German for
Homeschoolers
A1 through C1, self-paced, no parent expertise needed. One household license covers all your children.
View Pricing
Learn at your own pace
Overview
This page explains how SmarterGerman can be used as a German course inside a homeschool program. It covers the level structure (A1-C1), typical documentation approaches, and how families commonly represent foreign language study on transcripts.
SmarterGerman teaches German; parents decide whether and how to assign credit.
CEFR Levels
SmarterGerman is organized by CEFR levels. Each level represents a defined scope of grammar, vocabulary, and communicative ability. Students can start at A1 or place into a higher level.
Why SmarterGerman?
A student can work through lessons in order, review systematically, and practice both comprehension and production. Parents do not need German.
Self-Paced
Students progress independently without fixed class times.
No Parent Expertise
All instruction is included; parents do not need to know German.
Speaking Practice
Guided monologues, presentations, and real-life dialogues with my AI conversation trainer from A2 onward.
Pattern Drills
Pattern drills automate grammar and sentence structure.
Clear English
English as the instructional language; practice in German with support.
Automated Feedback
Built on 25 years and 10,000+ hours of teaching experience, delivered through purpose-built tools.
SmarterGerman includes built-in hour tracking, attendance logging, transcript generation, and grade recording - all accessible through the parent dashboard.
Family Pricing
SmarterGerman uses a simple household-based license. The standard annual price includes full access to all levels from A1 through C1. One license covers all children in the same household.
To book a membership for more than one child, see the FAQ below.
Built-in Homeschool Documentation
SmarterGerman includes a parent dashboard with tools built specifically for homeschool record-keeping. No external apps or spreadsheets needed.
Automatic hour tracking
Study time logged per lesson, per course, per day
Transcripts with Carnegie Unit credits
Generate and download as PDF, with hours-to-credit calculation
Attendance records
Auto-logged from study activity, with calendar view
Grade recording and GPA
Assign letter grades per course, automatic GPA calculation
Course descriptions
ACTFL-aligned descriptions with objectives, materials, and assessment methods
State compliance guide
Requirements checklist customized to your state
All documentation features are accessible through the parent dashboard after enrollment. Transcripts and progress reports can be exported as PDFs for your records.
FAQ
Does SmarterGerman grant credits or grades?
No. SmarterGerman provides instruction and practice tools only. Parents decide how to assign credit and grades within their homeschool program.
Is this an accredited program?
No. SmarterGerman is a language instruction provider, not an accredited school or diploma-granting institution.
Do I need to know German to help my child?
No. Instruction is designed for independent study. Parents typically handle scheduling, accountability, and documentation.
How do I document this for my homeschool?
SmarterGerman has built-in documentation tools. The parent dashboard tracks hours automatically, generates transcripts with Carnegie Unit credit calculations, logs attendance, and lets you assign grades. Everything exports as PDF. You can also configure it for your state's specific requirements.
How long does each level take?
It varies by age, consistency, and prior language experience. A practical documentation approach is lesson-based: if a level is roughly 50 lessons and a lesson commonly takes about 3 hours, that implies roughly 150 hours for that level. Adjust to your learner's real pace.
Does SmarterGerman include speaking practice?
Yes. Speaking is practiced through guided monologues ("preaching") and presentations (from A2 onward), typically one per lesson, each commonly 20-30 minutes. Students also practice with my state-of-the-art AI conversation tool which feels almost human. No worries, your child(ren) will still need you for food and such.
Who corrects and evaluates speaking and writing?
SmarterGerman does not provide human teacher feedback. Feedback is provided by automated tools which are designed with utmost care and 25 years of professional experience in the back. They do a better job than most hobby tutors out there.
Can students earn official German certifications?
SmarterGerman can prepare students for external exams (e.g., Goethe-Institut, telc, DSH). Exams are administered by independent institutions, not by SmarterGerman. DSH is conducted only by German universities. Exam fees are not included, and registration/scheduling is handled by families directly with exam providers.
Can my student-athlete use this for NCAA eligibility?
Foreign language counts as a core course for NCAA eligibility (Division I requires 16 core courses). For homeschooled athletes, the parent submits a Core-Course Worksheet to the NCAA Eligibility Center. SmarterGerman's course descriptions, hour logs, and transcripts provide the documentation you need: learning objectives, topics covered, materials used, time spent, and grading records. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center by 10th grade.
Do you offer a homeschool co-op discount?
Yes. Homeschool co-ops with three or more households receive 10% off the annual plan (EUR 269/yr per household instead of EUR 299). Contact me with details about your co-op to set this up.
How do I get a membership for more than one child?
Contact me with the email address you want to use for each child, and I will set up the accounts. See the email FAQ below for a simple trick to avoid creating extra email addresses.
Does my child really need its own email address?
No. But as every child needs their own account, we need to use two different email addresses. To avoid an administrative nightmare, you can simply use your main parent email address and add the child's name with a plus sign, e.g. [email protected] and [email protected].
Ready to Start?
Purchase one of my memberships, then contact me with information about how many accounts you need. Read the FAQ above about how to avoid having to create an extra email for your children.
