Yes, you can finally get the answers to your questions.
And yes, you can finally learn to speak German.
You've probably tried to learn German on your own with an app or maybe you've taken a class somewhere. You probably have questions you couldn’t get answers to, or maybe you couldn’t get them answered to your satisfaction. Maybe you need more speaking practice. You need a different kind of German learning. A kind that gives you answers to your questions. With activities that help you speak German the way you really want to. This is German learning made just for you.
Time and again clients have said, "Finally! Someone who can answer my questions!" If I don't answer your questions, you get to fire me.
This is not your usual German lesson.
Whether your usual German "lesson" is only you on your phone, tapping away at the screen like zombie, or it's a class filled with people that moves too quickly for you, private German lessons might be the right fit for you.
You can take German lessons online and learn to speak German with a live instructor (with me, Frau Warner). You can have your lesson at a regular time, using books written just for you, and in a lesson format that’s tailored to your needs.
Private, Individualized Lessons
When you take German lessons online with Frau Warner, you have a German lesson that’s as interactive as a regular class. The lesson is about you and your learning, because there are no other people asking questions. You get to practice speaking German without comparing yourself to other people. And you get to ask all the questions you want.
What's a private lesson like?
Most lessons go approximately like this:
We begin by greeting each other in German (Guten Tag!).
After an easy warm-up, we talk about your homework and I answer your questions.
Then we start the next topic and I walk you through all the parts: grammar, vocabulary, everything. We'll use and speak the German you know and over time you'll see we speak increasingly more German and less English.
We go through the homework so you know what to do for the next week.
Lastly, you download your whiteboard and I send you an email with your homework in it.
Das ist alles! That's everything!
Write on your own darn whiteboard!
We'll use Excalidraw, which is a private and highly interactive whiteboard. It works right in your browser, so there's no need to download anything additional. You and I can type, mark it up with drawing tools, and import pictures.
It's yours to download and save at the end of every lesson, too. You'll have a record of everything we talked about during your lesson, and I'll keep a copy, too.
Actual German language learning books (read: not text books!).
The books we use have been written to help you learn to speak German. They’re all from German publishers and are readily available here in the U.S. The books help you have conversations in German, but there’s no set curriculum.
Generally we use a combination of these German coursebooks, materials I've made, and real-world materials.
I avoid academic texts wherever possible (unless of course, you need to read one and it's part of the reason you're going to take lessons).
These German books have answer keys!
How many times have you been told not to use the book? Probably as many times as I will tell you TO use the book. Because why would you buy a book only to be forbidden from using it? That makes no sense! It's your resource, so use the book! Use the answer keys! It's allowed and encouraged!
No grades. No tests. No finals.
I promise.
It’s really this simple: no grades, no tests, no finals. I promise. (I will help you prepare for language certification tests. I'm a certified test proctor and I am happy to help you.)
Less pressure = more German skills
When you take away the preset curriculum and take away the grade, you take away all the pressure and all the worry. Then you can take all that energy you used to spend worrying and you can invest it in learning to speak German step-by-step.
That’s a win-win!
Low-Medium-High Amounts of Homework
You're an adult with a real life and real responsibilities. That's why each week you receive a range of homework to complete, and as the week goes along, you get to use your best judgment in making progress.
Who are the other clients?
Here's a summary of the other clients I work with, all of whom are truly lovely people.
Adults who LOVE GermanI mainly work with adults who love German and one or more of the following:
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(Multi-lingual) TeensI also sometimes work with teens who:
N.B. As teens don't have access to the website, the lesson program for teens is slightly different and I'll explain it all in the consultation (see below). |
Who are you, Frau Warner?!
Hallo, ich heiße Warner, Nicole Warner.Und ich liebe die deutsche Sprache!
I first learned German when I was in my early 20’s. I had tried taking German in college and it was a DISASTER. I was constantly worried about the grade, the book we used was ridiculously confusing, and my teacher just couldn’t explain the concepts clearly.
Then in 2003 I moved to Germany and took a different kind of German course, one without a final grade, with books for learning German (not textbooks). I learned to speak German so well that when I speak German with native speakers, they think that I'm German. I'm not. (Although I do love a good bike commute.) I now speak German at a near-native level and I've received the Zertifikat C2, the highest level of German speaking certification available. I’ve been teaching German live and online since 2013. I’m also certified to teach German as a Foreign Language and I teach it the way I was taught to speak it.
If you're ready to finally learn to speak German, scroll down to the bottom of the page and fill out the lesson request form.
How much do private German lessons cost?
Lessons include:
- 3, 60-minute lessons per month (regularly scheduled)
- use of the online meeting room
- an email with homework after each lesson
- occasional conversation classes with other clients
- access to the private, client site
- access to the core video and audio courses (included in tuition!)
- an occasional surprise.
$330 per month
The fine print:
Tuition doesn’t include your books. Tuition is due in advance on the 1st of the month and is paid as a monthly subscription, cancellation can be done within your client account or I can do it for you. A 24-hour cancellation notice is required for missed lessons. All German learners under 18 must have a parent or guardian copied on all emails. Now let's get back to German!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Feel free to read all the Questions and Answers or only the answers to the questions you have.
I've never learned a foreign language before. Can I take German lessons, too?
Yes! I have worked with many beginners and can help you with every aspect of learning German from how to learn vocabulary to finding resources that are helpful to you.
Is this tutoring?
This is not tutoring, because this is essentially a one-person class. If you'd like tutoring for just an hour or two, please use contact me here and specifically request tutoring and the current price.
I'd like to take lessons with a friend/partner/spouse/my family. Do you teach group lessons, too?
I sure do! This would be considered a private class and I can set that up for you. You can use the contact form here to make that request.
Are you going to get mad if I don't do my homework?
No, I don't get mad, however I do expect you to be able to adjust your homework independently from me by using a low/medium/high scale for each week. That way you can adjust when life gets hectic as well as when life is calmer.
What are your other clients like?
My other clients are just like you and they speak German at all different levels. They have a wide variety of backgrounds and careers. Some folks have jobs in technology or medicine, some are tradespeople, some are consultants, some are still in school, some are retired, and some have a German/Austrian/Swiss parent. Clients have taken lessons from Hawaii, Idaho, Boston, Germany and Switzerland!
I have dyslexia. Can I still learn German?
Yes, indeed! I can adapt worksheets for you using a couple of different tools, and the best news of all: German is much more predictable than English when it comes to writing it (orthography). I've worked with several people with dyslexia and I'm happy to work with you, too.
I'm an introvert. Are you going to make me talk about myself?
If it's uncomfortable for you to talk about yourself, you are welcome to make up answers. The goal is to speak in German, so say what you can say. Das ist gut genug.
My accent is horrible. Can you help me?
Yes! We work on authentic pronunciation regularly so you can grow confidently in your speaking.
German Lessons Inquiry:
Frau Warner will provide you with a free, no-strings-attached consultation (15-30 minutes) to see if Private Lessons are a good fit for you. Please fill out this form and she will get back to you within 24-48 hours: