations, and describe routine activities at home or work. You can ask about and understand daily needs such as shopping, travel, or booking hotels.

Intermediate Ability

Berlitz Level 3 | CEFR A2.2

You understand the gist of conversations on familiar topics in both social and work contexts. You can initiate, maintain, and end conversations, give basic professional instructions, raise problems and suggest solutions. You can also express agreement, disagreement, or complaints.

Berlitz Level 4 | CEFR A2.3

You can discuss familiar topics in more detail, make professional contacts, offer advice, and give suggestions. You can handle practical tasks like exchanging goods or canceling orders, and you’re able to write notes, short messages, or personal letters.

Upper Intermediate Ability

Berlitz Level 5 | CEFR B1.1

You can comfortably discuss a variety of everyday and workplace topics. You’re able to explain or describe processes, ask and answer work-related questions, and give general instructions. You feel at ease in familiar professional settings, for example discussing the quality of a product or service.

Berlitz Level 6 | CEFR B1.2

You can communicate effectively in most professional and personal contexts, find alternative ways to express yourself, and manage a variety of topics. You can take part in group discussions with native speakers, handle projects, share opinions, and manage longer calls or travel arrangements with ease.

Advanced Ability

Berlitz Level 7 | CEFR B1.3

You can clearly express and defend your views in discussions, understand idiomatic expressions, and manage challenging situations or disagreements. You can give presentations, summarize facts, and use the language accurately in complex work situations.

Berlitz Level 8 | CEFR B2.1

You can participate naturally in demanding conversations, both social and professional. At this level you are able to conduct meetings, give clear presentations, and express nuanced ideas confidently.

Professional Ability

Berlitz Level 9 | CEFR B2.2

You communicate efficiently with varied audiences on both familiar and new topics. You can lead discussions and meetings, defend ideas with detailed arguments, and write professional documents (emails, reports, proposals) with accuracy and clarity.

Berlitz Level 10 | CEFR C1–C2

CEFR C1: You express yourself fluently and spontaneously, handle challenging texts with ease, and use language flexibly in both social and professional contexts. You can produce clear, well-structured communication, even on complex topics.

CEFR C2: Your command of the language is comparable to an educated native speaker. You understand virtually everything you read or hear, and you can produce precise, nuanced communication even in complex or specialized contexts.

This combined system makes it simple to identify your current level, track your progress, and set clear learning goals. In India, both CEFR and Berlitz levels are widely recognized and help learners demonstrate their German proficiency to schools, employers, and international institutions.

The time it takes to reach fluency depends on several factors — your starting level, your goals, and the type of course you choose. At Berlitz, progress is measured in Berlitz Levels (1–10), which correspond to international CEFR standards (A1–C2). On average, learners can advance by one Berlitz level in a set number of lessons or weeks, depending on course intensity:

• Online private courses – With fully personalized lessons tailored to your pace, most learners advance one level after 40 lessons (10–12 weeks).
• Online group courses – With 60 hours of guided learning and peer practice, you typically move up one level in 10–20 weeks, depending on course intensity.
• Berlitz Flex – This blended format lets you move at your own pace. Most learners who study on average 3 hours a week advance one Berlitz level in 4–6 months.
• Berlitz OnDemand – On average, learners who study around three hours per week can complete all Berlitz On Demand components from one Berlitz level in about six months.

Overall, fluency is not achieved overnight, it’s a gradual process of building vocabulary, mastering grammar, and practicing communication. But with the right course intensity, it’s possible to make noticeable progress in weeks rather than years.