Learning German

There are many different courses for German. For example:

• If you have young children, you can attend a course with child care.
• Perhaps, you cannot read latin letters yet or you have difficulties reading and writing. In that case, you can participate in a literacy course (Alphabetisierungskurs).

Here, you can find out which courses are available and how much the courses cost:

• Adult education centre (Fachstelle Erwachsenenbildung)
• GGG Migration

How well someone can speak German can be measured using the "Common European Framework of Reference". This is abbreviated to CEFR. CEFR is the standard for languages and has six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. If you meet Level A1 or A2, you have a foundational knowledge of German. If you have achieved Level C1 or C2, you are well advanced.

• Do you want to undergo professional training recognised in Switzerland? In that case, you will need Level B1 or B2.
• If you wish to study at a university, you will need to meet Level C1 or C2.

Have you recently moved to Basel and are expecting to receive a residence permit (B)? In that case, you will receive a voucher for a German course. You can attend 80 classes free of charge. You can redeem the voucher at a language school recognised by the canton. The voucher is valid for up to 12 months after your arrival.

Do you want to attend another German course afterwards? You will then need to pay. The prices of the courses vary. It is a good idea to compare the prices. Canton Basel-Stadt supports some courses with a financial subsidy. You pay less for these courses.