German Courses B1 in Kreuzlingen (B1.1 & B1.2)

After completing both B1 courses (B1.1 and B1.2), you can express yourself independently and coherently in German:

• Participate in conversations about everyday and professional topics
• Understand and write texts from everyday life and work
• Justify opinions, explain plans and describe experiences
• Write formal emails and applications
• Discuss social and political topics

Level B1 is the minimum requirement for many important steps:

• fide test: The official language certificate for migration authorities
• Professional integration: Many employers require at least B1
• Naturalization: In the canton of Thurgau, B2 spoken and B1 written are required. Other cantons and municipalities may have different requirements.
• C residence permit: Proof of German skills at B1 level (spoken)

We are happy to advise you on which requirements typically apply where you live.

Level B1 consists of two sub-courses that build on each other:

• B1.1 – Advanced use of language
• B1.2 – Communicating and arguing confidently

You do not have to start with B1.1: if you already have good A2/B1 knowledge, you can join B1.2 directly after a free placement check.

In course B1.1, you learn to communicate about more demanding everyday topics and become more independent linguistically.

For example, you learn:

• How to understand news and express your opinion on current topics
• How to report on work experience and conduct a job interview
• How to describe symptoms precisely at the doctor and understand advice
• How to report past experiences and historical contexts
• How to describe everyday conflicts objectively and suggest solutions

Grammar & language:

• Past perfect (e.g. Nachdem ich gegessen hatte, ging ich spazieren)
• Genitive (e.g. wegen des Wetters, trotz der Probleme)
• Infinitive with «zu» (e.g. Ich versuche, pünktlich zu kommen)
• Using relative clauses (e.g. Die Frau, die dort wohnt)

Course book: Schritte Plus Neu 5 – Swiss edition (included in the course price)

In course B1.2, you deepen your skills in argumentation, written communication and social topics – important for the fide test and naturalization.

For example, you learn:

• How to understand simple political texts and discuss society
• How to formulate professional goals and write application letters
• How to discuss cultural differences and living together in the community
• How to talk about media, news and current developments
• How to write formal emails and letters

Grammar & language:

• Temporal clauses with «während», «bevor», «nachdem»
• Future tense I (e.g. Ich werde das morgen erledigen)
• Double conjunctions (je … desto, sowohl … als auch)
• Passive perfect (e.g. Das Formular ist ausgefüllt worden)

Course book: Schritte Plus Neu 6 – Swiss edition (included in the course price)

Targeted exam training is an integral part of our B1 courses. You regularly practice with exam tasks and learn the formats used in telc B1, Goethe B1 and the fide test:

• Listening and reading comprehension under exam conditions
• Writing: letters, emails and statements in exam format
• Speaking: conversation situations and presentations as in the oral exam
• Time management and exam strategies

For the best possible preparation, we also recommend our Exam Preparation.

Our B1 courses (B1.1 and B1.2) take place in small groups:

• Maximum 8 participants per group – so you get enough speaking time
• 20 CHF per lesson (45 min.), 56 lessons per course
• The course book is included in the course price

Depending on the course format, one sub-course (B1.1 or B1.2) lasts:

• Intensive course: Mon–Fri, approx. 4–8 weeks
• Afternoon and evening courses: 2–3× per week, approx. 9–14 weeks
• Saturday course: 1× per week, approx. 16–21 weeks

More information about exams can be found on our Exam Preparation page.