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RandomStuffGenerator t1_jduz3vf wrote

Reply to comment by Infamous-Werewolf196 in Germany is overhauling its immigration rules to bolster a rapidly shrinking workforce by yash13

I learned German as an adult (while living in Germany). Duolingo is nice and you should use all the help you can get, but the key to learning the language is first gaining the basic foundations through courses (even the free VHS courses for foreigners are useful) and then talking to people as much as you can. No app can replace that.

It is a difficult language and the learning curve is quite steep, but with focus and dedication anybody can learn it within a reasonable timeframe.

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bonyponyride t1_jdv0kdq wrote

VHS courses aren't free for most people. Each level costs around 200 Euro, and the levels are A1.1, A1.2, A2.1, A2.2, B1.1, B1.2, B2 and so on, so it costs over 1000 Euros. It is still cheaper than other schools, and if you have a special circumstance, like being a German citizen or asylum seeker and registered with the job center, BAMF will pay for the courses in full. If you pay out of pocket and then pass the B1 test, I believe you get refunded 50% of your fees through level B1. If you take classes full time, going from A1.1 to B2 takes about a year.

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