Fluenz Review: German Lessons

In the comfort of your own home, and at a time that's convenient for you, you can learn German from a real person. Having a real person teach you German knowing how English speakers process languages is much more personal and relatable than learning language from matching sounds to photos or images, or learning from a written textbook-like page of instructions. We like that the pricing is straightforward, you don't pay for levels of language you don't want, and you buy what you buy with no time-limit subscriptions.

Lessons are meant for English speakers

One well-known language learning platform in our review uses buzzwords and phrases like "immersion" and "learn a language the way kids do" to tempt you to purchase their software where their lessons are completely in German with no English translations. Fluenz eschews that idea. They know that as an adult, your first language is a powerful tool to help you learn a second language faster than you did your first. That's why all of their German lessons are taught using the rules of English grammar to give you a foothold. However, that does mean their from-scratch German lessons are only taught from an English-speaking perspective. If you were hoping to learn German from Spanish, you'll need to check out one of the other German lesson websites in our review.

No demo available

Fluenz's design doesn't have the same flair as the most popular language learning platforms out there - it's a bit old-school and could use a revamp. Superficial concerns aside, there's no free trial, so your choice to buy has to be based on screenshots and the experiences of other users. These screenshots show you components of the lessons over pretty pictures of Germany. There's also a short, silent 20-second video that gives you a glimpse into the different sections of the lessons.

A pre-recorded tutor will guide your lessons

In the German lessons offered by Fluenz, your tutor will be Nora Naatz, a native German speaker. The lessons seem to include activities such as matching English and German words, typing German translations of vocabulary, and listening and writing exercises. You'll also interact with simulated conversations. Nora's role is likely to provide short videos explaining how German grammar relates to English and assist with pronunciation. However, without a demo available, it's hard to get a full understanding of her role or the lesson format. We hope Fluenz will at least include a video demonstration with sound at some point in the future.

5 levels of German lessons

Fluenz offers five levels of German learning. Level 1 covers basics like greetings, introductions, and simple grammar. Level 2 progresses to practical situations like making plans and dining out, and it covers more advanced grammar topics. Level 3 gets into real-world situations like renting properties and discussing hobbies, using more complex sentence structures. Level 4 involves discussions about various topics like family stories and financial matters, and you'll learn to navigate urban traffic and plan outdoor activities. By the time you reach Level 5, you'll be so comfortable with complex conversations, trip planning, writing, and dealing with medical and legal issues, you might as well apply for German citizenship.

One-time fee of $187 for 1 level

When you buy Fluenz's German lessons, they're yours forever. Let's hear it for no subscription fees! But be warned, they're a bit on the pricey side. If you're unsure about your commitment to learning German, you might want to start with just the first level. Here are your options:

• Complete program (Levels 1-5): $398
• First three levels: $308
• Levels 3-5: $320
• Individual levels (1 or 2): $187 each
• Bundle of Levels 1 and 2: $258
• Bundle of Levels 4 and 5: $258

And if you're not thrilled with your purchase, you can get a refund within 30 days.

Slightly above average until a demo is available

While Fluenz shows promise, it's hard to truly understand how it feels to use it. Some users have found success through Fluenz's German lessons when used for refreshing their old German knowledge before a trip or understanding German TV, but have also mentioned that the sentences can sometimes be repetitive. Although it's often considered better than that faux-immersive platform we mentioned, we're not sure how it would hold up to some of our top services. If you're planning to complete all five levels of German with Fluenz, you wouldn't want to get bored or frustrated with an exercise that doesn't work well for your learning style.

On the Fluenz website