The Best A1 German Course to Learn German

Be the center of attention of your private German language teacher

Master A1 German with our course and ace the Swiss exams. Our A1 course is a combination of private lessons and interactive exercises on our learning platform that will make you feel confident speaking German. Learn at your own pace whenever and wherever you want online.

Master A1 German with our flexible online course and ace the Swiss exams. Our course is a combination of private lessons and interactive exercises on our learning platform that will make you feel confident speaking German. Learn at your own pace whenever and wherever you want.

What you get with this language course

A1 German Course

German lessons with your private teacher – personalized feedback, faster fluency

German Courses

Access to our exclusive learning platform with 250+ lessons and 2’000+ language exercises

German Lesson

Vocabulary and grammar sheets perfectly prepared for you to start learning

A1 German Certification

German A1 certification from our language school

Who is this A1 German course for?

This German beginner course is tailored for expats, business individuals and students aiming to acquire German A1 proficiency in Switzerland. Swiss German deviates from standard German in vocabulary and spelling. This German A1 course perfectly prepares you for the official telc and Goethe exam which is mandatory for acquiring a work or residence permit in Switzerland. The online course material encompasses private lessons, videos, practice exercises, and personalized learning documents specifically designed for German A1 comprehension and to increase your knowledge of the language.

OUR FEATURES

What sets our German course apart?

Private teacher

One dedicated German teacher watches over your progress and practices speaking the language with you.

AI empowered learning

Our German teachers trained an online AI assistant for you. It's an expert for all German A1 topics and answers your questions right away.

Flexibility

Finish the online course at your own pace. Schedule each private German lesson at a time that is convenient to you.

Mobility

Learn the German language wherever you want - at home, at work or on the go with your laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

Telc, Goethe and Fide

We prepare you to pass the official language exam that Non-Europeans need for their permit in Switzerland.

Optimal preparation

Our test exams and our final exam mirror the official telc format, guaranteeing no German exam surprises.

Anna Pastrikos is the owner German Academy Zurich

About the German Academy Zurich

We recognized that the traditional classroom setting and courses weren’t the most effective way for expats to learn German so we embarked on a mission to revolutionize language learning. With a shared vision of creating an immersive and personalized language approach that is perfect for beginners, we created a learning experience that is personalized and as flexible as possible to fit the needs of busy professionals. 

Our unique A1 course seamlessly integrates one-on-one teaching and AI supported learning with a digital learning platform. This fusion of personalized guidance by a private German teacher, the newest AI technology and interactive exercises provides our students with an outstanding language learning experience.

Anna Pastrikos, Head of Language School

Why should you choose our online course?

Lesson structure

Private lessons

Get fluent faster with 1-on-1 coaching.

Video lessons

Watch easy-to-follow video lessons.

Exercises

Online exercises to practice your language skills.

Quiz

Test what you have learned and get feedback.

SUCCESS

Never before it was that easy to learn German.

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK

Let's hear what our learners say

Anna's course was great for me to learn German as I was very busy with my job during this time. I loved that I could book my private lessons in the evenings after work and choose the times that were best for me each week. This course is the most flexible one I ever had and I loved it.

Brad Summer

Marketing Manager

When I moved to Switzerland I wanted to learn German as fast as possible. I liked that I could learn more or less depending on my schedule. The personal support of Anna when I had questions and the language lessons with my private tutor really helped me to get to A1 asap.

Caroline Li

Wealth & Asset Management

Enroll in your course and speak A1 German confidently

BASIC

Learning platform access
CHF 647
  • Lifetime access to our digital learning platform
  • 250+ lessons, 2500+ exercises
  • 24/7 AI teaching assistant
  • Vocabulary lists and grammar overview sheets
  • Course completion certificate

STANDARD

Best for most users
CHF 997
  • Lifetime access to our digital learning platform
  • 250+ lessons, 2500+ exercises
  • 24/7 AI teaching assistant
  • Vocabulary lists and grammar overview sheets
  • German A1 certificate
  • 10 private lessons with your personal German teacher
  • Letter of enrollment
Most Popular

PREMIUM

More private lessons
CHF 1897
  • Lifetime access to our digital learning platform
  • 250+ lessons, 2500+ exercises
  • 24/7 AI teaching assistant
  • Vocabulary lists and grammar overview sheets
  • German A1 certificate
  • 20 private lessons with your personal German teacher
  • Letter of enrollment

Next steps after sign-up

When you have finished the payment process on the checkout page, you will receive an email with instructions on how to create your online account. Once you have created your online account, you can log in to the German language course by clicking on the link in your email or the ‘Login’ link on our website.

When you login to your account you start the course by clicking on Chapter 1 – Lesson 1. You will be guided through new vocabulary and grammar concepts using videos, listening exercises, reading exercises, and writing exercises as you begin to learn German. You will learn German nouns, verbs, pronouns, sentences, German numbers, and so much more valuable information throughout each unit. During the whole course you have access to an AI assistant, who is perfectly trained to answer all questions regarding German grammar and vocabulary instantly.

When you reach certain levels and milestones you will be asked to book a private lesson. You will see a calendar to book your lesson. Each time you book a lesson you can choose a day and time convenient to you. You will have a total of 10 private lessons to practice speaking German. Learning German has never been so easy and convenient.

At the end of the course you will take our final German exam. This exam is modeled after the official telc exam (an official telc examiner designed our test). Our final exam is a perfect practice test to help you prepare for the German telc exam.

After completing the language course, you will receive a certificate from our language school, confirming that you have reached A1 level. You are now speaking German confidently on an A1 level and are perfectly prepared to start an A2 German course.

Expat community

Learn German

Our expat community is a welcoming space to connect with fellow German learners — in Zurich and around the world. Through our online forum, you can chat, ask questions, and share your experiences with others on the same journey.

You’ll also have access to our interactive map, where members can (optionally) show their location and meet nearby expats for language practice or social meetups. The map is growing fast, especially around Zurich, but also internationally.

Whether you’re looking for support, conversation, or new friendships, you’ll feel right at home here.

FAQ

Absolutely! This course is designed with beginners in mind — no prior experience or background knowledge is required.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or simply curious to explore something new, you’ll be guided step by step in a friendly, supportive environment. We’ll cover all the basics and build your confidence along the way.

So if you’re feeling unsure — don’t worry. You’re in exactly the right place to begin.

Your progress is clearly tracked with a progress bar that updates each time you complete a lesson or chapter.

This visual tracker helps you see how far you’ve come and how much is left, giving you a clear sense of accomplishment and momentum as you move through the course.

Available in the Standard & Premium Courses

As you reach key milestones in your course, you’ll be invited to schedule a private German lesson at a time that works best for you.

These lessons focus on reading exercises and spoken dialogues, giving you the chance to improve your pronunciation and gain confidence in real conversation. Your dedicated teacher will also answer any questions you may have related to your German A1 level.

Once booked, you’ll receive a calendar invitation via email with a Google Meet link. Your teacher will wait for you in the video call at the selected time.

You can contact your German teacher anytime using the ‘contact the teacher’ button in the course or you can write an email. You will receive a response to your question within 24h.

Only applies for the Standard & Premium Course

You will take a German exam to assess your reading, listening, writing and speaking skills at the end of the online course.

When you have passed the exam you will receive an official German A1 certificate from the German Academy Zurich.

Our language course is completely online. You do not have to visit a physical location or follow a set schedule. You can learn whenever and wherever you want with our German language courses.

Furthermore you can get to German A1 level within only one coherent course and enjoy the combined convenience of a private teacher, a 24/7 AI support trained on German grammar and vocabulary and a digital learning platform.

Our standard German course is a one-time price of only CHF 997. No hidden costs or monthyl fees. The 10 private lessons are included in this price.

Click one of the ‘Enroll Now’ buttons on this page to proceed to the checkout. Make your payment and you will receive an email to create your account. With your account you can log into our digital learning platform and start your German language course right away.

Right after enrolling, you’ll receive an email with your login details to access the online learning platform.

You can start the course immediately, beginning with the first lesson of Chapter 1 — which features a welcome video from Anna Pastrikos, founder of the German Academy Zurich.

You’ll also be invited to join our online expat community, where you can connect with other expats learning German, share experiences, ask questions, and stay motivated together.

You can enroll now and start the German language course right away.

We provide our students with a letter of enrollment for the course of our language school within 24h after the purchase. With this letter you can prove your enrollment in a German course to the Swiss authorities.

Yes – our course is specifically designed to prepare you for the official language tests commonly required for Swiss visa and permit applications: telc, Goethe and fide.

Fast learners can reach A1 level with our course in just two months with only one hour a day of self-paced study.

Of course you can finish the course even sooner by dedicating more time to studying the language.

Our AI teaching assistant is available 24/7 to support your learning — anytime you need help.

It’s been specifically trained by our teachers to match the vocabulary and grammar of your level German A1, so all explanations and answers are tailored to exactly where you are in your learning journey.

You can chat with the assistant at any time to ask questions, practice writing, or clarify anything from the lessons. It’s like having a personal tutor in your pocket — always ready to help.

No special software is required.
You can access the entire course directly through your web browser — no downloads needed.

Private lessons take place via a Google Meet link, which also runs smoothly in any modern browser. Just make sure you have a stable internet connection, and you’re all set.

The course is 100% online – including all lessons, exercises, and private sessions.

You can join from anywhere in the world, as long as you have internet access.
Even if you see references to Zurich, rest assured: there are no geographic limitations and no in-person requirements.

Yes — you can reschedule or cancel your private lesson at any time up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time. No explanation is required.

Please note:
If you cancel within 24 hours of the lesson, it will be treated as if the lesson took place and will be counted accordingly.

Absolutely. If you start with the Basic plan and later decide you’d like more features or support, you can upgrade to Standard or Premium at any time.

Just send us a quick message, and we’ll be happy to take care of the upgrade for you — smoothly and without hassle.

Right now we are offering a digital course for beginners (A1 level) and advanced beginners (A2 level). 

Due to the good feedback and many course participants on A1 and A2 level, we are developing a B1 course at this moment. If you want to be informed as soon as our course becomes available please send an email to this address: anna.pastrikos@german-academy-zurich.ch

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

We offer a money-back guarantee for 30 days — or until you book your first private lesson, whichever comes first.

This gives you the chance to explore the platform and try the course risk-free. However, once a private lesson is booked, we begin to incur significant costs, so the refund option ends at that point.

If you’re not satisfied and haven’t yet booked a lesson, just reach out within 30 days of your purchase, and we’ll process a full refund — no questions asked.

A private teacher gives you personalised attention, tailored exactly to your learning pace, goals, and challenges.

You’ll receive immediate feedback on your pronunciation, grammar, and speaking, helping you avoid mistakes early and build confidence faster. Private lessons also allow you to ask unlimited questions, focus on areas where you need the most support, and practice real-life conversations in a relaxed, one-on-one setting.

It’s the fastest and most effective way to make progress — with someone guiding, encouraging, and correcting you every step of the way.

Start learning German today!

Learn German A1 with our innovative digital course and enjoy the close support and supervision of your private German teacher.

Submit your information and download our free A2 German learning material
Submit your information and download our free A1 German learning material