What CEFR level does the Certificate in German Language take me to?

Most students reach a confident A2, with stronger learners arriving at the lower band of B1. A CEFR placement test at course end maps your exact level on your transcript.

Does the Certificate in German Language prepare me for Goethe-Institut certificates?

Yes — the course material is mapped to Goethe A2 and B1 syllabuses, though the Goethe certification itself is taken separately. Students intending to sit a Goethe exam typically add a short revision week afterwards.

Will the Certificate in German Language help with the case system?

Yes — and that's where most beginners get stuck. The course teaches nominative, accusative and dative at foundation level with sustained practice. Genitive is introduced briefly with the expectation it consolidates at Diploma level.

Can I take the Certificate in German Language fully online?

Yes. The online route runs live small-group classes (typically twice a week), recorded review material and written feedback on your work. The same CEFR placement test maps your level.

How is German taught alongside Austrian or Swiss German variants?

Standard High German (Hochdeutsch) is the teaching standard. Austrian and Swiss German variants are introduced through cultural materials but not separately examined. The standard taught is acceptable across the DACH region.

Certificate in German Language in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Certificate in German Language at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a short, practical UK qualification taking learners from beginner to elementary intermediate German (CEFR A1 to A2/B1) in three to six months. Tutors are native or near-native German speakers qualified in teaching German as a foreign language, and the course is structured around the Common European Framework of Reference.

German is the largest first language in the European Union and a strategic language for UK business, science and policy work in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). This Certificate is built for adults who need a real foundation — not a phrasebook level — and who want a recognised UK credential at the end.

Key Features

CEFR-aligned curriculum covering A1, A2 and the lower band of B1.
Small live-class sizes (8–12 learners) on the on-campus route for genuine speaking time.
Goethe-Institut-mapped material for students considering Goethe certificates later.
Cultural strand — short readings from German press (Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Zeit), film clips, music.
Three study modes — on-campus, fully online with live classes, or distance learning.
Direct articulation into the Diploma in German Language at LSJHML.

What You Will Learn

The Certificate in German Language is built around the practical skills an A1 to A2/B1 learner needs — managing the case system at foundation level, holding everyday conversation, writing short structured messages, and reading short authentic texts.

Greetings, introductions and everyday courtesy in German.
The German case system at foundation level (nominative, accusative, dative).
Present, perfect and simple-past tenses; introduction to subjunctive II for politeness.
Numbers, dates, time-telling, currency and everyday transactions.
Describing people, places, daily routines and past experiences.
Reading short authentic German texts — café menus, news headlines, short articles.
Listening to short news and conversation clips with structured comprehension.
Writing short structured messages — emails, notes, brief paragraphs.

Who This Course Is For

Adult beginners with no prior German (or a long-distant memory of school).
Professionals planning a move into DACH markets — Germany, Austria, Switzerland.
Students preparing for a year abroad or postgraduate study in a German-speaking country.
Heritage German speakers wanting to formalise the language with a recognised UK qualification.

Career Pathways

The Certificate in German Language is a foundation credential. Typical applications include:

Bilingual Customer Service and Account Management (UK companies trading in DACH)
International Sales Coordinator (DACH territory)
Junior Communications roles (NGOs operating in Germany or Austria)
Cultural and Heritage Roles (museums with German-language collections)
Continued Study (Diploma in German Language, BA German Language and Culture)
Preparation for Goethe-Institut certificates (A2, B1)

The Certificate articulates into the Diploma in German Language at LSJHML for students continuing.

Entry Requirements

Minimum age 16.
Secondary school qualification (GCSE/O-Level or international equivalent).
IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) for non-native English speakers.
No prior German required.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.