German Online Language Department

Welcome to the German Online Language Department of the Goethe-Institut USA! Below you can find out more about our

Terms and Conditions with registration conditions, refund policy and further information on booking a course
Contact details
Our Team

Hände auf einer Laptop-Tastatur aus der Vogelperspektive mit goldener Goethe-Institut-Keyvisual für Kontakt und Kursanmeldung. © Goethe-Institut

Terms and Conditions

General Admission Requirements
1. All group courses listed on our website are adult courses unless otherwise specified. Students in adult courses must be at least 17 years old. Younger students (13- 16) may be admitted to adult courses if no young learners' option is available and after prior consultation between their parents and the Language Course Office.
2. Students in group courses designated for young learners (Jugendkurse) must be at least 12 years old and no older than 17 years old.
3. Students in group courses designated for children (Kinderkurse) must be within the age group designated for that course. Children courses are offered in two age groups: 6-8 years old and 9-11 years old.
4. There is no required minimum age for students in individual courses (e.g. courses with no other students, such as Deutsch Online Individual or Deutsch Online Live). However, the Goethe-Institut recommends students in individual courses be at least 17 years old unless otherwise specified.
5. The minimum age to book a course through our website is 18. Students under the age of 18 must be enrolled by a parent or legal guardian. The parent or legal guardian will then be copied on all email communication from the Language Course Office regarding the enrollment.
6. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Goethe-Institut is committed to ensuring equal opportunity for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions, such as emotional, medical, physical, and/or learning disabilities. If you or the child you are registering for a course require accommodations in order to successfully participate in a course, please write us at germancourses-usa@goethe.de prior to registration.
7. Students who enroll in any course that requires prior knowledge of German (i.e. any course with a level higher than A1.1 or A1) must demonstrate sufficient written and spoken proficiency at the required level before the start of the course.
8. New students, as well as returning students who have not taken a course with a Goethe-Institut in the USA or Canada within the past 12 months, are required to complete a written and spoken placement test before the start of their course. A Goethe-Zertifikat issued within the last 12 months may also be accepted as proof of proficiency at the discretion of the Language Course Office.
9. Returning students who have taken a course with a Goethe-Institut in the USA or Canada in the past 12 months will be admitted upon the approval of their most recent instructor. If the most recent instructor does not agree the student meets the proficiency requirements for the course, a written and spoken placement test will be required as a condition of admission.
10. Students who fail to meet the above stated requirements by the start date of their course will not be admitted, and may request either a full refund or a rebooking to a different course.
11. Students should consider their personal commitments and circumstances before enrollment, as our policies are necessary to ensure the success of both our students and instructors. See below for specific information regarding cancellations, withdrawal, refunds and transfers.
Terms of Payment
1. Fees are payable in full on enrollment. Students using our online registration portal are advised to contact their bank or credit card company to ensure approval for fee-free foreign transactions (tuition is processed in Munich). The Goethe-Institut cannot offer refunds for third-party fees. If you require a different payment option or are not able to register using the online system, email germancourses-usa@goethe.de.
2. The office will accept payment via wire transfer, credit and debit cards during office hours.
3. No space in a course will be reserved or guaranteed until payment has been received in full.
4. Any applicable discounts must be used at the time of booking. Discounts may not be applied retroactively after payment has been received.
Cancellations, Refunds, and Rebookings: Courses
1. Course cancellations by the Goethe-Institut will be made on a case-by-case basis in the event of low enrollment. Students will be notified by email in the event of a cancellation and will be offered the opportunity to book a different course or receive a refund in full. We reserve the right to cancel classes up to 24 hours before a course is due to start, but strive to cancel courses at least one week in advance of the advertised start date.
2. To withdraw from a class, a student must make their withdrawal and refund request in writing to germancourses-usa@goethe.de. Terms and conditions for cancellations of bookings made on our website may vary. Please review the information sent to you after your booking carefully.
3. Refunds for classes vary by course type and date of withdrawal.
  1. Students who withdraw from any class in writing up to one week before the first class session are eligible to receive a refund in full.
  2. Students in group classes who withdraw less than one week before the first class session and before the beginning of the second class meeting will receive no refund, but will be offered the opportunity to book a different class in the same semester or may register for a future course at a discounted rate.
  3. Students in group classes who withdraw after the second class session has begun will receive no refund and may not transfer to a different course, but may register for a future course at a discounted rate.
  4. Students who are enrolled in Individualized Course options are not eligible for refunds of course tuition or transfer to a different course, barring extraordinary circumstances.
  5. Students who must withdraw due to special circumstances, such as the death of a family member or case of severe illness, may request permission from the Director to transfer their enrollment to a future semester or receive a partial refund.
4. Transfers from a group course to another group course (or, pending payment of additional fees, individual course) are allowed only under the following circumstances:
  1. New course must be in the same semester as the originally booked course.
  2. Transfers will be allowed only before the beginning of the second live meeting of both the original and new class.
  3. Transfers cannot be autonomously determined by students; they must be approved in advance by the Language Course Office.
  4. Transfer is allowed into the same level class as the class student is transferring from.
  5. Transfers into a different course level are only possible with the written approval of the instructor of the class out of which the student is transferring.
5. Customers who have paid online have the right to cancel their booking for a course or exam for a full refund up to 14 days after the date of booking, provided that the course or exam has not already started at the time the cancellation request is made.
Cancellations, Refunds, and Rebookings: Certificate Examinations
1. In the rare event that an examination appointment is cancelled by the Goethe-Institut, exam-takers will be notified by email and offered the opportunity to book the exam during an alternate appointment, receive a reduced fee for a private appointment, or receive a refund in full. We reserve the right to cancel an examination at any time, but strive to cancel exams at least one week in advance of the advertised start date.
2. Students should consider their personal commitments and circumstances before enrolling for an examination as our withdrawal policies are strictly enforced. To withdraw from an examination appointment, a student must make their withdrawal and refund request in writing to germancourses-usa@goethe.de.
3. Refunds for certificate examinations vary by date of withdrawal.
  1. Students who withdraw from certificate examinations in writing up to two weeks before the scheduled examination will receive a refund in full.
  2. Students who must withdraw due to extraordinary circumstances, such as the death of an immediate family member or case of severe illness, may request permission from the Director to transfer their examination booking to a future appointment or receive a partial or full refund.
4. Exam-Takers may request to transfer their examination fees only once and under the following conditions:
  1. New exam date must be at the same Institut in the same calendar year.
  2. Exam must be same level as original booking.
  3. Examination registration transfers are only possible per the conditions above under 4(3).
5. Customers who have paid online have the right to cancel their booking for a course or exam for a full refund up to 14 days after the date of booking, provided that the course or exam has not already started at the time the cancellation request is made
6. If the physical exam certificate is lost, students may request a replacement copy for $25. All requests must be submitted in writing to exams-usa@goethe.de
Courses
1. Placement in a particular course level is based on the results of the placement test administered by the Goethe-Institut, which includes both an online written portion as well as a verbal assessment. This placement test costs $25 and can be booked online. Students who pursuantly register for a course will receive a $25 deduction on their course fee.
2. All group courses require a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 14 participants unless otherwise stated in the course program.
3. For the purposes of quality assurance and professional development for our faculty, classes are periodically audited by members of the teaching staff. Classes may also have a teacher-in-training present for guided teaching experience as well as a guest instructor for part of a session or for an entire session. In some instances, these visits may be recorded for our internal use. All guest instruction is coordinated with our certified teacher trainers.
4. Courses booked for individual instruction or Deutsch Online Live must take place within the timeframe stated; lessons not used during this timeframe will be forfeited, and no refunds or re-bookings will be offered:
  1. Up to 5TU (1 TU is 45 minutes): 2 months after teaching staff is confirmed with student by office.
  2. 6TU-10TU: 4 months after teaching staff is confirmed with student by office.
  3. More than 10TU: 6 months after teaching staff is confirmed with student by office, unless otherwise indicated.
  4. Individualized meetings with a Deutsch Online Individual Course: Duration of Deutsch Online Individual Course, including all possible extensions.
5. One-on-one meetings for individualized courses are determined, in writing, at the mutual convenience of the instructor and the student.
6. Students who need to reschedule a one-on-one meeting must notify the instructor and the office (germancourses-usa@goethe.de) in writing no less than 24 hours in advance of the originally planned meeting time. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of the meeting.
Responsibilities of the Student
1. The student is required to obey all course regulations and all house rules for the duration of their course at the Goethe-Institut.
Liabilities of the Goethe-lnstitut
1. The liability for damage and legal responsibility of the Goethe-Institut and its employees is limited to intent and negligence. Neither the Goethe-Institut nor its employees are liable for the cancellation of its services due to acts of God, industrial action, reasons due to the negligence of parties other than the Goethe-Institut or otherwise unacceptable reasons.
2. In the event that a class has to be cancelled due to inclement weather or instructor illness, we will inform you by email no less than 3 hours ahead of the scheduled meeting time. A cancelled class will be made up prior to the beginning of the following semester at a time/date determined by the instructor.
Conflict Resolution / Suggestions / Assistance
1. Our Language Course Office can advise you about the Goethe-Institut's language courses and examinations in the USA and in Germany. Please do not hesitate to contact us: we are here to help. Please email germancourses-usa@goethe.de and we will reply within 3 business days.
2. The Goethe-Institut USA constantly strives to improve its business processes and customer service and your comments are greatly appreciated. If you would prefer to submit your comments in writing, please use the following address:

Goethe-Institut Los Angeles
z.Hd.: Andrea Thamm
1901 W 7th St, Suite A/B
Los Angeles, CA 90057

Our Team

All about our German Online Courses

Learn German at the Goethe-Institut

Where German language and culture come together: Discover what makes German courses at the Goethe-Institut unique.
German course dates and prices

Check out all dates and prices for our upcoming German courses.
Which language level is right for me?

Are you taking one of our German courses for the first time? Our individual assessment lets you quickly find out which course level is right for you.

All course formats

German Online Language Department

Terms and Conditions

Our Team

Sebastian Scholze

Andrea Thamm

Katharina Suhm

Irina Avdeeva

Christine Schumann

Dr. Bui Giang

JoAnn Simonetta-Stob

Katja Ramsey

Nicole Rast Dieziger

Stephanie Jelliffe

Anna Ralston-Schmid

Dr. Edin Konjhodzic

Elena Alston

Nils Martin

Simone Maier

All about our German Online Courses

Learn German at the Goethe-Institut

German course dates and prices

Which language level is right for me?

German Online Language Department

Terms and Conditions

How to reach us

Registration

Placement test

Discounts

Exam discount for course participants

Conditions

Our Team

Director

Language Course and Quality Management

Marketing Management

Exam Management

Language Course Office

Instructors

Studybridge

Administration

All about our German Online Courses

Follow us