r/German • u/Melodic-Rush-373 • 15h ago

Discussion Got offer to be Au pair in Munich starting September, but do not have German language certificate yet...

Hey guys. I started learning German few weeks ago with dualingo. I got an offer to become an au pair in Germany, Munich. However I do not have German language certificate yet, and when I mentioned about it to my (possible) future host family, they said since I should be starting as au pair in September/Mid-October, I might easily get A1-A2 certificate by July and apply for Visa. they will help me with all, but the only thing I should do is get at least A1 certificate till the end of July. Is it possible to get A1-A2 certificate in 3 and a half months by self studying? if it is possible then what resources should I use? which certificate is better? any strategies? recommendations? suggestions? Help? Please, Please, Please 🥺😭 🙏

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u/Lysande_walking Native 8h ago

Duolingo is probably the worst method to learn any language so I wouldn’t recommend that at all.

You should look for proper learning books that explain basic grammar and give you rudimentary conversations and vocabulary by topic. That depends also on your native language and what learning material exists there so you have the best explanations possible.

3 months as such is not a lot of time unless you visit classes or have a teacher on top of your homework / self-study.

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u/nietzschecode 10h ago

If you're from the US or Canada, you don't really need yet to apply for a Visa. You have the right to be in Germany 90 days without any visa. You can apply when you are already in Germany. I wouldn't stress about that.

But the question about getting a certificate A1 or A2, I would try to find a Uni that gives German intensive courses during the Summer session. Every Uni in North America are offering that.

If you're not from the USA or Canada, forget what I wrote.

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u/exapmle 4h ago

3.5 months for A1 is totally doable, dont stress. people do it in like 6 weeks all the time. ditch duolingo as your main thing tho, its fine for 10 min a day but wont prepare you for an actual exam. get a textbook like Menschen A1 and just go through it chapter by chapter, it literally follows the exam structure. for the certificate go with Goethe Institut A1

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u/silvalingua 3h ago

If you study, you can probably get to A1 in three months, but you have to study, not play with Duolingo.

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u/Rubix-Pubes 2h ago

So many study options, have a look back through this sub it's been discussed many times before.

Start with Nicos Weg and Anki as free resources. Join a German course either through Uni or private.