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A1

A1 · Beginner

Your first sentences, and they work

You learn to introduce yourself, ask about everyday things, and talk about yourself in simple sentences.

Who it is for
Anyone starting from scratch — no previous German needed.
What it leads to
Level A2, where isolated sentences become connected descriptions.

What you can do afterwards

  • Introduce yourself and others, and ask and answer questions about personal details
  • Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases
  • Interact in a simple way provided the other person speaks slowly
  • Fill in a simple form with personal details

Objectives by skill

Reading

  • Understand short signs, notices and forms
  • Recognise familiar names, words and very simple sentences

Listening

  • Understand familiar words and simple phrases spoken slowly
  • Pick out numbers, times and prices

Speaking

  • Introduce yourself, spell your name, ask for directions
  • Say in simple sentences where you live and who you know

Writing

  • Write a short postcard or message
  • Complete a registration form

Grammar

  • Present tense of regular verbs, plus sein and haben
  • Definite and indefinite articles, nominative and accusative

Vocabulary

  • Person, family, home, food, numbers and time
  • Around 600 everyday words

What a week looks like

  1. One unit on an everyday topic with new vocabulary
  2. Guided drills on the structure of the week
  3. A speaking task in pairs or a small group
  4. A short piece of writing with individual feedback

Prepares you for

  • Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1
  • telc Deutsch A1
  • ÖSD Zertifikat A1

Goethe-Institut, telc and ÖSD are independent examination providers. We prepare you for their exams. We are not an examination centre, we hold no partnership with them, and we issue none of their certificates.

Start learning

A1 · Beginner — German course