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Learn German in Hamburg - German language school in Germany
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Hamburg, Germany
Minimum age: 17 years / Average age: 24-25 years
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| Hamburg | Language School | German Language Courses | DSH | Business German Courses | German + Work Experience | work page | Junior German Programs | Teacher Training | Dates | Activities/Excursions | Accommodation | Prices | Registration | Visa | Germany | Visit Hamburg | FAQ |
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Hamburg
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| Learn German in Hamburg, Germany - Improve your German with a German language course in Hamburg, Germany - German language school in Hamburg, Germany | Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany. Although it is quite distant from the open sea, life in Hamburg is determined by water. The Inner Alster and the Outer Alster - 2 large artificial inner-city lakes - as well as numerous crossing canals form Hamburg's inner city structure. They give to the hanseatic metropolis a maritime flair which is unique in Germany and that is why it is commonly known as the Venice of the North. From the traditional fish-market where early risers and tourists taste the delicacies of the North Sea to the bars on the banks of Elbe river, where in the evenings the party crowd settles in beach chairs for barbecues and picnics, it becomes obvious that people here enjoy life on the waterside. |  | The Hamburg harbor, Germany's gate to the world, is one of the main attractions of this cosmopolitan city and determines its rhythm of life. It is the third largest port in Europe and the most important trans-shipment center for numerous goods worldwide : nowhere else in the world more amounts of coffee and carpets are reloaded. Watching the hectic scenery happening on the water is a very special experience. It shows fascinating contrasts : battered fishing boats cruising in front of noble luxury liners, modern container carrier ships berthing next to venerable sailing boats. Our German language school partner often explores this captivating microcosmos with international students. |  |
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Language School
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Our German language school partner is located in the Esplanade Building, a historic art-deco commercial building, right in the heart of the city, less than a 5 minutes walk from Jungfernstieg and its worldfamous hotels and department stores. From the 200 square meter roof terrace you can enjoy a view on the Inner Alster. | Our German language school partner has 15 well lit and spacious classrooms, situated on the 2nd and 3rd floors and equipped with high quality furniture and state-of-the-art communication media. The school also offers a self-study center with books, CDs and media, a multimedia room equipped with 60 computers (one-time registration fee of 05 EUR to use Internet through desktop PCs), a spacious student library, a student office and a lounge/cafeteria with snacks and drink-vending machines. The building is WIFI enabled (free). The school can accommodate about 75 students in low season and about 125 students in high season.
|  | Our German language school partner in Hamburg shares premises (terraces, cafeteria and PC rooms) with its affiliated company, the Euro-Business-College (EBC), thus giving a unique opportunity to its international students to meet Germans students and learn about daily life in a German university. For more information about our partner school’s accreditation, please refer to Accreditations. | |
More info on the self-study center (please click here)
On Wednesdays, from 13h00 to 14h30, students who have booked the Standard, Intensive or Super-Intensive German language courses will have the possibility to use the Self-Study Center where teachers can help them with their homework assignments, answer all the questions on German grammar they might have and provide study materials such as grammar and listening exercises. Using the Self-Study Center is free of charge.
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German Language Courses
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The fastest way to learn German is by speaking German all day. This is why teachers will speak to students only German from the first day of class. Our German language school partner’s teaching methods make speaking, understanding and participating in class easy for students: they don’t have to cram for understanding grammar, they will practice it! Vocabulary is not translated but will be trained and thus internalized almost effortlessly. This way, students learn the language in communicative situations and will be able to use their knowledge right away. This language training is guiding students towards their goal which is speaking German fluently.
The classroom is oriented towards an objective and the teacher is always focusing on a specific topic. Depending on what should be done in class, students will work on their own or in a small group. They will use authentic texts of current interest and modern textbooks. Furthermore, a variety of learning stages with discussions, role play, dialogues as well as the individual and specific use of media will give a fresh impulse to studying the language. Aside from the textbook materials, teachers also make frequent use of instructional films and DVDs. | 
| Course Levels
Our German Language School partner uses a system of 7 levels from 100% beginners (special starting dates) to advanced. Course levels are in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference indicated from A1 to C2. Learning materials: are not included (except for one-to-one Business German language courses). Students can buy them at the school at a price of 15 to 30 EUR per level (approx. 04 weeks) and take the books back home after the end of their German language course.
01 lesson = 45 minutes
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More information on the teaching staff (please click here)
Teachers at our German language school partner are all native speakers of German, hold university degrees and are specially trained in teaching German as a Foreign Language. They come from all over Germany and reflect the varieties of German mentalities and linguistic features. They are experienced, well-adjusted to working together and many of them are employed on a regular basis. All this guarantees continuity. Many of the teachers have also studied or worked abroad and for this reason they have a great deal of experience cooperating with people from different cultural backgrounds. Thus they are sensitized to cultural differences and are able to empathize and create confidence. Teachers create a friendly and relaxed instruction atmosphere. This stimulates our participants to lively and natural communication. Their dedication, enthusiasm, openness and understanding help students reach their study goals and speak the German language in no time. Teachers work under the supervision of an experienced Director of Studies. Continuous supervision of the instruction certifies a constant and high quality of teaching. On a regular basis, our German language school partner’s teachers receive internal and external pedagogical training. |
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More information on your first day at school (please click here)
A walk through the school is going to inform you on the class organization, the timetable, the activity program and on how to get an email address at school. Participants with pre-knowledge of German will be asked to take a written test and will be interviewed individually. After the evaluation of the tests, students will be introduced to the staff of the school and to their teacher and join the classes of the appropriate proficiency levels. On the first day, students need to pay a deposit of 50 EUR for a student entrance card where they have their Internet Code and access to the schools facilities. The deposit will be refunded when the card is returned. On the first day, students are requested to be at the school at 9h. Tuition on the first day starts at approximately 10h50 (in low season, students miss 02 lessons in the morning. However, in high season, students may have all lessons, as some of them may follow the afternoon schedule). |
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More information on GfdS (please click here)
Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache (German Language Society) As a politically independent organization responsible for the preservation and linguistic research of German language, the GfdS has a high reputation at home and abroad. Founded in 1947 and supported by the federal government, the GfdS is responsible for critically observing the German language and for giving recommendations for the linguistic usage in general based on scientific research. Since 1990, our German language school partner has been the only educational institution in Germany that cooperates with the GfdS. Together with the GfdS the school developed a national and internationally recognized diploma examination. The exam is similar to Goethe diplomas. At the end of each course level, starting at the B1 level, students have the possibility to prove their knowledge of the German language by taking a GfdS exam. This nationally and internationally recognized language certificate is since 1990 under the professional supervision and control of the German Language Society. A diploma exam at the end of each course level is a necessary and helpful opportunity to evaluate the students’ learning progress. For any Standard, Intensive or Super-Intensive German language course bookings of minimum 08 weeks at B1 to C2 levels, the exam is included. Students booking less than 08 weeks will have to pay the GfdS exam registration fee (80 EUR) in order to sit the exam. Exams are generally held at the end of the month. |
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What's included in the course price (please click here)
Included in all German language courses: - Placement test at the beginning of the course
- Personal assessment interview
- School certificate
- Access to the school activities & excursions program (admission & fare not incl.)
A progress report can be provided upon request to students booking private tuition. Certain courses also include a basic university advisory service (please refer to each course description). This service consists of information, help and advice on the German university system and small help in applications. A full university advisory service is available to students booking a minimum of 08 weeks. The full service includes help and guidance with application to University, search for relevant documents, filling them and application to 3 universities maximum. For some countries our German language school partner also offers conditional letters of acceptance before arrival.
Price: 650 EUR |
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Standard German Language Course (20 lessons per week)
| The Standard German Language Course is the perfect choice for students who wish to learn German and discover Germany. In order to master communicative situations in everyday life as well as in a professional and university environment, it is most important to develop communicative competence. Grammar as well as vocabulary are both systematically and meaningfully integrated in teaching the main language proficiencies such as listening, reading, speaking and writing. Phonetic exercises and discussions about intercultural misunderstandings are necessary for teaching communicative competence successfully. The instruction is very much practice oriented and interactive. German language will always be practiced and taught in context. The Standard German Language Course focuses on the practical use of the German language, which is a basic requirement for becoming familiar with Germany and its people. It also prepares for the diploma exams (GfdS) that are offered at our German language school partner (through, for example, practice exams and exercises taken from past exams as homeworks). | Details: - Starting dates: every Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a Bank Holiday + Special starting dates for 100% beginners)
- All levels
- Minimum duration: 01 week
- Schedule: from 9h to 12h30 (incl. 30 min. break)*
- Maximum 15 students per group (10 – 12 on average)
- Incl. basic university advisory service
Important Note: If there are less than 04 students per level, the school will reduce the number of lessons to 16 lessons per week. |  | | *Classes may be scheduled in the afternoon, from 14h45 to 18h (incl. 15 min. break) or with a mix schedule of 03 days morning and 02 days afternoon or vice versa. | |
Intensive German Language Course (24 lessons per week)
| If your goal is to make fast progress, the Intensive German Language Course would be the perfect choice for intensive language training in all 4 language skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing). It is ideal for participants who want to improve their German language skills quickly by studying in a concentrated way or who intend to take one of the diploma exams (GfdS) offered at our German language school partner. The concept of this course is to consolidate, intensify and supplement the students’ linguistic competence, skills and knowledge of the German language acquired in the Standard German Language Course. While morning classes are mostly based on a textbook, afternoon sessions open up possibilities for an intensive communicative training through discussions of topics of current political, cultural, social and scientific interest. The teacher is organizing the instruction in such a way that all students can actively participate in class. Therefore rather complex grammatical structures are understood easily by being practiced and used creatively. Afternoon sessions are also used to prepare language exams such as exams from the Goethe Institue and others (GfdS, ZD, ZMP, ZOP, DSH and TestDaF). Students planning to enter a German university can book this course on a long-term basis, combine it with a TestDaF exam preparation course and sit the exam at the end of their German language course. | Details : - Starting dates: every Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a Bank Holiday + Special starting dates for 100% beginners)
- All levels
- Minimum duration: 01 week
- Schedule: from 9h to 12h30 (incl. 30 min. break) + Tuesdays & Thursdays from 13h to 14h30*
- Maximum 15 students per group (10 – 12 on average)
- Incl. basic university advisory service
|  | Important Note: If there are less than 04 students per level, the school will reduce the number of lessons to 20 lessons per week. *Classes may be scheduled in the afternoon, from 13h to 14h30 on Tuesdays & Thursdays and from 14h45 to 18h from Monday to Friday (incl. 15 min. break) or with a mix schedule of 03 days morning and 02 days afternoon or vice versa. | |
Super-Intensive German Language Course (28 lessons per week)
| The Super-Intensive German Language Course is particularly recommended for short-term stays as it is the most comprehensive group course offered by our German language school partner. The Super-Intensive German Language Course is a very flexible and dynamic course that combines the Intensive German Language Course with 04 additional lessons per week dedicated to individual requests and interests. During the Intensive Course, students develop all 04 language skills and discuss current political, cultural, social and scientific issues. During the additional sessions, students tell the teacher what they need to study, what they want to learn or where they still feel having some problems. The underlying educational concept intends to motivate students using the language automatically and intuitively in everyday situations as well as in different professional, work and university contexts. Students planning to enter a German university can book this course on a long-term basis, combine it with a TestDaF exam preparation course and sit the exam at the end of their German language course. |
Details: - Starting dates: every Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a Bank Holiday + Special starting dates for 100% beginners)
- All levels
- Minimum duration: 01 week
- Schedule: from 9h to 12h30 (+30 min. break) + from 13h to 14h30 except on Wednesdays*
- Maximum 15 students per group (10 – 12 on average)
- Incl. basic university advisory service
| Important Note: If there are less than 04 students per level, the school will reduce the number of lessons to 26 lessons per week. *Classes may be scheduled in the afternoon, from 13h to 14h30 except on Wednesdays and from 14h45 to 18h from Monday to Friday (incl. 15 min. break) or with a mix schedule of 03 days morning and 02 days afternoon or vice versa. | |
One-to-One German Language Course (in combination only) (min. 04 lessons per week)
| Individual instruction guarantees that your teacher is focusing on your specific needs and problems. Participants must combine private lessons with a group course (Standard, Intensive or Super-Intensive German Language Course). In this type of language training the instruction is determined by the student’s individual pre-knowledge and the language goals he/she wants to reach. The teacher will arrange the instruction completely according to the content decided on with the participant. It may be grammar, Business German or exam preparation (for specialized topics such as medical German, please contact us at  ). Furthermore, students can decide how many individual lessons (even numbers only) they want to study with a private teacher. Participants wishing to book General German language private lessons only should refer to the One-to-One Business German language course. Students can use personal material on request. | Details: - Starting dates: every Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a Bank Holiday)
- All levels
- Minimum duration: 01 week
- Min. 04 lessons per week
- Max. 16 lessons per week
- Schedule: according to arrangement with teacher, classroom availability and student’s need
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DSH
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DSH German Language Examination Preparation Course (20 lessons per week)
| In this course students focus only on preparing the DSH exam which is a language test that proves necessary linguistic competence of students intending to apply for university studies in Germany. By going through a large number of exercises the participants strengthen and intensify their linguistic knowledge and know-how. They will also become familiar with this special kind of examination and the experienced teachers will give them all kinds of problem-solving strategies for successfully passing this test. The training of the structures of scientific language is one of the main aspects of the DSH exam preparation course. Details: - Starting date: 25th May 2010
- Minimum level: advanced (C1-C2)
- Duration: 04 weeks
- Schedule: from 14h45 to 18h00
- Maximum 15 students per group (06 – 12 on average)
- Learning materials incl.
- Exam fee: depends on university.
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Business German Courses
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One-to-One Business German Language Course (min. 20 lessons per week)
| The One-to-One Business German Language Course is focusing directly on improving, refreshing and acquiring specialized and professionally oriented subjects as well as on basic language structures. German language courses can concentrate on a special communicative situation, special vocabulary needed for a conference or a trade fair and preparation of a presentation. Participants have the choice between 4 to 12 lessons per day. Areas of specialization include fields of banking, tourism, insurance, economics and intercultural training. Other specializations may be arranged for an extra charge (Please contact us at for further details). Students can use personal material on request.
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Details: - Starting dates: every Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a Bank Holiday)
- All levels (however, A2 level is recommended to fully benefit from the Business German language course)
- Minimum duration: 01 week
- 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50 or 60 lessons per week*
- Schedule: according to arrangement with teacher, classroom availability and student’s need
- Learning materials: incl.
| | *60 lessons per week program includes 50 classroom lessons + lunch with teacher on weekdays. | |
One-to-One Executive Business German Language Course (90 or 108 lessons per week)
| Professionals who want to make a maximum of progress in a minimum period of time should take this highly intensive course covering one week and 2 full weekends. The One-to-One Executive Business German Language Course is focusing directly on improving, refreshing and acquiring specialized and professionally oriented subjects as well as on basic language structures. The participant decides on topics such as banking, tourism, insurance, economics or intercultural training and can also study General German language. Participants have the choice between 10 and 12 lessons per day. Other specializations may be arranged for an extra charge, please contact us at for further details. Details: - Starting dates: every Saturday (except on Bank Holidays)
- Arrival day: Friday; Departure day: Sunday
- All levels (however, A2 level is recommended to fully benefit from the German language course)
- Duration: 09 consecutive days (01 week + 02 weekends)
- 90 or 108 lessons in total*
- Schedule: according to arrangement with teacher, classroom availability and student’s need (usually from 8h30)
- Learning materials: incl.
*108 lessons program includes 90 classroom lessons + lunch with teacher everyday. | |
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German + Work Experience
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German + Internship
| Make the most of your German language studies: optimize your German language program in Germany and continue your studies after finishing the German language course with an internship at a German company! This program combines 04 to 08 weeks of Standard, Intensive or Super-Intensive German language course with a 12 weeks minimum internship placement in a German company. Students get the chance to apply what they have just learned in class first hand. They also gain important work experience which will become a plus on their CV and increase their career opportunities. | There are 2 options: - a qualified internship position in a variety of fields such as architecture, book keeping, design or tourism. For this kind of internship an excellent knowledge of German language will be required (completed B2 level).
- a simple internship position to get work experience in a hotel or restaurant (completed B1 level).
Applicants should fill in a special enrolment form and provide a CV in German with 3 photos at least 02 months prior to the intended start date of the internship placement. Companies arrange a phone interview beforehand. Our German language school partner guarantees a maximum of 03 interviews. | 
| Prices: simple job: 350 EUR; qualified job: 450 EUR.
Price includes: Internship placement, counseling and help with internship preparation. | |
More details (please click here)
Details: - Starting dates: every Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a Bank Holiday)
- Minimum level: B1 completed for simple job, B2 completed for qualified job
- Minimum age: 18
- Maximum age: 26
- Minimum course duration for a simple job: 04 weeks
- Minimum course duration for a qualified job: 08 weeks
- Minimum internship duration: 12 weeks
- Location of the internship: Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich and in the surroundings of these cities.
- Accommodation can be provided if the internship takes place in Hamburg (all accommodation options offered by our German language school partner are available). If the internship does not take place in Hamburg, our German language school partner can help the student find an accommodation and will recommend websites on which to search for it.
Notes: - Our German language school partner will try to find an internship position according to the student’s professional expertise and interests. However, this might not always be possible at the particular course location.
- Our German language school partner cannot exactly guarantee that the student will get an internship position at a particular company or in a very specialized field. In this case the school suggests an alternative, i.e. an internship in a related professional field.
- All internships offered will not be paid for – some companies, however, may give some pocket money.
- If the internship will be discontinued early due to special circumstances the school doesn't have to justify, they will try to find 1 new position. If a successful placement is rejected or discontinued for personal reasons by the participant, fees will not be refunded.
Requirements Aside from a decent knowledge of German language, most participants will also need the permission of the Central Employment Office (ZAV) to do an internship in Germany. As long as participants are at between 18 and 26 years of age and citizens of a country listed below, our German language school partner can arrange for an internship position that will start after they have finished their German course. For all other nationalities the possibilities of doing an internship in Germany are very limited. However, in case students are enrolled at a university in their home country as a regular student and as long as the internship will be related to their field of studies, the training will usually be permitted. Citizens of the following countries should not need any permission to do an internship in Germany: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, UK & Switzerland (Please contact your German embassy with any question you may have). |
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work page
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For further information on the German + Internship Program in Frankfurt, Germany, please refer to our pdf file Internship Program in Frankfurt, Germany. For general information on our paid work programs please refer to our Study & Work abroad page. |
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Junior German Programs
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Our German language school partner in Hamburg offers several German language programs for Juniors from 08 to 17 years old: - Year-round courses in Wiesbaden (14-17), with homestay accommodation,
- Summer Standard Course 15 in Aschaffenburg (12-16) & Summer Standard Course 20 in Augsburg, Cologne & Nuremberg (14-17), both with homestay accommodation,
- Summer camp in Höchst im Odenwald (8-14) with residential accommodation,
- Summer camp in Hintersee - Alps (12-16) with residential accommodation,
- Summer camp in Berlin - Prenzlauer Berg (14-17) with residential accommodation.
For more information, please contact us at . | |
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Teacher Training
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Teacher Training Program (26 lessons per week)
| | Given that a language is downright living through change language professionals should constantly improve their knowledge. Teachers of German language will have the opportunity of updating their knowledge and know-how | The teacher training course covers 26 lessons per week, divided into 3 instructional stages correlating with one another. Participants will study German language being a regular student, being an observer and being a critic. Details: - Starting dates: every Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a Bank Holiday)
- Minimum level: advanced
- Duration: 02 weeks
- Schedule: from 9h to 14h30 (incl. two 30 minutes breaks)
- Learning materials: incl.
Price: low season: 575 EUR; high season: 600 EUR. | 
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More info (please click here)
During the first stage, participants will take the Standard German Language Course at the advanced level and will experience international classes from a student’s perspective as well as different pedagogical styles and methods. They also improve their language competence through the German language course. The second stage consists of 04 additional lessons per week during which participants are given additional opportunities to experience other teaching methods. Finally, the third stage will be an individual meeting with the second stage teacher. The participant and the teacher discuss pedagogical approaches, educational concepts as well as the curriculum of the language course. The participant has the opportunity to develop new ideas, talk about new teaching materials and about encouraging intercultural comparison. The program ends with a meeting with the school director to give participants an insight into the management of a language school. |
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Dates
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- Arrival day: Sunday, before the beginning of the course; departure day: Saturday, after the end of the course (except for the One-to-One Executive Business German Language Course: arrival day: Friday, departure day: Sunday).
| | Starting dates for 100% beginners in 2010 | | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov
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| | | | | | | | On holidays the school is closed, group courses are not recuperated, nor refunded. Private lessons will be made up. The school is closed for Christmas vacation from 19th December 2009 to 3rd January 2010 and from 24th December 2010 to 2nd January 2011. |
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Activities/Excursions
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Our German language school partner generally organizes 02 activities or 01 activity and 01 excursion per week. Usually, excursions are organized every weekend in high season and once or twice per month in low season. In the Hamburg harbor area, you can discover exceptional historical and architectural sights, for example in the Old Warehouse district (the world’s largest connected storehouse complex). In the so-called Speicherstadt coffee, tea, cocoa and exotic spices have been stored for more than 100 years behind thick red brick walls. In SPICY’s, a spice museum – samples of these viands are offered as tasters. Next door, one can find the Hamburg Dungeon, going back in times into the dark era of the black plague and witch hunting. After this spooky dip into Hamburg’s history, why not finish off the excursion with a relaxing tour of Hamburg harbor in a tourist barge. |  | For the art lovers, Hamburg also has 3 musical theatres. On weekends, our partner school organizes full-day excursions to different destinations such as a trip to the North Sea with a refreshing stay on the beaches and an excursion to the famous North Sea tideland. There are also excursions scheduled to the cities of Bremen and Lübeck, where exciting historic locations will be visited and the background of the Hanseatic League will be highlighted. On weekend-trips to Berlin, students will also get to know world-famous sights like the Reichstag building and Brandenburg Gate. History comes alive here and you will be impressed with sights such as the Berlin Wall. Visiting the German capital, however, also means discovering clubs, bars and shopping centers! |  | |
More sample activities & excursions (please click here)
- City tour through Hamburg and the school area
- Stammtisch in a local bar with a guide from the school
- Evening walk at Hamburg harbor
- Pick-nick at the Outer Alster
- Party at Reeperbahn
- Week-end excursion to Helgoland with a guide from the school
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More info on transfers (please click here)
Hamburg Airport HAM or train station: 50 EUR one way / 100 EUR two ways Students will be picked up by either a member of our partner school staff or the host and attended to the host’s home by car or by public transport. Arrival time should be between 8h & 20h. Earlier and/or later arrival/departure may incur a 25% surcharge.
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Visa information (please click here)
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| Our partner school is accredited by: Founded in 2009 | |
You still have questions? Just send us an email to Back to top |
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