German A1: Absolute Beginner
German A1 Course: Learn German A1 Online from Zero in 8 Weeks
Learn German from zero and be conversational in 8 weeks.
Perfect if you have never studied German. This A1 German course teaches A1 level German from scratch: the alphabet, pronunciation, numbers, colours, A1 vocabulary (Wortschatz), grammar (Grammatik), and the basics of everyday conversation. By the end, you will be able to introduce yourself, ask for directions, and understand simple signs.
Our approach
Why we don't just follow a syllabus
Every batch is different. Some students pick up grammar fast but freeze when asked to speak; others speak confidently with a few mistakes but overthink every sentence when writing. We teach the same 14 units to everyone, but how much time we spend on each one, and how we explain it, depends on what the room actually needs. A syllabus tells you what to cover. It doesn't tell you how a specific group of students learns.
What makes us different
How We Teach A1
Speaking starts in class, not after.
Most courses teach grammar and vocabulary first, then add speaking at the end. We have you use new words and structures out loud in the same class you learn them. You're not waiting weeks to finally speak.
You write before you speak.
Short answers and dialogues are easier than speaking cold. You write something first, then say it out loud. By the time you're speaking, you've already built the sentence once.
You think in German from week one.
Translating in your head is slow and makes you sound hesitant. From the start, instructions and practice happen in simple German. Your brain learns the language directly instead of running it through English first.
Small classes so you actually have to speak.
In a class of 40, it's easy to sit quiet. We cap our batches at 12 so everyone gets called on, corrected, and heard in every session.
German A1 Syllabus: What You'll Learn in A1
A1.1 · Weeks 1–4
Start this part →Introductions
Greetings, saying your name, spelling it out loud, where you're from, filling out forms.
Alphabet and pronunciation
Counting, telling time, dates.
Family
Family vocabulary, describing people, possessive articles (mein, dein, sein).
Home and objects
Rooms, items, colors, articles (der, die, das).
Daily routine
Everyday verbs, present tense, German word order.
Food and ordering
Restaurant vocabulary, ordering, saying what you like.
Shopping
Prices, sizes, clothing vocabulary.
A1.2 · Weeks 5–8
Start this part →Directions and transport
Asking for directions, public transport, prepositions.
Work and schedule
Talking about jobs and your day, separable verbs.
Health
Body parts, describing how you feel, modal verbs (können, müssen).
Free time
Hobbies, making plans, talking about weekends.
Weather and small talk
Seasons, everyday conversation.
Travel and booking
Booking a room, introduction to past tense.
Full conversations
Putting everything together, ready for A2.
By the end
A1 level German: what you'll be able to do
- ✓Introduce yourself, ask and answer basic personal questions, and hold a short first conversation with a stranger.
- ✓Order food, shop, ask for directions, and get through everyday situations without switching to English.
- ✓Talk about your daily routine, your work, your family, and your weekend in simple, correct sentences.
- ✓Understand simple signs, short written messages, and slow, clear spoken German, and be genuinely ready to start A2.
Be honest with yourself
The time commitment
This is intensive: 8 weeks, not 8 months. Expect live class time plus homework between sessions; the students who see the fastest progress are the ones who review vocabulary daily, even for 10 minutes. If your schedule is tighter, a semi-intensive pace covering the same 14 units over a longer timeline may suit you better, so ask us during your placement test.
Level guide
What is German A1 level?
German A1 level is the first step on the European scale for languages (CEFR). At A1 you understand and use everyday expressions, introduce yourself, ask simple questions and handle basic situations like ordering food or asking for directions. It is the level of the Goethe-Zertifikat A1, and the starting point for A2, B1 and B2.
Not sure whether you are at A1 already? Take the free German A1 test and get your level in about 20 minutes.
Exam
What's in the German A1 exam?
The German A1 exam most learners take is the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 (Start Deutsch 1). It has four parts: Lesen (reading), Hören (listening), Schreiben (writing) and Sprechen (speaking). Everything in the German A1 exam is covered by the 14 units above: greetings, numbers, family, daily routine, shopping, directions and simple past forms.
Speaking is the part most people cannot practice alone. In our live classes you speak from day one, so you are ready for the German A1 exam with real conversation practice, not only worksheets.
Notes, syllabus and exam
German A1 notes, syllabus and exam in one place
German A1 notes
Grammar lessons with tables, vocabulary flashcards and free PDF charts to keep or print.
Read A1 notes →German A1 syllabus
All 14 units of the A1 level German course, from greetings to full conversations, are listed above.
See A1.1 and A1.2 →German A1 exam
How the Goethe A1 exam works, free practice material and how to prepare with a teacher.
A1 exam guide →Learning the A1 German language step by step? Every unit above is part of the German A1 level, and you can take the whole plan with you: download the free German A1 PDF files below, the syllabus and the grammar notes, and print them for your own study.
FAQ
German A1 course, syllabus and exam: questions
No, A1 is designed for complete beginners. All you need is curiosity and a stable internet connection.
8 weeks intensive, split into two 4-week sub-levels (A1.1 and A1.2) that you can take individually or bundled. Prefer a lighter pace? Ask about semi-intensive scheduling during your placement test, same 14 units, spread over a longer timeline.
14 units in total (7 in A1.1, 7 in A1.2), taking you from your first greeting to full, real conversations.
Yes, A1 vocabulary flashcards, grammar points, and practice exercises are all free to browse and try, no account required. Sign in only if you want to save your exercise scores.
Pair the free flashcards with the live class: hearing and using a word in a real sentence within the same week you learn it is what actually makes it stick, more than repetition alone.
Yes, every word includes its article, plural form, and a simple example sentence, so you see it used in context, not just as an isolated translation.
The German A1 course is a beginner course for people who have never learned German. Ours runs 8 weeks in live online classes with a small batch, covers 14 units from greetings to full conversations, and prepares you for the Goethe A1 exam. Take the free placement test if you are unsure it is the right start.
You can learn German A1 online with us in live classes taught by a teacher, with speaking practice from day one. Alongside the course, the A1 notes, vocabulary flashcards and practice exercises on this site are free.
The German A1 syllabus has 14 units: introductions, alphabet and numbers, family, home, daily routine, food, shopping, directions, work, health, free time, weather, travel, and full conversations. The complete list is on this page, and A1.1 (units 1 to 7) and A1.2 (units 8 to 14) each have their own page.
Yes, both are free. Download the German A1 syllabus PDF (all 14 units, week by week) and the German A1 notes PDF (all grammar topics with tables, common mistakes and practice with answers) from the buttons on this page. The same notes are also free online lessons, and the course material page has PDF charts. We do not offer copyrighted coursebook PDFs.
The German A1 exam most learners take is the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 (Start Deutsch 1), with reading, listening, writing and speaking parts. Our A1 resources page explains the format and how to practice, and our Goethe exam preparation course adds timed mock tests.
With our intensive course, A1 level German takes 8 weeks of live classes plus daily review. A slower, semi-intensive pace over a longer time is possible; ask during your placement test.
A1 German is the first level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The German A1 level means you can understand and use familiar everyday expressions, introduce yourself, and interact in a simple way, provided the other person speaks slowly and is willing to help.