I still think it's quite surreal that a piece of the Berlin Wall is here in Canberra ... it just goes to show that even a piece of concrete, so massive, cannot stop freedom.
~ Hans Stoehr, president of the Harmonie German Club, 2014 ~
Interestingly, nobody actually knows how a section of the Berlin wall ended up in Canberra as the people who organised its transportation have died and no records can be found. However, it stands proudly outside the Harmonie German Club and serves as a reminder that nothing should or can repress freedom.
The Harmonie German Club itself is a symbol of German influence and history in the Australian capital, Canberra. It was built, largely through voluntary labour, in the early 1960s and, amongst other community clubs, was seen as an important way to welcome new arrivals. And there were plenty — by the mid-1960s, more than half of the 80,000 Canberra residents were made up of migrants, people from Germany and German-speaking countries included.
While the capital cities of Australia and Germany are quite different in many ways, there are a few intriguing similarities. For example, both cities have a secret underground world. In Berlin, there are numerous underground bunkers and escape tunnels left over from WWII, and in Canberra, (the rumoured city of espionage) underground tunnels connect various government buildings, as well as tunnels (apparently) under the human-constructed Lake Burley Griffin.
In addition, tourists and locals alike have the opportunity to see both cities from above — something quite rare in many capitals. In Canberra, you can view the city from above in a hot air balloon, while in Berlin, you can get a bird's eye view of the town centre if you're brave enough to go base flying.
Of course, the other similarity is that both capital cities are home to their counterpart's embassy. The Australian Embassy is located in the heart of Berlin, while the Embassy of Germany in Canberra can be found ten minutes out of the CBD, in the leafy lakeside suburb of Yarralumla.
So, where can you take German classes in Canberra? Should you enrol in a course at a language school or employ a German tutor for private lessons? Alternatively, how good are German classes online?
Find out everything you need to know about the opportunities to learn German and engage with the German community in Canberra.
What's Better? German Lessons Online or In-Person?
There are pros and cons to every situation in life and the online lessons versus in-person lessons debate is no different. The options for German classes in Canberra are varied and encompass all models — online, in-person, private, small group and large class. The latter three can be done either online or in-person. It's good to know the advantages and disadvantages, and how these relate to your personal preferences before you commit.
Advantages of in-person German classes
Whether you're taking private lessons, small group or large class, having a German teacher or tutor right there with you has several advantages, including:
- opportunities for 'in-situ' role play
- ability to use all the senses for learning
- ability to work easily with other students in small group or partner scenarios
- a learning environment free of distractions.
Disadvantages of in-person German classes
An in-person class is, by its nature, location-centred, which carries its own set of disadvantages, including:
- someone has to travel to the class location, whether it's the teacher or the students (or both)
- hire of a room may be necessary
- usually more expensive than online classes.
Advantages of German lessons online
Online learning has almost become the norm rather than the exception as people discover more advantages, including:
- increased flexibility with scheduling
- not limited to location, you can work with tutors from Adelaide, Brisbane or even Perth
- resources at your fingertips (teacher and students)
- ability to record lessons for review later
- lessons are often cheaper than in-person courses.
Disadvantages of online German lessons
As with everything, there are disadvantages as well, including:
- reliance on stable internet connection
- need for good quality hardware (microphone, webcam, monitor etc.)
- time zone differences.
Of course, at the end of the day, individual people may experience different pros and cons, so it's really about what works best for the learning of individual students.
Learning with a German Tutor in Canberra
Working one-on-one with a private German tutor is probably the best way to improve your German quickly — although it still requires you to put in the necessary effort to learn the grammar rules, practise pronunciation and memorise vocabulary.
With a large ex-pat German community, there really is no shortage of people (native speakers) who are willing to work with students in a tutoring role for a few hours a week. You may wish to strike up an arrangement similar to a language exchange — where you agree to practise your speaking by talking in German for half the time and English the other half. Alternatively, if you want a more structured approach, or wish to work with a tutor who has teaching or tutoring experience, you could look in the following areas:
- online platforms — there are dozens of these (Verbling, Preply, TutorFinder etc.) offering to match students with a tutor in their area
- university noticeboards or student associations — many students offer tutoring services as a way to earn extra cash; some students are not only studying German themselves but also an education degree
- community noticeboards (such as the ones in shopping centres and libraries) or in the online newspaper or other outlets like Gumtree
- schools and other education institutions — it doesn't hurt to get in contact with teachers at schools to enquire as to whether they offer to tutor or know someone who does.
And, don't forget Superprof. Our platform hosts over 4,000 German tutors throughout Australia. Tutors list all the information you need to know on their personal profiles — the type of lessons, experience, qualifications, the level they teach, other skills and specialisations — and you can narrow your search by filtering out certain criteria. If you're happy with online classes, and you can't find a tutor in Canberra who fits your learning needs you may find the perfect tutor for you in Perth or the Gold Coast.
Some of the Best German Classes in the Capital
Das Zentrum Australian-German Institute
This community organisation stepped in to fill the gap when the Goethe-Institut, which still has branches in Sydney and Melbourne, closed down in Canberra. They cater for native speakers and students of German through their provision of:
- an extensive library of German and English literature and magazines
- German language classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced level students
- a weekly conversation group
- immersion weekends (put the German grammar and vocabulary you've been learning into practice in a relaxed setting)
- cultural events, such as lectures, film nights and concerts.
ACT German Language School
This language school has been teaching German to school children and adults in Canberra for over 60 years.
Their classes for children cater for students in primary school and secondary school (6 to 18 years of age) and incorporate a range of age and year level appropriate teaching strategies and learning activities.
Adult classes have 5 groupings, from a complete beginner's group through to an advanced level group for students preparing for the Goethe-Institut exams.
Australian National University Centre for Continuing Education
As part of its extensive languages faculty, the Centre for Continuing Education at the Australian National University (ANU) offers courses in German for beginners and intermediate German. These courses aim to develop communication skills, in speaking and writing, and provide knowledge of German culture.
The Beginning German 1 and 2 courses cover grammar rules, essential vocabulary and pronunciation. The topic focus starts with everyday language and travel and moves on to daily tasks and conversational topics in areas students are interested in.
The Intermediate German course expands student knowledge of grammar, introduces more specific vocabulary, concentrates more on speaking and conversation skills and looks at the current affairs of Germany and other German-speaking countries.
A Quick Word About Self-Paced Online Courses
Like online tutoring, the growth in online learning platforms that are self-paced and not teacher-led has led almost to a saturated market, particularly when it comes to language learning.
This is where it pays to do your research and ask around, particularly talking to students who have studied under a particular online program before.
A few online platforms and apps that are reputable include:
- Duolingo
- Chatterbug
- Babbel
- UTalk.
Of course, for kids in particular, everything worth learning is on YouTube — it just might take a little sifting to get what you're after.
And remember that eventually, you are probably going to need some input from a living person, whether that be online on Zoom, in person, in a private tutoring class or at a language school with other students.
Find your perfect tutor for German classes on Superprof today!
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