
German language course for small groups
The Mini-Group programme is perfect for small groups of at least 3 language students between 14 and 20 years of age who are seeking to considerably improve their language abilities within a short space of time. In 10 to 25 language periods per week, lessons are individually tailored in close consultation with the students. To this end we ascertain the learning objectives of each individual student prior to arrival allowing the language teacher to design the lessons accordingly. ASTUR offers two different versions of the Mini-Group programme:
Classic (16 – 20 years of age)
You learn German with your language teacher and in the afternoon are able to use your free time as you so see fit. The classic programme is aimed at all independent young adults, interested in exploring their course location and surroundings freely in the afternoon.
Premium (14 – 17 years of age)
The comprehensive package for young students. You learn German with your language teacher and are take part in supervised activities in the afternoon and on weekends. Your host family and, for certain activities, local supervisors will take care of you.

During a homestay programme, our international guests get first-hand experience of life in a German household with its every day culture and typical way of living. One-to-One students will always be accommodated in a single room.
In a homestay you will receive full board. You will begin the day with a typical breakfast in the morning. For the afternoon you will receive packed lunch by your host family or you will have lunch with the family. A hot meal is provided at least once per day. We recommend that you let your host family know, if there is anything you just love to, or really don’t like to eat. Another advantage of host family accommodation is effortlessly getting to know the German cuisine. If you have lunch in the school cafeteria you have to arrange your meals there on your own.
In order for your host family to adequately prepare for you as their guest, please indicate in your application whether you are a vegetarian, a vegan or have any dietary incompatibilities. We will take your requirements into account and make the necessary arrangements individually.

Mini Group tuition at a glance

Age group:
14 - 20 years of age

Duration:
from 1 week

Variations:
- Classic (16 - 20 years of age)
- Premium (14 - 17 years of age)
Language proficiency required:
German, CEFR levels A0 - C2

Destinations:
- 8 different regions throughout Germany

Accommodation:
- Host family

Course experience:
Individual language course, 5 students maximum:
- 10 lessons per week
- 15 lessons per week
- 20 lessons per week
- 25 lessons per week
Benefits:
- Language acquisition through tailor-made classes
- Most effective learning
- Complete immersion in German culture

Our Language Travel specialist Susanne Hofmann is here to help! You can reach her
via landline at +49 661 296971-20
or via e-mail at susanne.hofmann@astur.education
and discuss your ideas personally.
Arrival and departure day for Mini group tuition will usually take place on a Sunday, so that you can get to know your host family and start your programme well-rested on Monday morning. You make your travel arrangements yourself: either your parents bring you to the host family by car, or you arrive by plane or by train at your destination. Should you travel by train, please note that your host family will pick you up at the train station nearest to their home.
Your host family is happy to welcome you at almost any time. However, times of arrival and departure should be reasonable. If, due to your flight for example, you should arrive or depart very early (before 10.00 AM) / very late (after 07.30 PM), we have to charge an additional fee.
Should you travel by plane, we recommend that you book our transfer service to/from the host family as early as possible. That way you will be picked up on time and won’t have to worry about anything. Please note that your host family will pick you up at the airport which is closest to their home. We cannot guarantee pick-up, if you arrive at a different airport than the one closest to your host family’s home town. In such cases, we have to charge an additional transfer fee.
Example: If your host family lives in Erlangen, the nearest airport will be Nuremberg (NUE).
If, due to your age, you have booked a UM service (UM = Unaccompanied Minor) with your airline, you also have to book our UM service accordingly – in addition to our general transfer service. This is necessary as handling unaccompanied minors at the airport is more complicated and time-consuming.
„Classic“
In the "Classic’ programme you choose how to spend your afternoons and what activities you do with your classmates. You will spend the evenings with the host family. They will integrate you in their everyday life. You might cook together with the family or play a typical board game.
„Premium“
In this programme you receive full time supervision from a German-speaking supervisor. Together with your Teamer, and according to your interests and what your location has to offer, you will be accompanied to and given you more information on whatever you decide to do. The Teamer is always open for conversation, regardless whether you feel unwell, have a simple question or just want to speak to someone. You will spend the evenings with the host family. They will integrate you in their everyday life. You might cook together with the family or play a typical board game.
General information
For a minimum stay of 2 weeks an additional guided full day trip on Sunday can be booked. Furthermore, we have a 24-hour emergency hotline every day which we will react to immediately should there be a bigger problem.
Your German language course will take place in the morning with 2 to 5 lessons per day for 5 days per week, depending on the course you booked. At the beginning of the course you will take a placement test which will give your teacher insight in the level of your language proficiency.
Furthermore, you will set your own goals for your language course, writing them down in a questionnaire. Together with the results from your placement test this document will serve the teacher as the foundation for the following lessons. After all, your One-to-One teacher is only there for you! This means that lessons are completely different from what you are used to from your school at home. Moreover, break times will always extend your lesson, meaning that after having attended 10 lessons, over 10 hours may have gone by, depending on how many breaks you needed.
Learning to use the language actively is the primary aim of the lessons. Our teachers create their own motivating, cultural and original lesson plans. They can be about a whole range of topics that are taken from “real life”. You are encouraged to just talk and not be afraid of your mistakes. Seize this opportunity as speaking the language freely will boost your learning success and motivate you to continue mastering the language in the future.
Our teachers are native speakers. That means that they do not only speak the language fluently, but they have an ingrained understanding of their native culture. They also have experience in imparting their language to students from foreign countries.
We teach from levels A0 (beginner without previous knowledge) to C2 (Proficiency) in accordance with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). We have different lesson material for every level, and the certificate that you receive at the end of your stay will indicate at what level and for how many hours you were taught.
If your home country is not a member of the Schengen Area, you have to apply for a Visa before you travel to Germany to begin your programme. Students which cannot provide a valid visa to ASTUR before travelling to Germany cannot attend our programme. Kindly be informed that you are responsible yourself for your visa application and any renewal, which might have to be taken care of during your stay in Germany.
Before the beginning of your stay you will receive a detailed information pack from us with everything you need to know about arrival, what you should pack and the activity programme.
Your host family can give you access to their Wi-Fi. However, ultimately it is their decision to grant or deny you access.
It is most likely that your regular health insurance will not cover all treatment costs incurred in Germany. We, therefore, generally recommend purchasing foreign health insurance as well as accident and liability insurance. We offer a complete pack, including all necessary insurances, at a small fee for your convenience.
If you do not book your insurance through ASTUR, we will need to see proof of your existing insurance before your arrival. If you need a visa to enter Germany, the visa application process will require you to show proof of existing insurances for the duration of your stay. It’s best to discuss those issues with your agency or with us directly. We’re always happy to help.
In the case that your travel arrangements deviate from the standard arrival and departure on Sundays, such as arriving earlier or departing later for example, then you can extend your stay with your host family on a daily basis. Depending on which trip you chose, one of the following offers will apply: For “Classic” trips, full-board accommodation is provided. For “Premium” trips, full-board accommodation with free time supervision is provided.

If it is your wish to be placed in a specific region in Germany (e.g. Bavaria or the Rhine land), ASTUR will try to find a suitable host family exactly there. The following destinations are at your disposal for One-to-One tuition:
ASTUR destinations | One-to-One tuition available in |
---|---|
Berlin | Berlin-Friedrichshain |
Black Forest & Lake Constance | Freiburg, Stuttgart, Überlingen |
East Germany | Dresden, Erfurt |
Middle Rhine & Hesse | Fulda, Wiesbaden, Mainz |
North Germany | Hanover, Lüneburg |
North Rhine & Ruhr | Bonn, Cologne, Mönchengladbach |
Northern Bavaria | Erlangen |
Southern Bavaria | Bad Tölz, Freising, Wolfratshausen |
Dates and prices 2019
Mini group Classic | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lessons per week | 3 students | 4 students | 5 students | |||
First Week | Additional week | First Week | Additional week | First Week | Additional week | |
10 lessons | 960.00 € | 935.00 € | 880.00 € | 855.00 € | 830.00 € | 805.00 € |
15 lessons | 1,030.00 € | 1,005.00 € | 930.00 € | 905.00 € | 870.00 € | 845.00 € |
20 lessons | 1,110.00 € | 1,085.00 € | 990.00 € | 965.00 € | 910.00 € | 885.00 € |
25 lessons | 1,180.00 € | 1,155.00 € | 1,040.00 € | 1,015.00 € | 960.00 € | 935.00 € | Additional night | 45.00 € |
Mini group Premium | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lessons per week | 3 students | 4 students | 5 students | |||
First Week | Additional week | First Week | Additional week | First Week | Additional week | |
10 lessons | 1,220.00 € | 1,195.00 € | 1,110.00 € | 1,085.00 € | 1,040.00 € | 1,015.00 € |
15 lessons | 1,290.00 € | 1,265.00 € | 1,160.00 € | 1,135.00 € | 1,080.00 € | 1,055.00 € |
20 lessons | 1,350.00 € | 1,325.00 € | 1,210.00 € | 1,185.00 € | 1,120.00 € | 1,095.00 € |
25 lessons | 1,420.00 € | 1,395.00 € | 1,260.00 € | 1,235.00 € | 1,160.00 € | 1,135.00 € | Additional night | 85.00 € |
Additional services | Surcharge |
---|---|
Berlin surcharge for host family accommodation in the capital city (per week) - 2018 | 27.50 € |
Berlin surcharge for host family accommodation in the capital city (per week) - 2019 | 20.00 € |
Day trip on Sunday ("Premium" variation, for 2 week stay) | 95.00 € |
Early or late arrival / departure (before 10.00 AM, after 07.30 PM) - 2019 | 75.00 € |
Additional lunch for early arrival / late departure | 10.00 € |
Travel Insurance (Third Party, Medical, Accident) for EU* citizens (per day) | 1.10 € |
Travel Insurance (Third Party, Medical, Accident) for non-EU* citizens (per day) | 2.00 € |
Invitation / booking confirmation for visa (plus postage) | 30.00 € |
Transfers | Surcharge |
---|---|
from / to airport nearest to respective destination | 50.00 € |
UM service fee (when UM booked with the airline) | 40.00 € |
* For additional information about this point, please refer to our offer under Donwloads. |

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If you are eager to know all there is to know about Mini group tuition by ASTUR, we recommend the following downloadable documents. You will find the complete list of details about all services provided below. Feel free to take a good look at our offer (all documents as PDF format).

Mini groups are not what you are looking for?
Should you be interested in another programme, we are happy to present a number of alternatives. Maybe you would like to attend one of our language camps during the summer holidays? Or would you rather book private language tuition with us? In that case, you may want to take a look at our One-to-One programme.