Munich - Language Schools

Although Munich is a very cosmopolitan society and English speakers can get by with a minimal amount of German, your expatriate experience will be enhanced if you can speak to locals in their language. There are also many unexpected situations where knowledge of German is necessary: an announcement at the train station that rail services will be discontinued for the next two hours, a shopkeeper saying all goods are discounted by 90%, actually making an appointment to see an English-speaking doctor over the phone with his German speaking receptionist.

There are numerous language schools 'Sprachenschulen' to choose from. The list below is indicative only, and the schools teach German and English at a minimum. For further language schools, look under 'Sprachenschulen' or 'Sprachunterricht' (language lesson) in the yellow pages.

Things you should know:
Lessons are 45-minute blocks, so a 4-hour class actually goes for 3 hours (4 x 45 minutes!).
Language training is tax-deductable if you need it for your job.
Teachers have to be native speakers of the language they teach.
Language classes are taught in the target language!!

The Volkshochschule also runs German courses for all levels. Classes are rather cheap. If you want to study there, get there early on enrolment day. People queue up for places here the way they queue up for concert tickets!
 

• Volkshochschule
  Blumenstr 1
  Munich
  Tel: + 49 (0) 89 80331/+ 49 (0) 89 26 33 34/+ 49 (0) 89 26 05 600
  German and English courses in small groups, with child-minding facilities Desk
   
• Volskhochschule
  1 Briennerstr 48
  Munich
  Tel: + 49 (0) 89 80333/+ 49 (0) 89 52 31 4347/+  49 (0) 89 52 31 4751
  One-on-one and group training, several languages. Cultural training Fokus
• Inlingua
  Sendlingertorplz 6
  Munich
  Tel: + 49 (0) 89 80336/ + 49 (0) 89 23 11 530/ + 49 (0) 89 26 09 920
  All languages, with focus on speaking rather than writing 
• Cultural training Meeting point
  Loewengrube 10
  Munich
  Tel: + 49 (0) 89 80333/ +  49 (0) 89 20 90 0500/+  49 (0)89 20 90 0501
  Small groups with child-minding facilities, also children's lessons.
• For children Fun languages
  Horemannstr 28
  Munich
  Tel: + 49 (0) 89 80636/ +  49 (0) 89 18 70 3156/+ 49 (0) 89 18 70 3157

In addition to the language schools listed in 'Language Schools', the following companies produce do-it-yourself texts and language learning kits. You can buy their products in most large bookshops in Munich, but try Hugendubel at Karlsplatz first! For a look at what the companies have to offer from the comfort of your computer terminal go to:

Hueber
website: http://www.hueber.de/

Langenscheidt
website: http://www.langenscheidt.de/

Pons
website: http://www.pons.de/

Language Schools for Children

The following list of playgroups allow pre-school-aged children (and their parents!) to socialise and expand their circle of friends in their native-language environment.

• Little Ducklings
  Dianastr 25
  South-east Munich
  Tel: + 49 (0) 89 4601 2619
  English (ages 0 - 3) Tue, Wed, Thur 10am - 1pm
• Playgroup
  Landsbergerstr 39
  Munich
  Tel: +  49 (0) 89 500 3580
  English Ages 0 - 3 Thur 10am - 12am
• Playgroup
  Munich
  Tel: + 49 (0) 89 45 30 1552
  English Ages 0 - 3 Wed 9:30am - 11:30am Mothers take turns hosting
• Playgroup
  Waldtrudering
  Munich
  Tel: + 49 (0) 89 430 3320
  English Ages 1 - 3 Wed, Fri mornings
• Playgroup
  West Munich
  Tel: + 49 (0) 89 871 4999
  English Ages 0 - 4
• Playgroup
  Bogenhausen area
  Tel: + 49 (0) 89 95 72 3939
  English Ages 6 months to 6 years Mon afternoon
• Humpty's
  Neubiberg/Ottobrunn area
  Tel: + 49 (0) 89 66 00 2457
  English Ages 2 and up Mon, Tue, Fri 
• Spanish Spielgruppe Mariposa e.V.
  Heubergerstr 31
  Munich
  Tel: + 49 (0) 81825 49 /+ 49 (0) 89 431 7049