Question 1

How much do German classes cost in Nairobi?

Accepted Answer

A1 is KES 32,000 for a three-month course — or KES 30,000 each if you register as a pair. A2 and B1 are KES 41,500 each for a three-month course. B2 and C1 are taught in two halves: B2.1 and B2.2 are KES 29,500 each (KES 59,000 for the complete B2) and C1.1 and C1.2 are KES 31,000 each (KES 62,000 for the complete C1). Preparation for Goethe exams is KES 15,000 and the children's course is KES 11,000. Every fee includes textbooks, worksheets and digital materials, and there is no separate registration fee.

Question 2

How long does it take to reach B1?

Accepted Answer

About nine months on the standard track — three months each for A1, A2 and B1. If you are working to a deadline, our intensive and super-intensive groups cover the same syllabus in fewer weeks with more hours a week, at the same fee. The Goethe-Institut's own estimate is 350–650 teaching units of 45 minutes to reach B1 from zero, and where you land in that range depends mostly on how much German you use outside class.

Question 3

What are your class times?

Accepted Answer

Classes run Monday to Friday — we do not run weekend classes. At our Nairobi CBD campus there are morning sessions from 7:30am, midday sessions from 10:45am and afternoon sessions from 1pm, with longer blocks for the intensive groups. Online we run an early-morning group and evening groups that start from 5pm and finish by 9pm at the latest. Your exact slot is confirmed when you register.

Question 4

Do I need B1 or B2 German to work in Germany?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the route. Ausbildung (vocational training) officially requires B1 — though many employers prefer B2 in practice, so B2 makes you far more competitive. Nursing recognition (Anerkennung) requires B2 in almost every German state, plus a specialist language examination; a small number of states accept B1, so always check the state your employer is in. The skilled-worker and study routes generally expect B2.

Question 5

Where exactly are you, and can I come and see the school?

Accepted Answer

We're in Windsor House on Muindi Mbingu Street in Nairobi CBD — Monrovia Lane, opposite Central Police Station and next to the University of Nairobi footbridge, a few minutes' walk from the Kencom and Archives stages. Classes run Monday to Friday, so walk in on a weekday between 8am and 5pm and we'll show you one in session.

Question 6

Can I join if I've studied some German before?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Take our free 5-minute placement test and we'll place you at the right level rather than starting you again at A1. If you're between levels, we'll tell you honestly which one you'll get more out of.

Question 7

Do you prepare students for the Goethe exam?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every level follows the Goethe-Institut framework, and we run dedicated exam-preparation courses covering all four modules. The exam itself is booked and sat at the Goethe-Institut in Nairobi — we help you register and prepare. Note that Goethe's registration window is short, usually two days from 9:00am, and payment must clear inside it or the place is passed on.

Question 8

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

M-PESA via Lipa na M-PESA Paybill, or bank transfer to KCB. Send us the confirmation receipt on WhatsApp or by email and we'll confirm your place within 24 hours. Full details are on the fees page.

Question 9

When is the next intake?

Accepted Answer

Now. We accept students throughout the year rather than running fixed cohorts, so you register and join the next group at your level instead of waiting months for one to open. Message us and we will tell you which group you would be joining and when it starts.

Question 10

What is the difference between normal, intensive and super intensive?

Accepted Answer

Hours per week, and therefore how soon you finish. All three cover the same syllabus, prepare you for the same Goethe exam and cost the same per level. Normal is the standard three months per level for A1 to B1. Intensive adds contact hours so you finish sooner. Super intensive is full mornings or full afternoons, for people who can make German their main occupation — usually because there is a visa or application deadline in the way.

Question 11

Why are B2 and C1 cheaper than A1?

Accepted Answer

Because they are sold in halves rather than as whole levels. B2.1 and B2.2 are KES 29,500 each for six weeks, so a complete B2 is KES 59,000. C1.1 and C1.2 are KES 31,000 each, so a complete C1 is KES 62,000. A1 is KES 32,000 for a full three-month level (KES 30,000 each as a pair), and A2 and B1 are KES 41,500.

Question 12

Do you run weekend classes?

Accepted Answer

No. Classes run Monday to Friday only. If weekdays are difficult, the online evening groups run from 5pm and finish by 9pm at the latest, and there is an early-morning online group before the working day.

Question 13

How big are your classes?

Accepted Answer

Small — we cap groups so that everyone speaks in every session. Learning a language in a lecture hall does not work; you need to be made to talk.

Question 14

Do you offer online classes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Evening and blended groups can join live online from anywhere in Kenya. These are live, interactive sessions with the same teacher and syllabus as the in-person groups, not recordings.

Question 15

Which German level do I need to study at a German university?

Accepted Answer

For a degree taught in German, universities generally want C1-level proof, and the certificates accepted everywhere are TestDaF (TDN 4 in all four sections), DSH-2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, or Goethe-Zertifikat C2. The Goethe-Zertifikat C1 is accepted by many German universities but is not on the standing national exemption list, so always confirm with your specific university before you plan around it. Programmes taught in English have their own, usually lower, German requirement — sometimes none.

Question 16

Is university in Germany really free?

Accepted Answer

Mostly, but not universally, and the exceptions matter. Germany has 426 higher education institutions, of which 273 are public; the private and church-run ones charge substantial fees. Among the public universities, Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester — that includes Heidelberg, KIT, Freiburg, Tübingen and Mannheim — and TU Munich has charged non-EU students €2,000–6,000 per semester since winter 2024/25. Every public university also charges a semester contribution of roughly €100–450. We'll tell you which universities charge what before you apply.

Question 17

Can I work while studying in Germany?

Accepted Answer

Yes. International students may work 140 full days or 280 half-days per year — raised from 120/240 by the Skilled Immigration Act in March 2024 — or alternatively up to 20 hours a week during the lecture period, with unrestricted work during semester breaks. Student assistant jobs at your own university are exempt from the cap.

Question 18

How long can I stay in Germany after I graduate?

Accepted Answer

Up to 18 months, under §20 of the Residence Act, to look for qualified work. Once you find it you switch to a work permit or EU Blue Card.

Question 19

What German level do I need for citizenship?

Accepted Answer

B1, after five years of residence. Note that the three-year fast track that required C1 German was abolished in October 2025 — some websites, including one German government page in English, have not been updated. Do not plan around it.

Question 20

Can I retake just one part of the Goethe exam if I fail it?

Accepted Answer

At B1 and above, yes — those exams are modular, so reading, listening, writing and speaking can each be taken and retaken separately, as often as you need. A1 and A2 are not modular and must be sat as a whole. To get one combined certificate rather than four module certificates, all four modules must be passed within a year at the same exam centre.

Question 21

Does Teamgeist help with university applications and visas?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for enrolled students: choosing programmes, uni-assist applications, document preparation, blocked-account guidance and visa file support. We are a language school first — this is support for our own students, not a standalone consultancy.

Question 22

What materials do I need to buy?

Accepted Answer

None. Textbooks, worksheets and digital resources are included in the course fee. There is nothing extra to pay at the door.

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