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The team
Our competent and motivated team has many years of experience in imparting knowledge. From our practical experience, we know that learning must be fun. Because in a motivating atmosphere, the desired learning successes occur all the more easily. Our trained specialists attach great importance to exactly this aspect. We want you to learn to learn independently and offer you “help for self-help”. And we don’t just say and write that, we actually do it.
Antje Seidel
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
“You can do anything if you stick with it and really want to do it.”
The principal Antje Seidel comes from around Cologne. After studying Japanese, linguistics and pedagogy, she lived in Tokyo for several years, where she worked as a lecturer for German as a foreign language at the Goethe Institute and at various renowned universities. Since 1990 she has been teaching German with dedication and great pleasure and has helped many beginners to master the German language.
Dominic
OFFICE MANAGER AND TEACHER
“A foreign accent is a sign of bravery.”
Originally from Bavaria, Dominic moved to Cologne to study linguistics. After his inspiring stays abroad in Colombia and Spain, it was clear that working with people from all over the world was one of his passions. Since 2020, he has been working at speakeasy, helping students not only find the right course, but also learn the German language.
Course books
Courses A1, A2, B1
DaF kompakt neu A1, Kurs- und Übungsbuch mit Audios
168 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-676313-4
Price: €21.99
+ DaF kompakt neu A1, Intensivtrainer
64 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-676316-5
Price: €16.99
DaF kompakt neu A2, Kurs- und Übungsbuch mit Audios
212 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-676314-1
Price: €21.99
+ DaF kompakt neu A2, Intensivtrainer
88 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-676317-2
Price: €16.99
DaF kompakt neu B1, Kurs- und Übungsbuch mit Audios
256 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-676315-8
Price: €21.99
+ DaF kompakt neu B1, Intensivtrainer
96 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-676318-9
Price: €16.99
Courses B1+, B2, C1
B1plus1: Aspekte neu B1 plus, Lehr- und Arbeitsbuch Teil 1 mit Audios
192 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-605023-4
Price: €25.99
B1plus2: Aspekte neu B1 plus, Lehr- und Arbeitsbuch Teil 2 mit Audios
192 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-605033-3
Price: €25.99
+ Aspekte neu B1 plus, Intensivtrainer
96 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-605022-7
Price: €15.50
B2.1: Aspekte neu B2, Lehr- und Arbeitsbuch Teil 1 mit Audios
200 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-605027-2
Price: €23.50
B2.2: Aspekte neu B2, Lehr- und Arbeitsbuch Teil 2 mit Audios
200 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-605028-9
Price: €23.50
+ Aspekte neu B2, Intensivtrainer
96 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-605031-9
Price: €15.50
C1.1: Aspekte neu C1, Lehr- und Arbeitsbuch Teil 1 mit Audios
200 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-605037-1
Price: €23.50
C1.2: Aspekte neu C1, Lehr- und Arbeitsbuch Teil 2 mit Audios
200 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-605038-8
Price: €23.50
+ Aspekte neu C1, Intensivtrainer mit Prüfungstraining DSH und TestDaF mit CD
96 pages, ISBN: 978-3-12-605041-8
Price: €15.50
Available at Mayersche bookshop at Neumarkt 2 in Cologne or
online at thalia.de or klett-sprachen.de.
The perfect lesson
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect lesson because everyone is different. Here are some key features of how we as Team Speakeasy envision the perfect classroom.
- Inspiring learning environment – our rooms are bright, friendly and colorful, just like the people in them.
- Lively lessons – there is room for laughter and fun.
- Motivating teachers – convey their enthusiasm for the German language and respond to learners’ questions and challenges.
- Simple explanations – our teachers explain things clearly, patiently and in a friendly manner so that all learners can follow along well.
- Modern methodology – games or practical examples make it fun and make you curious about what is to come.
- Interactive elements – discussions or group work encourage speaking and community.
- Real-life examples – give course participants the opportunity to apply what they have learned in real-life situations.
- Clear textbooks – a common thread in the lessons helps learners to better understand and retain vocabulary and grammar.
- Regular feedback – helps learners to see their progress and stay motivated.
- Our additional program – for example a visit to a pub together or a guided tour of the city provide variety and a relaxed atmosphere.
Learning to learn
Learning a new language, such as German, is like an adventure.
It starts with the brain absorbing new words and sentences through seeing, hearing and reading. These impressions are then processed in the brain and compared with the knowledge already acquired in the mother tongue.
In order to learn German successfully, it is crucial to practise regularly and repeat the acquired knowledge so that new connections in the brain become stronger and stronger. A small lane should become a multi-lane highway – this is how you have to imagine the links or neuronal connections.
If you learn actively and continuously, your brain will strengthen the neuronal connections. Focusing on correct pronunciation and grammar can help with this.
Motivation also plays a major role in learning German. A personal interest in German culture or communicating with German speakers increases the ability to learn.
In addition, techniques such as reading books, watching movies or practicing with native speakers are effective ways to reinforce what you have learned. Avoid distractions and create an environment in which you enjoy learning. Maybe it helps to put flowers on the table or drink from your favorite cup.
Learning German as a foreign language is a journey that requires patience and perseverance. The brain works in a unique way to learn this new language. Use the methods and strategies mentioned above to maximize your learning progress.
Mission Statement
speakeasy Sprachen+ UG systematically and structurally teaches the German language to help foreign residents in Germany enter or ease their way into the German workforce. We employ modern pedagogical methods, ensuring that our learners enjoy their German training, stay motivated, and participate willingly. Only then is their learning success guaranteed.
Our vision is to integrate learners into the German working world through our language training, enabling them to handle any situation with confidence, both linguistically and culturally. We aim to create a sense of comfort for both employees and employers – as this is the foundation for successful integration.
We place great importance on fostering an open and respectful corporate culture that values and promotes diversity in all its forms. We believe that every individual, regardless of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, is a valuable asset. Our language training is conducted in a fear-free, motivating, non-judgmental, and appreciative atmosphere, meeting the modern standards of contemporary language teaching.
Customer Focus
We regard all interested parties as customers. This includes the participants, the training provider, the cost bearers, the commissioning companies and society in the broadest sense, which has an interest in complying with the law, protecting the environment and conserving resources.
In this context, within the framework of the existing procedures and processes, we check whether the requirements and expectations that the customer places on us can be met with the available resources (equipment, media, coaches, lecturers). We endeavour to maintain and promote this by constantly monitoring the processes – as part of internal audits and monitoring the daily completion of tasks that arise. There is a continuous improvement process.
The objective arising from this is, among other things, to sustainably increase customer satisfaction.
Personnel
We employ qualified staff who are thoroughly familiarised with our learning environment and receive ongoing training. Everyone at our institute works together in a collegial and friendly manner, which is reflected in the fact that all the people who work at speakeasy Sprachen+ UG (haftungsbeschränkt) or take part in the training programme are open and friendly, with clear communication being an absolute priority. This atmosphere of togetherness also makes it easy for participants to establish friendly relationships.
Training programme
We provide potential participants with clear statements and information on all relevant topics. They receive personal coaching and advice from us to enable participant-orientated and appropriate development. Cooperation within the programme is individualised and geared towards the participants and the variety of methods. Qualified and individualised measures ensure the success of the coaching or course.
Participants
Our advertising statements are truthful and serious. Our programmes are transparent with regard to objectives, participation requirements, conditions of participation, duration, location, price, number of coaching hours, number of course hours, methods used and terms and conditions. When developing our training courses in accordance with the Third Book of the German Social Code (SGB III), we take into account the situation and development of the labour market and adapt them to the current needs of the training and labour market. We support participants in their integration into the regular labour market.
In order to be able to offer consistently good services, regardless of who is carrying out the programme, we are committed to adhering to the following principles. The mission statement is communicated internally and externally via a notice in the entrance hall or in the corridor. It is also presented on the website as required.
Gallery
Our expeditions are always great fun to get to know life in and around Cologne.