Courses in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt – Berlitz offers a variety of German language courses with flexible options for both in-person and online learning, which are often customized for different learning goals.
1. Group Courses
These courses are designed to get you speaking German with others in a classroom setting. Prices vary depending on the location and the duration of the course. A full-level program can last for about five months and includes around 60 lessons.
Approximate Price: A full-level, in-person group course can cost approximately €840 to €1,025 for a multi-month program. Online group classes start from around €29.90 per week.
2. Private Lessons
For a more personalized and intensive learning experience, Berlitz offers one-on-one instruction. This is the most flexible option and allows you to learn at your own pace.
Approximate Price: The price per lesson unit (45 minutes) can be around €29.50. A 16-lesson package can cost over $1,300. Prices for Berlitz’s “Total Immersion” package, which is a very intensive program, can cost €904 for a week.
3. Blended & Self-Study Courses
Berlitz also offers hybrid courses that combine self-study with live instruction. The “Berlitz Flex” program, for example, allows you to learn at your own pace with a mix of online materials and live online lessons with a teacher.
Approximate Price: A 6-month access pass to a blended course can cost around €187,400 HUF (Hungarian Forint), which is approximately €490. The price includes online lessons and self-study materials.
The prices and packages mentioned are subject to change and may vary by location and currency. It’s always best to contact a Berlitz center directly for the most current and specific pricing for your needs.
Berlitz offers various German language courses with prices that can vary by location and course type. Here are some examples from major German cities.
Berlitz in Berlin
The Berlitz center in Berlin offers a variety of courses with prices that depend on the duration and intensity of the program.
Intensive Group Course: A course with 20 lessons per week costs approximately €225 per week. The price per week drops to €175 for a commitment of 24 weeks or more.
One-to-One Lessons: Private, one-on-one lessons cost around €63 per 45-minute lesson.
Evening Courses: A monthly evening course of 20 lessons costs about €250 per month.
Berlitz in Munich
In Munich, Berlitz also offers a wide range of German courses. Prices here are slightly higher for some course types, reflecting the city’s higher cost of living.
Intensive Group Course: A one-month intensive course costs around €419.
Super-Intensive Course: A one-month super-intensive course (with more lessons per week) is about €539.
Private Lessons: A single private lesson costs around €75 for 60 minutes.
Berlitz in Frankfurt
Berlitz in Frankfurt has a similar pricing structure to other major German cities, offering a range of intensive and standard options.
Intensive Course: A one-month intensive group course costs around €369. The price becomes more affordable the longer you commit.
Super-Intensive Course: A one-month super-intensive course costs approximately €499.
Evening Courses: A one-month evening course is about €219.
Note that a registration fee (typically €35) and a fee for teaching materials may apply, and prices can increase during high-demand summer months.
Reviews and testimonials
The general sentiment regarding Berlitz’s in-person courses is that they are highly effective for conversational fluency but can be expensive. The experience is heavily dependent on the quality of the individual instructor.
General Consensus: The “Good”
Focus on Communication: The Berlitz Method is praised for its immersive, conversation-based approach. The primary goal is to get students speaking from day one, which many learners find highly effective for building confidence and practical fluency quickly.
Native-Speaking Instructors: Students appreciate that instructors are native speakers, which provides authentic exposure to pronunciation and real-world language use.
Flexibility and Customization: Berlitz is often highlighted for its flexible scheduling and ability to tailor lessons to individual needs, particularly in their private lesson format. This makes it a good choice for professionals or those with specific learning goals.
Effective for Spoken Skills: Many reviews from past students credit Berlitz with helping them overcome their fear of speaking and with rapidly improving their listening and conversational abilities.
Common Criticisms: The “Needs Improvement”
High Cost: The most common drawback mentioned is the high price, especially for private and “Total Immersion” courses. Many users feel that the cost is a significant barrier and that more affordable alternatives, such as the Volkshochschule (VHS) in Germany, can offer a similar experience depending on the teacher.
Inconsistent Quality: A key point of contention is the variability in teacher quality. Reviews suggest that a student’s experience can be fantastic with one instructor but disappointing with another, leading to a feeling of inconsistency. The effectiveness of the method is heavily reliant on the individual teacher’s skills and personality.
Less Focus on Grammar and Writing: The intense focus on speaking means that grammar rules, reading, and writing are sometimes given less attention. Some students feel they need to supplement their Berlitz classes with self-study or another course to build a solid grammatical foundation.
Organizational Issues: Some students have reported issues with the school’s administration, such as disorganized scheduling or a lack of clear communication regarding course materials or levels.
About Berlitz Schools
Berlitz is one of the world’s most enduring language education companies, with a history that is full of interesting facts and a business model that has evolved significantly over more than a century.
Interesting Facts
The “Accidental” Method: The famous Berlitz Method was born out of an accident in 1878. The founder, Maximilian Berlitz, fell ill and left his French-only-speaking assistant, Ioly, in charge of his class. To his surprise, he found that students had made remarkable progress by being forced to communicate in French using gestures and simple words. This “emergency solution” became the basis for the revolutionary immersion-based teaching method.
A Family of Polyglots: Maximilian’s grandson, Charles Berlitz, was a natural polyglot who could speak eight languages fluently by adolescence. This was due to his father’s orders that every family member and servant speak to him in a different language. Charles later went on to become a well-known author.
Total Immersion Program: In 1964, Berlitz launched its “Total Immersion” program, which was a highly intensive and customized learning system designed to help people achieve fluency in a new language in a very short amount of time. It was marketed to professionals and business executives who needed to learn a language quickly for international assignments.
Women’s Leadership During Wartime: During both World Wars, Berlitz faced immense challenges. Many of its schools in Europe and the United States were managed by women who played a critical role in keeping the business running and ensuring that lessons continued despite the conflict.
Global Presence
Berlitz maintains a significant global footprint in the language education market.
Number of Schools: Berlitz operates over 500 language centers in more than 70 countries around the world.
Languages Offered: The company offers instruction in more than 50 different languages.
Lessons Taught: Berlitz teaches more than 7,000,000 lessons per year globally.
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