Guten Tag! English and German are sister languages, which come from closely related Germanic dialects of fifteen centuries ago (about the time that the earliest known examples of written German appeared). Today, 'standard' German (Hoch Deutsch) has around ninety million native speakers; and other varieties of German, some thirty miillion. Roughly eighty million people speak German as a second language.

Meet

your German Teachers

Daniel

German teacher @ #BHLingual
for 9 years

The best part about living in Los Angeles is...

I have been teaching German Linguistics for almost 2 decades in different countries across Europe, Asia and Russia. Although students came often from different backgrounds and varied from undergraduates to postgraduates, they always faced the same obstacle: They learned German in the classroom while they had difficulty to practice it in a society, which is not German speaking. Yet Los Angeles represents an ethnically and culturally diverse society and has – among other language 'colonies' – a vibrant German community, German restaurants, German cafeterias and even German 'Biergarten' which would facilitate implementing your theoretical knowledge into praxis. People in Los Angeles are particularly friendly compare to other places across the nation. If you are a newcomer and walking in the street, you might be surprised that people you've never met smile at you and say 'hi' to you. Weather in LA is nice and sunny. This is a crucial factor for many who like outdoor activities. You don't need to drive far if you like hiking, surfing, enjoying beaches or walking in the nature.

Recommend a place to visit where German is the native language, and tell us why you like it.

Outside of United States, I warmly recommend Berlin, the German capital. This city is a marvelous one in many aspects. It is overwhelmingly multi-culturally inclined, they generally speak a clear German with a quite neutral ad less-dialectically colored accent, the accommodations, food, drinks etc. are very reasonable and for those who would like to visit cultural centers, museums, exhibitions and artistic locals Belin is definitely the best destination. Berlin is also geographically centered in heart of Germany and Europe; hence, with the extremely functional infrastructure and efficient transport system the visitors could easily travel across Germany and even Europe within hours.

What German film or musical artist do you recommend students watch or listen to?

I personally recommend Babylon Berlin available via Netflix as well as German Podcasts and homepages such as Slow German, German News slowly read, German Songs.

What most surprises your students about German?

The astonishing similarity of German grammar, syntax, and vocabulary to English based on common ground of Indo-European linguistics, mutual influences on these two languages on each other, and nonetheless the logicality and precision of German have been always a matter of attrition to learn this beautifully well-structured language. Not to forget, that German migrants along other early Europeans belong to the initial cultural founders of the New World.

What one thing would you like your students to know about you?

I would warmly suggest all potential learners of any possible language to snoop in my German classes; particularly at the beginning of each season in order to experience the mazing world of linguistics. I am teaching as a professional linguist languages and cultures of Europe, Middle East and Northern Africa for more than 25 years and you will be surprised to see what the acquisition of a foreign language could mean to widening our cultural horizon.

As the world's second-largest exporter, the German economy ranks #1 in Europe and #4 worldwide. It is comparable to the economies of all the world's Spanish-speaking countries - combined. Knowing German can be the key to success in business. Indeed, Forbes lists German as one of the three most universally useful languages, noting that it is especially helpful to know if you work in the manufacturing or the financial sphere. Goldman Sachs, for instance, actively seeks candidates who know German.

The German capital Berlin has a particular reputation among those who travel. Knowing at least a few words of German can make your visit even more memorable.

Mastering a new language can change your life.

More About German

Der Winter ist kalt.

Das Haus ist neu.

Die Mutter singt.

Der Vater sitzt auf dem Sofa und trinkt Kaffee.

Chances are, you understood those four phrases. Fifteen centuries have gone by, but English and German retain common roots. And despite its three genders and four noun cases, even German grammar is not as tricky as you might think (although the unendingly descriptive, dependent adjectival clauses can be tough).

Online Language Classes at the Beverly Hills Lingual Institute

The Beverly Hills Lingual Institute offers the most comprehensive selection of language classes you'll find in the Los Angeles area.

Classes are held in live online sessions, where students interact with their teacher and peers in real-time.

Classes are held at our facility located at 8383 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 800 in Beverly Hills, California.

Some of our 80-minute classes are scheduled during the evening with the first session running from 6:00 to 7:20 pm, and the second session running from 7:35 to 8:55 pm.

Classes are also offered during the day. See the schedule for a complete list of all classes.

We all speak one.
Some of us speak several.
A few of us know dozens.

Languages are a staple of everyday life, a necessity for getting by in the world and communicating with each other. They can help you get jobs, help you enjoy another country and culture—and even get you out of trouble.

Learning a new language can change your life.

Knowing how to say at least a few words in another language will break the ice at any business meeting, and will certainly make your vacation more pleasant.

You may also want to get in touch with your heritage by learning some of the language that your ancestors spoke. Language is a particularly good bridge in this regard, as it can often be a guide to the ways in which different cultures express not only ideas, but emotions. By exposing you to every aspect of the human condition, language allows you to study the past, understand the present, and ponder the future.

Choose a language and begin to enjoy the extraordinary benefits of being bilingual or multilingual.

Private Classes

Some students prefer private lessons instead of a scheduled class, or occasionally take private classes to augment their existing, scheduled group course.

Private classes are more flexible than Group classes. They are tailored to specific learning and scheduling needs. They can be useful if a student's language knowledge is uneven, if a more intensified study program is needed, or if privacy is a concern.

With our large staff of native speakers, we can schedule private lessons in most languages.

Private lessons are available in packages of eight, 80-minute sessions; or, if you are enrolled in a group class, your private lesson can be scheduled individually.

Please write us or call (323) 651-5000 to schedule your private class.

Alternative Programs

The majority of our scheduled language classes are designed for adult students who want to learn another language. We also offer the following alternative programs.

English · Accent Reduction

Classes evaluate the student's problem areas and focus on exercises designed to target and remedy those areas. Our Accent Reduction course focuses on pronunciation, stress, enunciation, diction, tonality, musicality, syntax, and articulation, through vowel and consonant exercises, work chants, tongue twisters, and readings. Individual attention is given to each student's area of difficulty.

English · Native Speaker

These classes are for those who grew up speaking English but want to improve and refine their English. Designed to give you the critical edge in English communication, they target grammar, spelling, and pronunciation.

Little Linguals

Designed for children aged 6 - 11, our "Little Lingual" classes meet once a week during the afternoon for one hour. Class content includes Alphabet, Songs, Games, Practical Words and Phrases, and Basic Dialogue. Children aged 12 and above can join our regularly scheduled adult classes.

These exciting classes are geared to get an early start on language learning while helping children enjoy and appreciate a different culture. This is the best time for them to learn a foreign language. The younger the learner, the better they are at mimicking new sounds and adopting pronunciation. The brain is open to new sounds and patterns in preadolescence.

Young children have the luxury of taking in a new language naturally. A child's brain is like a sponge, soaking up new vocabulary, sentence structure, words stress, pronunciation, and everything that makes up language quickly, easily—and, most importantly, without explicit grammatical instruction.

When you're an adult, learning a new language takes a bit more effort!

Young children have time to learn through play-like activities. Language lessons can be informal. Children's minds are not yet cluttered with facts to be stored and tested. Before children become self-conscious, they can try out their newly acquired languages without fear of embarrassment.

Children who grow up learning about languages develop empathy for others and a curiosity for different cultures and ideas. They're better prepared to take their place in a global society. In later years, career opportunities increase for those with additional languages to offer.

Studies by Harvard University confirm that learning additional languages increases critical thinking skills, creativity and flexibility of the mind in young children. Moreover, pupils who learn a foreign language outscore their non-foreign-language-learning peers in standardized verbal and math tests, indicating that learning additional language is a cognitive—and not just linguistic—activity. The brain, like any muscle, functions better with exercise. Learning a language involves memorizing rules and vocabulary, which helps strengthen that mental muscle.

Travel Classes

Our Travel Classes are designed for those who are planning a trip and want to get more out of their travel experience. These classes are held twice a week for one month. They are language classes focused on travel conversation, pronunciation, and culture.

Translating and Interpreting

With a roster of over eighty native-speaking teachers in over 30 different languages, the Beverly Hills Lingual Institute has the expertise to address many translating and interpreting challenges. This is a highly customized service. Please contact us to discuss your translating or interpreting requirements.