Many expats moving to Switzerland don’t just want to learn German for themselves; it’s often part of a larger goal. People relocating here often need to study for one or more of the following: the TELC, Goethe, fide, CEFR levels A1–C2, B-permit, C-permit, and citizenship and integration requirements.
It can be difficult to accomplish this level of fluency on your own, especially when accounting for the logistics of relocation and demands of work and family. One of the reasons private German lessons for adults in Switzerland are so useful is that they allow learners to scale their education to their ability and become fluent while having a full life.
Creating a German study schedule for adults requires practicing consistently, defining goals, categorizing language skills, and working with an expert.
Defining Your Goals
When setting out to study a language, it’s easy to fantasize about being 100% fluent. However, you’re more likely to succeed if you define a specific goal and decide when you want to meet it.
For this, testing can set helpful markers. These are the basic levels of CEFR, internationally recognized levels of language skill:
Outside of CEFR, you may be preparing for a fide exam for a residence application or pursuing a Goethe certification to be more competitive in the realm of career advancement. Even if you don’t plan to take any of these exams, you should determine which test most closely resembles your goals.
This way, you can make use of resources built around achieving your desired level. Similarly, establishing an end date helps you divide those resources and your schedule evenly over time.
Prioritizing Consistency
Like any skill, one of the keys to learning a language is consistency. The more time you put into practicing the most useful German phrases for adults, the more stable your base of understanding will be and the faster you can expand that base towards true fluency.
One of the keys to developing a consistent practice is intelligent scheduling. It’s easy to tell yourself that every day you’ll put in an hour of work, fantasizing about speeding towards your language goals. However, more often than not, this overambitious approach leads to failure.
When you’re planning your schedule, start with what is manageable. For example, begin with:
- Fifteen daily minutes reviewing vocabulary
- Once a weekend conversation practice
- Listening practice during your commute
- Two or three one-on-one lessons a week
When you begin with a learning schedule you know you can meet, either by starting small, using existing time in your schedule, or working with private teachers to make the space, you set yourself up for success. Later, you can decide if you want to expand your study schedule.
Categorizing Skills
Part of making an effective study schedule is breaking down the language into parts. For example, vocabulary, reading, writing, speaking, and listening are all necessary to learning a language. However, if you don’t plan which of these things you will focus on when, it can be overwhelming each time you sit down to study.
As part of your schedule, mark which category you will focus on. This should also be determined in part by your specific goal and timeline.
Once you have your schedule that aims for a specific goal, has a timeline, and is built to support consistent practice, you can tie it all together by hiring an expert.
Working with an Expert
One of the best uses of working with language experts is getting help building a study schedule. When you work with a private teacher, you don’t have to start from scratch.
German Academy Zurich has a history of helping busy professionals and expats from around the world reach their language goals. We also excel at helping students schedule private German lessons around work.
“Moved to Switzerland for work and needed B1 by a clear deadline,” a former student who works as an HR business partner said. “My teacher was professional, structured, never wasted a minute. Lessons online after work, homework that was actually useful, steady feedback. Reached B1 three weeks early.”
Our one-on-one private lessons can be part of a schedule that makes your goals achievable. Schedule a call today to talk with our team about how we can help!
