Guide · German as a Foreign Language
German courses for international employees: a guide for employers
Interlexico editorial team · Updated on · 7 min read
In short
German courses for international employees work best when they start early in onboarding, are based on real workplace situations and are scheduled during working hours. Set a CEFR target level, choose the format by team size (one-to-one, group, class) and measure progress regularly. In Germany, employer-paid German courses required for the job are generally not taxable wages.
Why company German courses pay off
International professionals bring expertise — but day-to-day collaboration often fails because of language: in team meetings, on the phone, when understanding work instructions or dealing with authorities. A targeted German course shortens onboarding, relieves colleagues and strengthens retention.
Step 1: Define the target level and situations
Describe the situations in which the person needs German — and derive a CEFR target level from them. B1 is often enough for simple work communication, B2 is usual for client contact and specialist conversations, C1 for leadership roles. Regulated professions, for example in nursing or medicine, have additional requirements set by the recognition authorities.
Step 2: Choose the right format
The format depends on the number, level and working hours of participants:
- One-to-one training: for managers and specialists who need to be ready for specific tasks quickly — with flexible scheduling.
- Group training: for up to 7 people with a similar level and shared work topics — also builds a shared working language in the team.
- Class training: for whole departments or onboarding cohorts with a shared curriculum per level (A1–C1).
Step 3: Build training into the working day
Courses after work are often abandoned. Schedule training during working hours where possible, with fixed weekly sessions that fit shift and duty rosters. Online training saves travel, on-site training strengthens team cohesion; hybrid models combine both.
Training works best with material from participants' own work: real emails, forms, safety briefings or typical conversations with clients and colleagues.
Step 4: Measure progress
A placement at the start, clear learning goals and regular reporting show HR and managers whether the training works — and make the budget easy to justify. Interlexico organises placement, scheduling, trainer matching and progress reporting via the Interlexico ONE platform.
Tax and public programmes in Germany
According to the Federal Ministry of Finance (letter dated 4 July 2017), employer-paid German courses for employees with a different native language are not wages if the employer requires German for the job. Check individual cases with your tax adviser.
In addition, there are publicly funded options such as the BAMF job-related German courses, which run through approved providers and have their own requirements. Current information is available from the BAMF or the employer service of the Employment Agency. Company training complements such courses when specialist language, flexible scheduling or company-specific content matter.