About WkD: our method and our team

WkD is an online language school for German. We teach 100 percent live, in small groups or in private lessons. At WkD, there are no video courses that you have to work through on your own. There is always a teacher in the room with you, even if the room is a screen.

Almost everyone who learns with us has a clear goal: vocational training, a degree or a job in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. That is exactly what we build our lessons around.

Real German instead of textbook German

In many courses, you learn sentences that hardly anyone says in everyday life. You only notice when someone speaks fast, swallows words and changes direction in the middle of a sentence.

That's why we work with spoken German from the very beginning. With sentences that you really hear: on the phone, at work or at the doctor's. You also learn what to say when you haven't understood something. In everyday life, that is often more important than a perfect subordinate clause.

Compact courses with a clear goal

Most of our participants are adults with little time. That's why our courses are compact. We leave out anything that doesn't help you reach your goal. Instead, we spend more time on what you need: for everyday life, vocational training, your studies or your job.

Our groups are small. That matters: it's the only way everyone really gets to speak in class.

Our levels

We work with the levels A1 to C1. But at WkD, each level has its own focus:

• A1, speaking. You start by speaking, not with grammar tables. First understanding, then speaking, just like a child learns its first language.
• A2, grammar and everyday life. Now grammar comes in. You understand the rules you have already been using when you speak. And you handle doctor's appointments, government offices and shopping on your own.
• B1+, work and job applications. Applications, job interviews, phone calls, emails and the right tone at work. This is often where it's decided whether you get the training place or the job.
• B2 and C1, intensive. More difficult topics, longer texts, free discussion and presentations. For university and for jobs where you work a lot with language.

We find out together beforehand which level is right for you. A certificate alone tells us little. What matters is what you can do in a conversation.

Exam preparation with a mock exam

Our exam preparation is a separate short course with 15 teaching units. We practice the structure of the exam, the tasks and the timing. And we work on exactly the points where you still get stuck.

At the end, you take a complete mock exam. So you already know the situation before it really counts. We prepare you for telc, Goethe and g.a.s.t. (TestDaF).

Personal support

We are small enough to know everyone in our courses. For you, that means:

• After every lesson, you get a PDF with your mistakes, new words and sentences from exactly that lesson.
• Your teacher corrects your texts personally in the learning portal, with comments, a grade and feedback.
• Between lessons, you can ask questions: in the learning portal, by email or on WhatsApp. You don't have to wait until the next lesson.
• You regularly get honest feedback on where you stand. And in the learning portal, you can check your progress yourself at any time.
• Lessons are entirely in German. For grammar, you also get materials in your own language so you can understand the rules with confidence.

No unnecessary homework

We don't give you tasks just to make the course look full. You only get tasks that help you and fit into your day. You learn most things in class. There, someone listens to you and corrects you.

Your WkD learning portal

With your course, you get your own learning portal, in the browser and as an app on your phone. There you'll find your dates, the materials for each lesson, homework with exercises, the WkD notebook for handwriting and your progress. The portal checks many exercises instantly, and your teacher corrects your writing tasks personally. If you want, the app reminds you shortly before class. More about the learning portal

AI for practice, if you want

There are often a few days between two lessons. That's why you'll find ready-made AI prompts in your learning portal. You copy a prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Gemini or another AI. With it, you can practice, review or get feedback on a text.

WkD has been around since October 2023. WkD stands for Weltklasse Deutsch, world-class German. Our lessons are online. So it doesn't matter where you are right now. What matters is where you want to go.

Who we are here for

For everyone who needs German for vocational training, university or work. For adults and working people with little time. And for everyone who has learned some German before and notices: in a conversation, it's not enough yet.