teaching
As a German language teacher, my passion is teaching languages, whether it is tutoring, exam preparation, or mastering the confident use of the German language. I help both adults and children with personalized lessons in Zugló and the surrounding areas, as well as online. My goal is to make language learning enjoyable and effective!
Tutoring, preparation for language exams, catching up, supplementing school education, preparing for tests and school exams, group and individual lessons
I believe that everyone can improve in a supportive environment. My most important values...
Personally, considering the biggest challenges of the German language (many grammatical rules, articles, numerous plural forms, strict word order), I recommend having a very good grammar book for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
If these books include the most up-to-date vocabulary, they also help build a solid vocabulary foundation to some extent (which is why it's worth learning from the latest editions).
For vocabulary acquisition, I recommend the enjoyable flashcard method (…) alongside the Deutsche Welle Nico series (audio materials with transcripts, reading comprehension exercises, grammar, and vocabulary practice).
I encourage my students to express themselves as precisely and accurately as possible in terms of grammar. However, to quote Kató Lomb:
"We should learn languages because language is the only thing worth knowing even poorly."
So my answer is yes—depending on the goal of language learning and external expectations, it is possible to speak and understand German even with a "superficial grammatical knowledge."
German is more difficult than English because its grammar is more complex: four cases, more verb conjugations, gendered nouns, stricter word order, and long compound words. Pronunciation is more predictable than in English, but due to word order and grammatical rules, it is still a greater challenge. Knowing English can help, as there are many shared words and fewer irregular forms, but German grammar is more complex.
In my experience, no. As the saying goes, "spoken words fly away, written words remain," which I would also apply to language learning. If grammar and vocabulary are not visually reinforced through written exercises, the language knowledge will not be properly established.
On an individual level, I do have students who make significant progress through conversations, but in general, exposure to the learning material through all "channels" is necessary (written texts, audio materials, posters, advertisements, tests, grammar exercises).
Memorizing words (even from a classic vocabulary notebook) is only the first step in acquiring vocabulary. Ensuring that these words are actually integrated into active knowledge is the responsibility of the teacher and appropriate language textbooks, through exercises.
The memorized words must appear as often as possible in written and spoken form, even in playful exercises. It is useful to regularly review words learned a long time ago and include them in final assessments every six months.
To make vocabulary learning feel less "school-like," it is effective to use apps like Quizlet or Duolingo in private time, watch German-language series and films, and read simplified German books. This way, we can repeatedly encounter the words we have already learned.
In my opinion, to a reasonable extent, yes. Since most people start learning a foreign language while already proficient in their native language, at the beginning of their studies, they inevitably translate words from their own language into the foreign language.
Translation, on the other hand, is an excellent supplement to all other exercises. Not to mention that it provides many opportunities for making mistakes, giving the learner a "condensed" reflection of what still needs improvement.
For example, in a single complex sentence, one might encounter the biggest challenges of the German language (two types of word order, articles, prepositions, attributive constructions, verb conjugation, adjective comparison, subordinate clauses, verb tenses, etc.), meaning all these grammatical topics appear in sequence within a short period.
In my opinion, just like with vocabulary acquisition, mastering German articles requires a lot of practice. There are certain categories (e.g., based on endings or biological gender) that help classify nouns with their corresponding articles, making it easier to learn them.
From my perspective, when preparing for language exams, it is best to focus on learning the most essential and commonly used nouns along with their articles, as these are sufficient for getting by in German-speaking regions.
It is impossible to memorize every article, and some margin of error is allowed even in language exams. Let’s not forget that German is not just about articles, and to pass an exam, achieving 60–80% is enough for a successful result.
Variable. It depends on diligence, determination, and individual abilities. If the student completes the amount of homework assigned in the two lessons and masters the assigned learning material (words, audio materials, reading tasks), then two to two and a half years is realistic.
Once the student meets the above criteria and additionally spends one extra hour every day engaging with the German language in their private time (Quizlet, Duolingo, German-language series, Deutsche Welle Nico, level-appropriate readings), then the learning period can be reduced to one to one and a half years.
I have been Zsuzsi’s student for a long time. Primarily to maintain my level, but I also want to improve. I receive all the support I need from her, even though I don’t always prepare properly for her lessons. She teaches with great patience, variety, and often in a motivating way. I enjoy her lessons.
I highly recommend Zsuzsi; she explains everything clearly and understandably. I was able to improve a lot with her, and the price is also reasonable.
A patient, kind, and always well-prepared teacher. She always finds a way to make grammar rules understandable.
Zsuzsi is a teacher who has been dedicated to teaching and instructing the German language for many years. With excellent pedagogical skills, patience, and a personalized approach, she explains grammar in great detail, always supplementing it with the right teaching materials. She places a strong emphasis on developing speaking skills and practicing various spoken situations. If you want a positive language learning experience and wish to learn from an experienced teacher, choose Zsuzsi. I wholeheartedly recommend her expertise and dedication to everyone.
Zsuzsi is an extremely well-prepared, patient, and always enthusiastic instructor who has professionally helped me acquire effective German language skills for my job in Germany. I wholeheartedly recommend her to everyone!
Zsuzsi is a very approachable and attentive teacher who tailors her lessons to the needs, learning habits, and interests of her students. The lessons are diverse, motivating, and playful, developing all four core skills (reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension). Among other things, I particularly liked the well-structured and systematic grammar collections (e.g., prepositions, parts of speech, der-die-das, etc.). With her help and guidance, I successfully passed both the B2 and C1 exams. The well-structured, targeted exam practices and the selection of the right textbooks also contributed greatly to my success.
Zsuzsi is an excellent language teacher who is passionate not only about the German language but also about culture. She is always punctual and well-prepared. She even taught my partner, who does not speak Hungarian very well, so Zsuzsi's knowledge of English can be beneficial for students who are not native Hungarian speakers. I can only recommend her.
With Zsu, you feel that you are in the right place, and her love for the German language shines through in every moment! Instead of feeling like a must, learning becomes an opportunity in her lessons: how to learn precisely and creatively at the same time.
Thanks to Zsuzsi, the lessons were both enjoyable and effective. She tailored them specifically to my needs as we prepared for the intermediate language exam, which I passed on the first attempt. And what makes it even better is that we have remained good friends ever since.
If you want to learn German effectively and in a good atmosphere, I wholeheartedly recommend Zsuzsi’s lessons! She is an experienced and patient teacher who tailors the lessons to your individual needs. With her communication-focused methods, you can confidently improve your language skills, whether you need them for everyday conversations, work, or a language exam.
During the German lessons, I had the opportunity to participate in very enjoyable classes. From lesson to lesson, we worked on diverse exercises, which allowed me to receive a highly structured and comprehensive education. As a result, I was able to improve from a basic level to a strong intermediate level in just six months! The regular assessments further motivated me to study. My younger brother attends Zsuzsi’s lessons based on my recommendation.