Study German as an Au Pair: Your Course Options in Germany

Hello everyone! My name is Nina, and I have been living in Germany for about a year and a half now as a Master's student. When I arrived, I barely spoke any German. Today I'm at A2 level and continue studying to reach B1. Living in a country where you don't speak the language is really difficult, but on the other hand, it's also one of the best ways to actually learn it, especially if you are an Au Pair, which gives you great opportunities to practice with your Host Family. 

Why Learning German Matters So Much as an Au Pair

Before I came to Germany, I had already taken an A1 German course at the Goethe-Institut in Taiwan. My studies at university were taught in English; that's why I didn't put much effort into studying German. It was fine for me at the beginning because everyone around me spoke English, including classmates and teachers. But outside of university, I found it hard to immerse myself in society. 

As an Au Pair, it might be more difficult for you because you have to communicate with your Host Family and host kids every day. Otherwise, in order to apply for an Au Pair position in Germany, you need to have basic knowledge of German; if you are a non-EU Au Pair, you must prove your A1 level with an official certificate. During your stay, attending a language course is mandatory. However, you don't need to worry, your Host Family contributes at least €840 per year toward the actual course costs incurred.

Here are some options that you can consider to study German as an An Pair:

Volkshochschule (VHS) Courses

The VHS is basically Germany's adult education center, and you'll find one in almost every town or city. VHS courses are affordable, well-structured, and follow the official European framework (A1, A2, B1, and so on), so you always know exactly where you stand. 

You can choose between in-person and online classes, depending on your schedule. VHS also offers intensive courses, which can include around 20 lessons per week. As an Au Pair, I recommend you choose an evening or weekend course whenever possible. This gives you enough time during the day to take care of your Au Pair duties while still making steady progress with your German. 

You can use the Volkshochschule Official Portal to find a VHS near you. When searching for a German language course, don’t forget to set the filters to Themenbereiche → Sprachen → Deutsch.

Many VHS offer a special discount for Au Pairs. To have access to it, you should be able to prove that you’re an Au Pair. On AuPair.com, you can apply for the Au Pair ID card for free, print it, and show it at the school when you enrol.

Goethe-Institut Courses

There are many language schools and centres in Germany, but the Goethe-Institut is the gold standard when it comes to German language education. It's a German government-funded institution with branches all over the world. In Germany, they have different branches in ​​Berlin, Bonn, Bremen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Göttingen, etc. They offer different types of courses, including intensive, afternoon, evening, and online courses, so you can choose one that fits your schedule. 

Goethe-Institut courses are generally more expensive than VHS courses; an evening course in Berlin can cost up to 799 euros, with a duration of 8 or 12 weeks,  but the quality of teaching is excellent. Their certificates are also widely recognized, which can be useful if you later need official proof of your German language level for university or work.

I completed the A1.1 and A1.2 courses at the Goethe-Institut. It took me around six months because I only attended classes on weekends, and the teaching quality was higher than anything else I tried.

Otherwise, you can also consider other language schools in Germany. 

Online Courses 

If you don't have a big budget for German courses. Don't worry. There are many free online courses that you can take. One of my favorite resources is from DW (Deutsche Welle). It is a free German learning course that covers levels from A1 to C2. You can learn through short videos and exercises, which makes it easy to study at your own pace. I personally use it to review what I have learned, especially by watching the short videos and going through the exercises again.

Another useful option is the VHS-Lernportal, which offers free online German courses and learning materials. It can be a good choice if you want to practice regularly at home without spending money on a language course.

Tandem Partners and Language Exchange

A tandem partner is another great way to improve your German, especially when it comes to speaking. Even though living with a Host Family gives you opportunities to communicate in German everyday, having a tandem partner can help you improve even more.
You can find a tandem partner online or through AuPair.com. With a tandem partner, you can regularly practice speaking, learn new expressions, and get more comfortable using German in everyday conversations.
If you would like to take part in the language exchange program through AuPair.com, you need to:

• Be a member of AuPair.com for at least two weeks.
• Have an answer rate of 90% or higher.
• Complete your profile 100%, including a profile picture and a letter to the Host Family.

And the best part? The language exchange service is completely free of charge for you!

My Advice for Future Au Pairs

If you're planning to Au Pair in Germany, my biggest tip is: don't wait to start learning. Even a few weeks of basic vocabulary before you arrive makes the first months so much easier. Once you're here, talk to your Host Family about your course schedule early, since they usually need to plan around it too. And don't be shy about mixing German and English in daily life at first; everyone starts somewhere, and most Germans genuinely appreciate the effort!

German can be a challenging language to learn, but being an Au Pair in Germany is a great chance to practice German every day and improve through real-life conversations. So don’t be afraid to make mistakes, keep practicing, and enjoy the experience!

Viel Erfolg — good luck!