The general course consists of 600 class hours and an additional orientation course (Orientierungskurs) that lasts 100 class hours (therefore, a total of 700 class hours). Normal full-time courses consist of 25 class hours per week, part-time courses are possible under certain conditions.

There are various providers of integration courses (Integrationskurse). You choose which course you want to attend.

You can go to the Ausländerbehörde (foreign nationals authority) or a “Migrationsdienst” (migration service). The Migrationsdienst is a counselling centre for migrants. The social workers there speak various languages. They will help you find a course and get financial support to pay for the course. You can find a list of all Migrationsdienst centres here: https://www.hamburg.de/migrationsberatung/.

Initial orientation courses (Erstorientierungskurse, EOK) provide an introduction to the German language. The programme covers topics such as health, work, shopping and education. They also go on excursions to various places, for example to public authorities, libraries or markets. A course lasts 300 hours over three months.

In the vocational world, you often need additional knowledge of the German language that goes beyond everyday language. You can attend a job-related language course for this purpose.

Requirements for participation:

You can participate if you have attended an integration course (Integrationskurs) or have proof that you speak German at level B1, B2 or C1.

If you have a temporary suspension of deportation (Duldung) or permission to remain while the asylum decision is pending (Aufenthaltsgestattung), you might also be able to participate. In that case, ask about this either at an advice centre, your Jobcenter or the BAMF. Additionally, you must also have a professional need for the course. This can be, for example, your current job, but also simply looking for work, an apprenticeship (Ausbildung) or the recognition of a qualification.

Course types:

There are basic courses on different difficulty levels: A2, B1, B2 und C1. You must provide proof of your language level (for example through a passed integration course (Integrationskurs)). You must have B1 or higher.

There are special courses for various occupational fields and for people that attended an integration course (Integrationskurs) but did not pass the language test.

You can find course offerings in Hamburg here: https://deutsch.kursportal.info/search?q=DeuF%F6V%2C

Free German courses are available on the Deutsche Welle website (dw.com) in many languages. The website is also available in different languages. Select “DW.COM in 30 languages” on the top of the site to choose your language.

In order to find a course, open the website https://learngerman.dw.com/de/deutsch-lernen/s-9095 . There a various courses that you can choose.

You can take a placement test if you are not sure which course is the right one for you. Click on the A1, A2 courses. 

In addition to attending courses, there is the option to practice the German language on your own. There are apps available for your mobile phone that can help: for example “fun easy learn Deutsch” and “Einstieg Deutsch”.

There are also materials to support learning German:

There are books and digital material from the publishing houses Klett (for example https://www.klett-sprachen.de/kostenlose-materialien/c-1161), https://www.klett-sprachen.de/aussichten/r-1/18#reiter=mediathek&dl_niveau_str=A1&dl_kategorie=4), Lingolia (https://deutsch.lingolia.com/de/ (Deutsch), https://deutsch.lingolia.com/en/ (Englisch)) and Hueber (for example https://www.hueber.de/schritte-plus-neu/lernen/uebungen).

Everywhere in Germany, you can find libraries where you can read and borrow books. In Hamburg, they are called Bücherhallen. You can find information on the locations, offers and costs here: https://we-inform.de/portal/en/recreation/.

There are podcasts that can help you learn German:

• You can find many podcasts about learning German on Podwatch: https://podwatch.io/?s=Deutsch+lernen
• Easy German: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/easy-german-learn-german-native-speakers-deutsch-lernen/id1482297423
• Wort der Woche (word of the week): https://www.dw.com/de/deutsch-lernen/wort-der-woche/s-9031

However, there are also opportunities for young people to learn German on their own.

With the app “Learn Match,” you can learn German and other languages. As your native language, you can choose from German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Ukrainian or Russian, among others. The app is free. You can use it on your mobile phone. Here you will find a download guide (available only in German) and a QR code that will take you to the app: https://www.mildenberger-verlag.de/fileadmin/aktionen/2022/03_Ukraine/LearnMatch-App-Anleitung.pdf.

• The Sailer Verlag offers 10 digital lessons with worksheets and audio files for beginners learning German: German as a Second Language for Primary School (https://www.sailer-verlag.de/schule/lehrer/kostenlose-arbeitshilfen/deutsch-als-zweitsprache/).
• Wunderwelten: https://www.wunderwelten.net/kostenloses-material/daz-material (in German). Scroll down to the free materials.

Here you will find simple exercises in German. You  will learn and improve your German skills with the help of pictures:

• Reading: https://abcund123.de/lesen/
• Vocabulary: https://abcund123.de/wortschatz/

Dialog in Deutsch (conversation in German) 

There are weekly conversation Groups in German in all Bücherhallen locations and in the central library.

Price: free of charge
Schedule:   https://www.buecherhallen.de/ehrenamt-dialog-in-deutsch-termine.html
Registration: You do not need to register.

Further information: https://www.buecherhallen.de/ehrenamt-dialog-in-deutsch.html.

Sprachbrücke-Hamburg e.V. (language bridge Hamburg society)

Sprachbrücke-Hamburg e.V. offers weekly discussion groups at various locations. Participants talk in German about topics changing monthly. It is also possible to participate in group excursions.

Price: free of charge

Discussion groups on site: https://www.sprachbruecke-hamburg.de/termine

Online discussion groups: https://www.sprachbruecke-hamburg.de/online-angebote/. 

Language courses:  

• The International Cultur und Information für Frauen (INCI) offers integration and German courses for women. It also offers childcare facilities: https://www.inci-hamburg.de/ueber-inci/. +49 40 390 30 91 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:00 – 13:00), inci-sv@gmw.de 

• The Goldbekhaus (Moorfuhrtweg 9) offers literacy courses for women (also with small children): https://hamburgfuerfrauen.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Alphabetisierungkurs-Plakat.pdf, https://www.goldbekhaus.de/fit_kreativ/index.php?cid=10&oid=1187. Monday and Thursday from 10 am – 12 pm, +49 40 27870216, astrid.jawara@goldbekhaus.de  

• The AWO AQtivus Integrationscenter offers free women’s courses that focus on learning German and coping with everyday life: https://hamburgfuerfrauen.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Frauenkurs-Plakat.pdf, Tuesday and Friday, 10:00 – 13:15, +49 40 28 40784911, Kreuzweg 7 
• Mamalies offers courses exclusively for women. Register by email and provide your surname, first name, date of birth, place of birth and country of birth: spengler@mamalies.de (Sarah Spengler), info@mamalies.de, +49 176 48 08 52 56.  
• Information on MiA courses (“Migrant women simply strong in everyday life”, “Migrantinnen einfach stark im Alltag”), which are a special offer from women for women, can be found here (German): https://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Integration/Integrationsprojekte/Frauenkurse/flyer-mia-kurse.html  

You can find information on where the courses are offered here: https://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Integration/Integrationsprojekte/Frauenkurse/traegeruebersicht-frauenkurse.html  

• Further courses in Hamburg that are aimed exclusively at women can be found here: https://hamburg.kursportal.info/search?qs=Deutsch+als+Fremdsprache&qf=&filter_zielgruppe%5B%5D=Frauen+%28Teilnehmende%29