FAQ

Your question isn't here? Email ronan @ deutschgym.com
Payments
Why is there no monthly option?

Like going to the gym, we think that you need a few months to really get the benefit. This is how you really increase your confidence and fluency. One month is short. Sure, a month of learning helps a lot, but you need to keep going.

That is why we recommend the 6-month plan at the reduced price. There is no point stopping after 1 month and losing your progress! 

Get 6 months of unlimited classes and move through the groups as you progress, e.g. from B1 for C1!

This is the best option if you are taking your German seriously.

Can I try it risk-free?

Yes - we have a 5-day money-back guarantee on our once-off plans. Simply email us within 5 days of signing up and we will refund you 100% right away.

For our monthly plan, there is a 5-day free trial. Attend as many classes as you want within this time, cancel it before the end and you won't be charged.

Is there a free trial with all plans?

Yes, there is a 5-day free trial with all plans. You can join the community and attend as many speaking classes as you like within the 5 days.  

Will I be reminded during the trial?

Yes, we will send you emails during the trial to remind you.

Are payments automatic?

Yes, the plans are charged once per month. You can cancel anytime and you will not be charged again. You will be an active member until the end of your billing period.

Can I cancel anytime?

Absolutely.  Just log in, click on Profile, then Plans, then Manage Subscription and you can cancel your plan there. You will then not be charged again. You will still have an active membership until the end of the billing period.

Do I need to cancel?

For once-off plans - no. if you have paid for your plan, it will not charge you again. It is a once-off payment. You do not need to worry about being charged again. You simply have full access to the classes and the community for that period. 

For the monthly plan you can cancel it at any time and your subscription will end. You will still have access to the classes and the community until that end period.

Can I pause my membership?

Yes. Just send me an email on ronan @ deutschgym.com and I will pause it. You can pause for a maximum of 1 month 2 separate times throughout your subscription lifetime.

Can I change my credit/debit card details?

Yes. Log into your dashboard, click on Settings Profile and you will be able to change your card number there.

I want to join the Quarterly Plan with the option of changing to
Yearly after 2 months. Will I be charged for the month I don't use?

No - you will never be double-charged. If you switch to a Yearly Plan while you have time left on a Quarterly Plan, you will be charged a pro-rated amount to compensate for the time you have left on your Quarterly Plan - you will not pay the full Yearly Plan price.

Attendance
I want to join the Quarterly Plan with the option of changing to
Yearly after 2 months. Will I be charged for the month I don't use?

No - you will never be double-charged. If you switch to a Yearly Plan while you have time left on a Quarterly Plan, you will be charged a pro-rated amount to compensate for the time you have left on your Quarterly Plan - you will not pay the full Yearly Plan price.

What if I can only attend 1-2 days per week?

This is quite normal - most of our members attend 1/2/3 days per week. The classes are not sequential like a course. They are all standalone classes. So you can join in on any particular day you wish and still get the full value from it.

What if I can only attend on weekends?

Again, lots of members do this  - most of our members attend 1/2/3 days per week. The classes are not sequential like a course. They are all standalone classes. So you can join in on any particular day you wish and still get the full value from it.

Speaking Level
Can I change group if the level is too low or high?

Yes, e.g. if you join the A2 group and the level is not high enough, you can switch to the B1 group and keep the exact same subscription. Email me or message Rónán Discord.

Can I be in 2 groups at the same time for no extra cost (e.g. B1/B2 + C1)?

Yes, as long as you have the appropriate speaking level for the higher group. For example, if you are in C1, you can join that group and you can also join the B1/B2 group at no extra cost. Just message or email Rónán once you have joined to do so.

What is my speaking level?

A2 - Just after beginner level. You can have a basic conversation about everyday activities.
B1 - You can describe more experiences and give reasons and explanations for points made.
B2 - You can discuss more abstract concepts, and can give advantages/disadvantages on a variety of opinions.
C1 - Advanced - you can express yourself fluently and without much pause.

Do you have different groups for different levels? 

Yes, we have separate groups for A2, B1, B2 and C1.

How do I know when I should move up a level?

If you are in doubt, ask your the leader of the group. There will be time to do so at the start of the session. They will be able to advise you on whether you should move up or stay where you are for a little while longer.

During the Speaking Classes
What happens in a speaking class?

If you have time, this blog post explains how the sessions work. The leader breaks everyone up into groups of 3 people per group. There is an different conversation theme consisting of 10 questions provided for every speaking class. Everyone takes turns and answers every question of the theme - this is how the speaking class is structured. The leader of the group will join your group for a while to check in on you and give you feedback - they will do this for every group and for every speaking classes. At the end of the hour, you can say goodbye to your partners and log off!

Do the speaking classes start on time?

Absolutely. Please enter the main voice group, Allgemein Voice, 3 minutes before the start time.

For the first conversation I just want to listen and not speak, is that possible?

No! It is a speaking group - that's how you improve! Luckily we have created a welcoming and encouraging environment for you to speak German.

Do you accept members on a rolling basis? 

Yes, we constantly accept members.

What are the times the speaking classes are held?

The schedule is here.

How long are the speaking classe?

The speaking classes are 1 hour long.

How big are the speaking groups?

The groups are 3 people per group. The whole group meets together at the start, and then the groups split up into the smaller groups. There will always be space for you.

Do you use video for the speaking classes? 

No, we use audio only. It's a bit strange at first, but once you get used to it you won't want to go back.

Is there a minimum age to join?

You need to be at least 18 years old to join. The topics and all the discussions are about everyday themes, or are totally family friendly, but the group is all adults, so I'd prefer to keep it that way, and not mix adults and under 18 year-olds.

Will I be speaking with an instructor during the speaking classes?

Yes. The speaking classes are a mixture of you speaking with the other participants as well as the tutor - you will be put into groups of 3 people per group for the hour, and you will speak about the theme with them. The tutor rotates between the groups. The tutor will join you for 15 minutes per speaking classes to help you and give you feedback on your German.

Do I have to register on Meetup before every speaking class?

No - there is no need once you are a member. You can simply show up and take part whenever you want!

What topics are we going to discuss in the speaking classes?

There are different topics, or themes, everyday for each level A2, B1/B2, C1. There are 10 questions in every theme to talk about, and you can stay on any answers as long as you like.


For A2, the topics are focused on everyday activities, such as Eating, Siblings, Hotels, and Fast Food. Read a real theme that we use in the A2 speaking classes here.


For B1/B2, the topics get a bit more difficult, with some examples being Globalisation, Long-Distance Relationships, and Creativity.
Read a real theme that we use in the B1/B2 speaking classes here.


For C1 the themes will test your German vocabulary and grammar even more, with themes such as Critics, Famine, and Mobility and Living Quality.
Read a real theme that we use in the C1 speaking classes here.


These are of course just a few examples of the themes in our speaking class - the range of themes is quite varied and diverse, and there is always something interesting to talk about.


Download our free ebooks for B1, B2, and C1 learners here: https://deutschgym.com/ebook

Will I get the conversation themes/topics for the speaking classes in advance?

Yes - themes will be posted in the Discord group 1 week in advance. You can read the themes in advance an prepare for the speaking class. There is no homework, however.

Signing Up & Setup
How do I join the group?

1. Firstly, sign up through this website.
2. You will then receive instructions by email and an invite link to our Discord group.
3. You must download Discord for free.
4. Then you create a new account with Discord. This is separate to your Deutsch Gym account.
5. You click on the invite link we sent you by email. This will then add you to our Discord group.
6. That is it. You are in.

What software do you use to run the groups?

We use Discord. It is a communication tool, like slack, except with audio. Download it for free here.

Discord is telling me that my email is not recognised.

You need to register for a Discord account. deutschgym.com and Discord are separate platforms. After you sign up to deutschgym.com, you will be sent instructions on how to sign up to Discord. You need to create a new free account with Discord. You then click on the click we send you, which will add you to our Discord group.

Do I need to use the invite link every time I want to attend a speaking class?

No. Once you have joined the group on Discord with the invite link, you are in. You do not need to use the invite link again. The group will be added to your Discord. Simply open Discord and the group will be there.

Do I need to log into this website to join the speaking class?

No, to join a speaking class just open up Discord that you have downloaded on your phone or computer. Logging into this website will allow you to see and adjust your membership details and other information about the group.

Corporate / Business
Do you have a corporate pricing tier? 

Yes, email ronan@deutschgym.com for details.

Do you send invoices, so I can expense my membership?

Yes, email ronan@deutschgym.com and I'll set you up with invoices.

Referral Program
What is the referral program?

If your friend signs up with your unique signup link, you will get 33% of all future payments from the referee. You can register for it here. Then you will get a unique link that will link to this website. You can then share that unique link with your friends. If they sign up, you will get 33% of all their future payments. You will be paid through PayPal. You will have to wait 21 days after your friend signs up to receive payment. This is in case they are refunded. Your friend must sign up within 40 days of clicking on your link.