Walks and Talks Vienna 

Join me for a walk!
This is an excellent opportunity to improve your fluency in German and get to know some nice places at the very heart of Vienna. 
Classes take place outdoor, somewhere in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 9th district, such as Vienna Old Town, Augarten, Prater, Stadtpark, Votivpark, Volksgarten, Burggarten, Rathauspark etc. We can also go for a strolling in the Mariahilferstraße and do some (window) shopping, get a coffee and a cake in one of Vienna's famous coffeehouses. 

Some of us are so busy with work and family that we can't find extra time during the week for anything else, let alone a German class. Walk'N'Talk is an excellent option if you face the same challange as I'll pick you up at your office / home, so  you can take a short time-out, grab a sandwich in lunchtime :-), and come with me for a relaxed walk while we have a nice chat in German for an hour or more. 

We'll speak about how to confront uncertainties when learning / using a new language and how to handle challanges to assimilate into a new society and way of life, learning new standards, new societal norms, new people with very different mindsets. 

Outdoor classes are designed to make you feel relaxed giving you the ease and space to speak about whatever you want to. The walks we'll help you generate and express new thoughts, enabling free association and a brainstorm type of conversation with focus on topics important for you now. 

Everyday Austrian - Focus on spoken language 

Whether you're new to German or looking to fine tune what you already know, we’ll make your conversation training to suit your needs by  addressing your level, your goals and your schedule so you can enjoy the all-over flexibility and personal attention of a personalized course.

Private conversation training is highly interactive with about 50% of learner participation, with you as the only student, so you can speak a lot based on question-answer-sequences which enables repetition and eventually automatization of  sentence structures and word order. 

We'll work on your very own, individual vocabulary and fine-tune your pronounciation so you'll get confident when you speak German. We can discuss your questions about living in Vienna and about the Viennese, your new work environment, Austrian culture and customs, the tasks and everyday challenges after relocating,  how to fit in, dealing with homesickness, feelings of culture shock, intercultural partnerships, the curiosities of day-to-day life in Austria, or any other topic you'd like to. I'll help you find your 'German voice' :-)

More about Austrian German you'll find here: Austrian German - Do they speak German in Austria? 

Organisation 

Where?
Classes take place outdoor, in one of the beautiful parks of Vienna in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 9th district, such as Vienna Old Town, Augarten, Prater, Stadtpark, Votivpark, Volksgarten, Burggarten, Rathauspark etc. We can meet directly in a park near you or I can pick you up at your office e.g. in lunchtime, and yes, you may even grab a sandwich :-), and we'll have a chat in German for an hour or more.
If you prefer to take a stroll in the Mariahilferstraße or in the City Center we can also do some (window) shopping or get a coffee in one of Vienna's famous coffeehouses with me showing you some of my Geheimtipps in the Old Town.  

How long?
Private walks can be booked á 60, 90 or 120 minutes according to your schedule.

When? 
Sessions do not take place in all weathers, thus available between March and October whit air temperature above 15°C.
During the week we can start as early as 8:00 and end as late as 20:00.
Weekend classes are available anytime between 9:00 and 21:00.
Schedule is very flexible and entirely up to you, we don't have to meet at the same time and place each week, you can book the next session every week anew according to your schedule.

How? 

During our conversation class, you’ll be able to walk along at a gentle pace whilst speaking about whatever is on your mind.  I'll walk as quickly or slowly as feels comfortable for you. You may decide you'd like to take a pause at a nearby bench or walk throughout. If you prefer not to walk, we can have our conversation in one of the magnificent coffee-houses of Vienna as an alternative. 

 
How to cancel a session

Even though we can arrange your lessons at short notice, I usually require 3-4 days in advance to book your lesson at your preferred time. 
If you can't attend a class, I need you to cancel our appointment in time and give me notice at 48 hours in advance, otherwise I'll have to charge 100% of the tuition fee, since I reserved that time slot for you and can not rearrange my day on such a short notice. Thank you.  

My German classes - What you can choose from 

• German on the go
• German for children in Vienna
• Private German classes online 
• Privat German classes in person 

Private classes online or in-person in my home-office in Vienna 2nd, as well as home tutoring at your place and in-house training at your company can also be booked, please ask for an individual price offer. 

About me

I'm a university-trained translator and an language teacher for German and Hungarian, my Bachelor degree in Transcultural Communication and a Master degree in Translation and Terminology Sciences I completed at the University of Vienna. 

Subsequently I  acquired a teaching qualification for 'German as a Foreign Language' from the University of Kassel in Germany, and completed a didactic training on the renowned BERLITZ-method for 'Native Speaker Language Teachers'.
Furthermore, I specialized in teaching German for children with dyslexia and dysgraphia at the DUDEN Institute for Educational Therapy, as well as in teaching bilingual children.
Having learned German, Russian, English, Greek and Italian myself, I know very well about the difficulties one encounters when learning a new language. More about me and my academic background you'll find here.

Language coaching 

I see myself more as a Coach than a classical Teacher, aiming to be your personal guide, who answers your questions, evaluates and reflects on your progress and giving you a realistic feedback so you'll be able to focus on thing you need most. This tailored support results in a faster and more precise learning helping you to acquire a solid foundation of knowledge.  With an empathetic and  professional guidance you'll find the motivation and engagement necessary to achieve your long term goals in learning German.

You'll experience a very personalized approach, differing from traditional classroom teaching led by a classic teacher who sets the curriculum and conducts rigidly planned lessons. In language schools, language teachers have to follow a strict timeline and a certain book, designing the lessons to accommodate the group, which often leads to some students falling behind.

You can actually set and reach realistic goals thereby taking control of your language learning. We'll discuss your objectives, priorities, learning styles and methods. This individual approach is particularly beneficial for students seeking a more personalized guidence and framework. Traditional learning methods sometimes lead to boredom, frustration and stagnation, so lots of students lose motivation, consistency or even give up learning German. 

Credo 

Since no two learners are alike, I use varying tutoring approaches, whereby enjoyment is an important factor in my lessons. I very much like to use language games, cards, songs, short stories, videos and the internet to teach my languages, for I do believe that learning languages can be fun. 

I aim to foster a friendly but professional relationship with each of my students, to build their confidence and self belief when they learn a new language. German can be an extremely challenging language and as an experienced German tutor I really can help you learning it.

I'll work alongside you at the speed that works for you best. In the first lesson we'll analyse your needs, noting your strengths and weaknesses. My German lessons involve paying particular attention to everyday vocabulary, focusing on the most important grammar topics, providing good practice in colloquial Austrian.  

Why one-on-one lessons?  

Individual lessons can significantly demystify German grammar, as they allow you to ask about anything and everything, and discuss it with me in English. So, if the direct method used in Vienna's language schools is ineffective for you, and group learning with 8-10 students doesn't meet your needs, then private lessons might be the solution.

It's particularly beneficial at the start to encounter the German grammar system in English through translation, comparison and explanation. As private lessons offer the benefit of learning at an individual pace I'll pick you up where you stand without pressure and take you to the level you want to reach. We'll  focus on enhancing your passive skills like reading and listening, and strengthen your active skills in speaking and writing. I'll make sure you grasp the grammar, build up a personalized vocabulary, improve your communication skills and pronunciation, and therby gain confidence in speaking German.

More about the overall benefits of Walk-and-Talk sessions you'll find here.