In the 1850s, large numbers of people from Germany migrated to Australia. Many came to try their luck in the Gold Rush, but nearly a third of them travelled instead to Queensland to try their luck with farming and agriculture. The State Library of Queensland acknowledges the contribution of German immigrants in their archives with some fascinating photos of German families, class portraits from the German Community School and advertisements written in German in the local newspapers to cater for the German-speaking community.
Fast forward 170-odd years and 6.4% of the two and a half million people in Brisbane have German ancestry giving Germany the largest slice of Brisbane's multi-national pie of people with backgrounds other than English.
Indeed, two of the largest celebrations in Brisbane have German roots.
Oktoberfest — a festival of dancing, music, drinking and food — is celebrated throughout the country, including in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, but Brisbane Oktoberfest is known for being the largest and most authentic.
The other celebration, Brisbane German Week, showcases various collaborations between Germany and Australia, including those in education, business and science, and also acknowledges the contribution of German people to the region and the richness of the culture.
With its German heritage, and the local focus on Germany and its culture, it's not surprising to discover the number of opportunities to take German classes in Brisbane. Whether you're looking for beginner German lessons with a language school or private study with a German tutor to supplement your high school or university classes, you have plenty of options in Brisbane.
Effective Learning with a German Tutor
Working one-on-one with a private German tutor is the best way to boost your language proficiency and skills, regardless of your level.
For the beginner, private tutoring is perfect for building your confidence, especially if you are normally too intimidated by a larger class group to ask questions or to practise your speaking.
For all students, beginners through to advanced level, a private tutor affords the opportunity to hone in on specific language concepts, including grammar points or technical vocabulary. The fact that you have 100% of your tutor's attention also means your learning is accelerated faster than when you have to share that attention with other students in your group.
It does not matter if tutors have a German background and are native speakers, or if they learnt German throughout school and lived in Germany for a while. What matters is whether your tutor is a good fit for your needs as a student.
In the current world climate, particularly in Australia, a lot of learning has gone online out of necessity. While we may all prefer that face-to-face contact, online learning is not a bad thing when it comes to private tutoring. Why? Think about it — the world of online learning and tutoring is just that ... a world.
All of a sudden, you are not limited by distance and location. Online, you can easily work with a tutor as far away as Perth. Your options aren't just limited to tutors in Australia either — how awesome would it be to receive tutoring from a tutor in Germany?
On the Superprof platform, you are presented with over 4,000 private German language tutors throughout Australia — three of whom happen to be located right in Brisbane CBD, and many more in outlying suburbs. Almost all Superprof tutors provide the first lesson for free as a trial and most of them have online tutoring as an option. As the student, you set your filters — native speaker, online lessons, advanced level, exam preparation etc. — and then choose the tutor who best meets your needs.
A number of other language schools throughout Australia, including the Goethe-Institut in Melbourne and Sydney, also provide online classes and private tutoring and are well worth a look. Of course, don't discount the traditional avenues either — keep an eye on university noticeboards, advertisements on platforms like Facebook and Gumtree, your local library and shopping precinct community boards and even in the newspaper! Tutors still advertise in these locations too, particularly if they offer face-to-face tutoring.
However, what if you prefer the class or small group learning experience?
Beginner German Lessons
You may have heard that German is one of the more difficult European languages to learn — three grammar genders, long vocabulary that can be tricky to wrap your mouth around — but the truth is, all languages can be difficult when you first start to study them.
The best tip for beginners, to ensure your learning is a success, is to find a good reason for learning so you stay motivated. In addition, you should:
- endeavour to practise on a daily basis
- learn the fundamentals first — start with the alphabet and get the pronunciation right
- maintain your interest by having a bit of fun along the way — learn slang, idioms and funny words.
As a beginner, it is also important you find a tutor, a class or a course where you feel supported and confident to have a go when it comes to speaking. Look for teachers or tutors who you are comfortable with and who answer your questions without making you feel foolish.
Teachers and tutors with the skills and experience to vary their lessons according to student need and who are able to explain grammar or other concepts in different ways are the best when it comes to helping students achieve.
If you're enrolling in a group class, the school or class environment is important. The other students can make a huge difference as well — do you feel comfortable learning with them and speaking in front of them?
As a beginner, confidence is key when it comes to learning languages.
And, give yourself time. Remember it can take around 750 hours (or 30 weeks) to learn basic German. That sounds like a lot but don't let it overwhelm you. Take small steps and celebrate each of the basic skills as you master them.
The Best Places in Brisbane to Learn German
Here are a few places to kickstart your list of options when you want to enrol in German classes in Brisbane. From lessons for complete beginners to intermediate courses and advanced and native level study programs, the sunny capital city of Queensland will have something that suits. (Remember, too, that most language schools run online lessons as well, effectively opening up their classes to anyone, including students in Adelaide or down the road on the Gold Coast.)
DerDieDas — German Classes Brisbane
DerDieDas caters for all students, from the complete beginner through to highly advanced. They run group courses, one-on-one tutoring, mini tutoring (one teacher, two students), online classes, short Grammar workshops, revision classes and a free German Book Club program.
Teachers at DerDie Das all have university degrees in German, education or linguistics as well as experience tutoring or teaching German. All teachers are also native speakers or the equivalent of native proficiency.
Brisbane German Language School
This language school, located in Indooroopilly (a Brisbane suburb to the west of the city), offers adult German courses, youth courses and classes for children. Students at all levels are catered for, including native speakers of German. These German classes in Brisbane are supplemented with regular cultural activities, which allow students of all ages and levels to interact and practise what they have been learning in their lessons.
Learn German in Brisbane
Sabine grew up in southwest Germany and has 15 years of teaching experience in Berlin, Mexico and Sydney, and now runs her own language school in Brisbane. Sabine prides herself on providing high quality tutoring, in private, online and small group environments, for students of all ages and levels.
The adult German language program is divided into beginning, intermediate and advanced levels and her high school program is tailored to meet specific curriculum outcomes for Australia and Queensland.
Institute of Modern Languages
Located within the University of Queensland, the Institute of Modern Languages offers online courses where students can learn essential German for everyday life.
For beginners, their courses include German Survival, a short course or longer programs of study. Students have the opportunity to continue, if they wish, with seven modules of study. The Institute of Modern Languages also runs a high school enrichment program for students enrolled in German from Year 9 through to Year 12.
TAFE Queensland
The TAFE in Brisbane offers a unique course called German for Absolute Beginners. It is a short course, primarily aimed at students who are considering taking a holiday in Germany, or other German-speaking location, or students who only want to learn basic everyday communication.
Learning any language is a skill for life and German is no different. Whether you are learning to speak German for travel purposes, to communicate with your in-laws or for business reasons, the number one rule to remember is this: Deutsch lernen macht Spaß (learning German is fun).
Find your perfect tutor for German classes on Superprof today!
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