German Phonetics Course in Berlin-Mitte

The phonetics course is aimed at all German learners from completed A2 level who want to improve their pronunciation systematically. Whether you want to be better understood in everyday life, at work or in your studies, this course helps you reduce typical pronunciation mistakes in a targeted way. Participants whose native language differs strongly from German and who therefore struggle with certain sounds or German sentence melody benefit especially. If you are unsure whether your language level is sufficient, you can take our free placement test in advance.

In the course, you work on all central areas of German phonetics: umlauts (ä, ö, ü), difficult consonant clusters, the different "ch" sounds, as well as word stress and sentence melody. A special focus is intonation, because correct stress and speech melody are crucial for sounding natural and fluent. You also practise correct pronunciation of consonant clusters that do not exist in many other languages. Each lesson combines theory with practical speaking exercises and individual feedback.

The course runs for four weeks and takes place every Friday from 18:00 to 21:00, making it easy to combine with work or studies. In total, the course includes 16 teaching units spread over four evening sessions. Group size is between 4 and 12 participants, ensuring intensive support and enough speaking time for everyone. You can find current start dates further up on this page or under Course Dates.

Yes, you should have at least A2 level so that you can follow the explanations and carry out the exercises meaningfully. Basic German skills are necessary because the course does not start from zero, but focuses on refining your existing language skills. If you are unsure of your level, we recommend our free placement test. The test is free and takes only a few minutes.

Yes, individual feedback is a central part of the course. The teacher analyses your personal pronunciation difficulties and gives targeted guidance on what to pay attention to. Due to the small group size of a maximum of 12 people, there is enough time to support each participant individually. This allows you to identify your specific weak points and improve them step by step.

The course addresses the most common mistakes made by German learners regardless of their native language. These include incorrect pronunciation of umlauts, confusion of the "ch" sounds (as in "ich" and "ach"), difficulties with the German R, as well as problems with word stress and sentence melody. It also works on typical consonant issues, such as distinguishing voiced and voiceless sounds. The teacher adapts exercises to the specific needs of the group.

Absolutely, the phonetics course is an ideal supplement to other course formats. Many participants attend an intensive course in parallel to improve their general language skills and use the phonetics course to refine pronunciation at the same time. Combining it with a conversation course also creates great added value, as you can apply what you have learned directly in free conversation. Since the phonetics course takes place in the evening, it can be combined well with morning or afternoon courses.

While the conversation course focuses on free speaking, vocabulary and conversation strategies, the phonetics course focuses exclusively on correct pronunciation and intonation. In the phonetics course, you learn to consciously perceive and train individual sounds, sound combinations and speech melody. You learn why certain sounds are difficult and how to use your speech organs in a targeted way. Both courses complement each other perfectly, because good pronunciation makes your conversation much easier to understand.

Yes, clear and correct pronunciation is assessed positively in the speaking sections of all common German exams (telc, Goethe, TestDaF). Examiners pay attention to intelligibility, natural intonation and correct sound production – exactly the areas trained in the phonetics course. If you want to improve your oral exam performance, this course is a worthwhile investment. We additionally recommend consolidating your grammar knowledge with our grammar course.

You do not need any special materials – all worksheets and audio files are provided during the course. Just bring curiosity and willingness to speak actively and engage with new sounds. Registration is completed directly via this course page or Course Dates. If you have questions about your level, our free placement test is available. For any further questions, please feel free to contact us.