Some programs are dedicated to German language instruction and can be accessed worldwide through an online network. The Goethe-Institut, for example, works with students to learn German through virtual teaching and examination, and promoting language use in cultural exchange.
Most colleges and universities offer on-location German classes that require you to register and pay a tuition fee. These classes generally are set up in levels, such as German 1, German 2 and German 3, so you can spend several semesters building your German-language skills. You will need to attend the classes in person, and you likely will be required to speak only in German as your skills progress. You may be evaluated with one exam or several tests throughout the semester.
Software programs, such as Rosetta Stone and Rocket German, provide a way for people to learn German on their own. You can run the software on your personal computer and go at your own pace, which are aspects that appeal to people who do not want to take a German class or get involved in a German immersion program.
Immersion programs are ways for people to learn or perfect their German-language skills by going to Germany, living within the culture and speaking the language with German residents. This is often a highly effective way for people to learn because they are constantly using the language to communicate. Language classes also can be taken during immersion programs to ensure that a person learns how to speak, read and write German properly.