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Your questions answered!

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1)

Isn’t German hard?

Every language has hard and easy aspects! New learners often worry about the difficult German grammar, and yes, indeed, there are 3 genders in German! There are also 4 cases - but rest assured, I have 20 years of experience of teaching these concepts and am happy to share my knowledge with you. My TOP10 German Grammar Masterclass, accessible within the Better German Community Hive, might be a good fit for you! 

As for the easy bits, learners often enjoy the very straightforward pronunciation of German words (“What you see is what you get!”), and like the fact that many words are similar to English or other languages, e.g. die Sonne (the sun), das Buch (the book), der Hund (the dog/hound), die Milch (the milk), and many more!

2)

How long will it take me to reach level A1/C1?

This depends on many factors, mainly your starting point and how fast you can learn. Also, your previous knowledge of languages and how much time you are willing to invest in your learning are critical.

I generally recommend scheduling a minimum of 60 min a week for individual study into one’s diary, plus being an active member of our hive, by asking and answering questions, taking part in the weekly challenges, joining the live group sessions and/or weekly 1-2-1 support sessions. That way, your progress will be continuous and sustainable, at your pace!

3)

I am very busy and don’t have much time, how can I fit in learning German?

If you are pressed for time, then the Better German Hive is the perfect place for you. You can access all the resources, courses and much more in your own time and be as active as you like/can in our community.

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You can also look for opportunities to fit in the German language into the routine you normally do anyway. This way, you can improve your German without needing additional time! Do you regularly walk your dog? Listen to German radio/a podcast at the same time. Do you enjoy reading books? Pick a German book at your level. Love baking? Try a German cake recipe! Like watching movies and series? Watch German ones, with or without subtitles in your language! You get the idea!

Lots more inspiration can be found inside the Better German Community Hive in the Resource Library!

4)

I'm a Premium member - Can I move my 1-2-1 support session?

Of course! Please let us know as soon as you can (e.g. planned holidays etc), so we can cancel with enough notice and find an alternative time and date, if desired. Please make sure you give me at least 24h notice to avoid a cancellation fee!

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5)

Do you speak with a regional German accent?

No, I do not have a regional accent, due to the fact that my family moved house a lot when I was young, so I did not develop a strong accent from any particular area in Germany! Therefore, you can rest assured that the German pronunciation you will be learning will mean that you will be understood anywhere in Germany, Switzerland or Austria!

6)

I find learning languages hard, how will I succeed with Better German?

A fresh start makes such a difference. You are now likely to have a different reason and a different motivation for learning German than when you may have tried previously. Being in a friendly, supportive community with access to high-quality resources, courses, help and much more gives you the ideal conditions to succeed. Our group live sessions make you feel part of a community and our forum allows you to ask questions at any time, ensuring you can make steady progress!

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If you opt for personalised 1-2-1 sessions, we will focus our attention on your individual reasons and motivation and will keep weaving what you learn into situations where you can immediately apply the new words and grammar.

 

The beauty of being a member of the Better German Hive is that you can learn at YOUR pace, which will never be too fast or too slow for you, but always at just the right level with just the right amount of challenge to enable you to make progress! These are just some of the keys to success.

7)

Who are 1-2-1 support sessions right for?

1-2-1 sessions are right for you if you are looking for individual attention and prefer the flexibility of private sessions where the focus is purely on YOU and your progress. You may have a particular project/speech/presentation you need to help with, or generally enjoy the 1-2-1 format for various reasons.

We will tailor your lessons to your requirements and your individual objectives.

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1-2-1 also means that you get maximum speaking time during your lesson! Our style of conversation includes many open questions, and therefore encourages plenty of free speaking from you, be it about work or personal topics! It's amazing to witness how quickly our members make progress when given the space and time to talk about their work or personal situations, e.g. deadlines at their work, problems with their landlord, their recent holidays, or particular hobbies such as singing the music of Bach, or making sourdough pizza dough! 

8)

Who is the 10-week TOP 10 Essential German Grammar Masterclass right for?

This flexible, 10-week self-study course is for you if you are a beginner or intermediate learner and don't feel confident about some essential German grammar topics. It is designed in such a way that you work through this course in your own time over the course of 10 weeks. Every week, a new section of the course will be unlocked for you, with plenty of videos of me explaining the grammar to you, and you can watch the videos as often as you like. There are also many example sentences to show that grammar in action. You will then be able to complete your own exercises, too, to check that you can apply these grammar concepts yourself.

The entire course is available to you for the duration of your membership.

Complementing this course are our weekly group live sessions that you can join to meet fellow learners, ask any question about the course and get practising!

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9)

Who is the Better German Hive right for?

Everyone who is interested in learning German in a structured, yet self-directed manner and at their own speed, and is looking for help, inspiration and direction. The Hive is where everything is happening!

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Access all the courses, resources, group live sessions and 1-2-1 support sessions within our Hive, plus of course our friendly community where you can ask your question any time! See you there!

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How is your programme and platform different from Preply or Duolingo?

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Many people turn to platforms like Preply or apps like Duolingo when learning German, but there’s a big difference between those options and what we offer in the Better German Community Hive.

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How We're Different from Preply

 

  • Preply is essentially a marketplace where learners have to find a tutor, and the quality of instruction can vary greatly. There’s no clear structure, so progress can feel inconsistent. You’re only getting one-on-one lessons with no support from your trainer or from a community in between lessons, nor is there a structured course you can follow.

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  • In the Hive, I provide a clear, step-by-step roadmap that helps you master German, especially grammar, the area where many learners struggle. You know exactly what to focus on next because the programme takes you through the key concepts in a structured 10-week course. Plus, you get direct access to me, a native speaker and qualified teacher with over 20 years of experience, and a supportive community to help you along the way.

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How We're Different from Duolingo

 

  • Duolingo is fun and gamified, but lacks the opportunity to have real-world conversations. While you might feel like you’re progressing by completing lessons, when you try to speak in real life, you might find that you’re not able to use German properly.

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  • In the Hive, we focus on equipping you with the skills to speak as early as possible. The reason we dive deep into grammar is so that you can actually understand the structure and therefore use German in conversations. Instead of chasing streaks, you’ll understand the logic, patterns and rules, and therefore gain the confidence to speak and communicate effectively.

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Why This Matters


For professionals with a busy schedule, time is precious. You need a learning system that’s not only effective, but also structured and flexible. In the Hive, I provide a clear path to speaking confidently, so you won’t waste time searching for tutors or using apps that don’t really help you progress.

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What makes the Better German Community Hive unique?

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The Hive is different from other language learning platforms. Most of them leave you guessing, either piecing together lessons from different tutors with no additional support, or relying on apps that don’t prepare you for real conversations. In the Hive, you get everything you need in one place.

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Here’s what makes it unique:

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  • A Clear Roadmap: No more wondering what to learn next. Follow a structured path designed to help you master the essential concepts step-by-step and focus on what’s most important.

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  • Qualified Coaching & Community Support: You’ll have direct access to me, a native speaker and qualified teacher with over 20 years of experience, and a supportive community to keep you on track.

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  • Practical, Real-World Application: Understanding the structure of German is essential in order to speak confidently. Practise speaking and receive feedback to help you use German with confidence in real situations.

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  • A Growing Resource Library: Need extra learning material? I’ve got you covered. You’ll have access to a library of resources to help you stay inspired and reinforce what you’ve learned.

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  • Designed for Self-Directed Learners: The Hive is perfect for busy professionals looking for a flexible learning experience that fits into their schedule.

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Join the Hive for a structured, supportive, and effective way to master German!

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12)

Your Programme is only 10 weeks -  why do you offer yearly memberships?

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The 10-week programme is just the beginning. It’s designed to help you master the 10 key concepts that the majority of learners find the most challenging. But learning a language doesn’t stop there. The Hive is about long-term growth and progress.

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Here’s why a year-long membership makes sense:

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  • The 10-Week Programme Builds a Strong Foundation, but Mastery Takes Time: In 10 weeks, you’ll understand the core concepts, but to really make the knowledge stick and use it in conversation, you need more practice. That’s why many learners stay in the Hive after the 10 weeks to continue improving.

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  • Ongoing Support and Practice Keep You on Track: After the 10-week programme, you’ll have access to ongoing coaching, speaking practice, and a community that keeps you engaged and motivated. This support will help you refine your skills and avoid developing bad habits.

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  • Flexible Learning at Your Own Pace: Not everyone can focus intensely for 10 weeks straight. Some members need to take their time, moving through the programme at a pace that fits with their schedule. A year-long membership gives you the flexibility to learn without pressure and revisit the topics as often as you need to. The 10-week course is available for the duration of your membership!

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  • A Year of Progress, Not Just a Course: You can’t become fluent in 10 weeks. The programme helps you build momentum, and the Hive ensures that you don’t lose it. After the 10 weeks, you’ll continue to grow, getting the most out of your investment in learning German.

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  • ​Why This Matters: If you’re serious about learning German, you need a long-term, sustainable approach. A year in the Hive gives you the structure, support, and flexibility to make real progress and stick with it.

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The 10-week programme gives you a clear path to mastering the key concepts, and the Hive supports you long after the course ends. A year in the Hive ensures that you continue learning and improving, until you’re speaking German confidently.

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