WELCOME
Welcome to my website! This site provides details on the key aspects of my teaching services. Should you have any further requirements, please do not hesitate to contact me via the enquiry form below.
Individual tuition in General German as a Foreign Language is available online via Zoom from Monday to Friday. I offer morning sessions between 09:00 and 12:00, and evening sessions from 17:00 to 20:00.
The advantages of my online German tuition certainly outweigh those of a conventional on-site course with fixed schedules. You benefit from complete flexibility in terms of time and location, while the lessons ensure equally reliable linguistic progress.
Should you be interested in my online tuition, please first consult the schedule below to see if a suitable time slot is available. Following this, you are welcome to arrange a non-binding initial consultation with me.
About Me
My name is Mario Schembri. I am 54 years of age and originally from Sicily, though I have been a permanent resident of Germany for over 40 years. I am a qualified teacher of General German as a Foreign Language and possess extensive teaching experience.
As a freelance sole trader, I deliver approximately 1,200 teaching hours per year. For a considerable period, I worked for private language institutes; however, my clientele increasingly includes staff from universities as well as major corporations such as BASF and AbbVie.
Previously, my individual German courses were conducted exclusively on-site. Following the pandemic, I transitioned to a fully online format; consequently, to ensure the continuity of my teaching, I have acquired extensive expertise in the practical application of digital educational media.
Furthermore, through my continued teaching experience, I have been able to refine the personal aptitude required to engage effectively with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds – an attribute that is undoubtedly both vital and indispensable for the proficient delivery of German tuition online.
Who is this tuition for?
My one-to-one online German courses are designed for adults who require the flexibility to acquire the language regardless of location and, for the most part, timing. They are equally suited to those wishing to expand their existing linguistic skills through flexible, guided tuition.
The majority of my participants are highly qualified professionals and long-term assignees with valid residence permits working for major corporations, as well as individuals seeking further vocational training alongside their careers who choose to learn German through my flexible online tuition.
For these individuals, bespoke online learning often represents the only indispensable alternative for the continuous acquisition of the German language. As I offer a high degree of flexibility, clients may reschedule an agreed session if necessary or, in urgent cases, cancel it entirely.
Furthermore, these employees typically hold a temporary residence permit initially, most commonly the EU Blue Card; however, by certifying their language proficiency at B1 level, they become eligible to apply for permanent residency significantly sooner.
Flexible
Learning German online is highly practical, as it allows you to participate in your course with maximum flexibility regarding both location and timing, largely at your own convenience.
My teaching hours are Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 12:00 and between 17:00 and 20:00; this provides you with the choice of attending your German lessons either in the morning or the evening.
Should unforeseen commitments arise, you may reschedule or, if necessary, cancel the agreed lesson free of charge until 12:00 on the preceding day.
Individual
Compared to a conventional German course with fixed schedules, my one-to-one online tuition is significantly more convenient and offers markedly greater advantages.
It goes without saying that you receive my full attention throughout each lesson, while maintaining complete autonomy over your learning pace and the emphasis of the curriculum.
We address grammatical errors on an individual basis and refine your pronunciation; without exception, my participants achieve an excellent standard of articulation.
Effective
My teaching methodology is proven and consistently effective; I can draw upon eight years of practical experience in providing one-to-one online German tuition.
Particularly within major corporations, I have successfully guided countless individuals from across the globe towards achieving a proficient and confident command of the German language.
The explanations provided are both clear and practically applicable, creating the ideal conditions for inevitable linguistic progress.
How to Connect
For my online German lessons, I use the Zoom application exclusively. Naturally, a computer or tablet equipped with a webcam, microphone, and speakers, as well as a stable internet connection, are essential requirements. You may choose to connect either via your web browser using the link I provide by email or, preferably, by downloading the free application. You may also find it helpful to consult this brief guide.
Encouraging
I take great pride in my ability to inspire a sense of wonder in my students; I frequently succeed in awakening a genuine curiosity for the language, which in turn fosters lasting motivation.
This is achieved through the remarkably versatile word-formation capabilities of the German language, which are exceptionally well-suited to capturing real-world events with linguistic precision.
The fact that I am not a native speaker is not perceived as a disadvantage; on the contrary, it inspires hope in my students that they too may one day achieve a confident command of the language.
Enjoyable
A sense of humour is central to my lessons, and my participants greatly value this approachable style. Over time, these interactions often evolve into connections that go far beyond a mere distant teacher-student relationship.
At times, our exercises lead naturally into light-hearted, effortless conversation, where we might exchange the occasional witty remark with a knowing smile.
We often share a laugh over certain idioms and customs within our respective native languages; furthermore, as time passes, my students frequently come to appreciate my own fondness for fine wine and cake.
Accessible
Language in general follows a logical internal consistency, which I consistently utilise to provide a clear rationale for the behaviour of constituents within the sentence structure.
This is designed to gradually cultivate that essential linguistic intuition in my participants, which effortlessly leads to the mastery of grammatically correct spoken German.
I frequently utilise tables to provide a clear and visual structure to inflection; in doing so, I facilitate comprehension and create a solid framework within your German language skills.
Levels Taught
The methodology of my online German courses is aligned with the structure of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. I primarily provide tuition for levels A1 to B2, as these are the stages most frequently requested by my participants.
From the very outset of each course, I pay meticulous attention to correct articulation. Furthermore, where necessary, I utilise basic English or Italian for explanatory purposes, gradually transitioning my participants into the target language of German.
For my online German courses, I consistently utilise two distinct sets of learning materials. While the vocabulary resource is designed for use outside of our sessions to independently consolidate the required terminology for your level, the grammar material is used directly during the lessons.
Following a detailed explanation, we examine various sentence constituents and practice reordering them within the clause. Furthermore, we manipulate sub-clauses within complex sentence structures to ensure grammatical accuracy, convert them into different tenses and moods, or transform active sentences into the passive voice.
Exam Preparation
Are you planning to take a telc language examination? I offer bespoke online preparation courses specifically for this purpose. telc language certificates are internationally recognised and serve as official proof of proficiency for universities, employers, and government authorities alike.
Should it be required, I incorporate language examination preparation into the final stages of my German courses. Most frequently, I prepare professionals within major corporations for the 'Zertifikat Deutsch B1', as their primary objective is often to expedite their application for permanent residency.
Both the written and oral components of the examination are practiced thoroughly. Furthermore, we discuss the practical procedure and the time constraints for each task, as well as the required code of conduct to be observed at the examination centre.
Subsequently, you may register with a conveniently located examination centre to sit your exam. Your results will later be communicated to you via email. My online preparation is proven to be highly dependable: to date, all my participants have passed their examinations without exception.
Pricing
My current fee is €45.00 per 60-minute online session. While I recommend two to three sessions per week, the decisive factor remains the amount of time you can consistently dedicate to independent study outside of our lessons.
The two textbooks required for your bespoke online German course are priced at €34.00 per proficiency level. Following registration, these must be ordered and purchased independently by the student. Conversely, all learning materials developed by me personally are provided to you free of charge.
My payment terms are designed for your convenience: at the end of each month, I will send you an invoice via email for the sessions delivered during the preceding month. To settle the outstanding balance, you have a period of two weeks from the date of receipt.
Furthermore, our contractual agreement offers straightforward termination terms. Even after the initial 14-day right of withdrawal has passed, you may terminate our collaboration with just one month's notice and without providing a reason, should you no longer require your bespoke online German course.
Consultation
Please first consult the schedule to ensure that a suitable time slot is available. Subsequently, you may use the enquiry form to arrange a non-binding consultation.
The personal connection is paramount; therefore, the consultation primarily serves as an opportunity for mutual introduction and to address any essential questions you may have.
Furthermore, I will introduce the textbooks and assess your current language proficiency and pronunciation. Subsequently, we may arrange a potential start date.
Reviews
My participants are primarily professionals working for major corporations across Germany, who choose to learn German through the flexibility of one-to-one online tuition.
Occasionally, upon completing their course, they visit me in Mannheim to express their gratitude in person for the opportunity to have learnt the language in such an enjoyable and engaging manner.
During the festive season, I send Christmas greetings to my participants and, on rare occasions, mention the opportunity to provide a review via Google Maps.
Registration
Should you wish to proceed with my teaching services following our initial consultation, you may simply register via the enrolment form.
Within this form, you will specify your preferred start date and agree to my Terms and Conditions. Subsequently, you should proceed to acquire the necessary textbooks for your proficiency level.
You are entitled to a 14-day right of withdrawal, during which you may terminate our collaboration at any time. Thereafter, the agreement may be ended by giving one month's notice.
Availability
I provide online German tuition from Monday to Friday, between 09:00 and 12:00, and from 17:00 to 20:00. Below, you will find my current schedule of online lessons, which allows you to check whether your preferred time slot is available. Should a suitable time be vacant, you are welcome to arrange an initial consultation and inform me of your choice.
MONDAY
09:00
10:00
11:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
TUESDAY
09:00
10:00
11:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
FRIDAY
09:00
10:00
11:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
THURSDAY
09:00
10:00
11:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
WEDNESDAY
09:00
10:00
11:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
ENQUIRY
You may use this enquiry form to contact me at your earliest convenience. This allows you, for example, to arrange our initial consultation, clarify any outstanding questions, or share your specific requirements. Should you prefer not to use the form, my email address can be found in the footer of this website.
When you send a message via this enquiry form, your personal data is transmitted using encryption. I will use this data solely for its intended purpose and will delete it as soon as it is no longer required. For further information, please refer to my Privacy Policy.