German Language Schools in Austria

Although a smaller country on the European map, German Austria is diverse with language varieties, distinguishing every state and region. Stepping outside of Berlin and your traditional German classroom, you’ll encounter the nuances of Dialekt (German dialect) that persist even in Austria’s biggest, yet relatively small, cities. As a result, you’ll waltz away with the ability to speak somewhere between the more rigid Hochdeutsch and flexible Dialekt that is as unique as your German-learning journey.

Centering the country is the grandeur of its capital city, Vienna. With the highest concentration of both Austrians and foreigners, Vienna is a haven for intensive German language classes. Although programs will emphasize High German or Hochdeutsch teaching, your adventures both within and outside of the Ringstraße (Ring Road) will expose your language skills to the Bavarian dialect of Viennese. At the previous crossroads of the Habsburg Empire, Viennese German has adopted vocabulary from languages with origins as geographically close as Czech and as far as Arabic.

Head South towards the Slovenian border to learn German in the sixth-largest Austrian city of Klagenfurt. With the international University of Klagenfurt, the city has a student culture and offers a friendly balance between traditional Austrian towns and larger European metropolises. The “Capital of the Austrian South,” will draw you in with rich experiences to complement your language studies all year-round — from summers basking in the sun on Lake Wörthersee to the quintessential Austrian Christmas markets in Neuer Platz. Stick around for the annual Festival of German-Language Literature to see the award of the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize and to pick up some new ideas for your German reading list as you learn Austrian German.

Intensive German language study in the Tyrol state of Austria presents the opportunity to learn surrounded by a distinct regional culture and the gorgeous Alpine mountains. Outside of the classroom, when not skiing or binging on gröstl (a dish of potatoes and bacon), kaaspressknedl (fried cheese dumplings), or kaiserschmarrn (the old Emperor’s favorite pancake and fruit dessert), you’ll catch many of the South Bavarian idiosyncrasies that will leave a lasting impact on your German-language street cred. Scope out German language programs in the winter sports hub of Kitzbühel to study in this magically quaint Tyrolean town. Practice your pronunciation of oachkatzlschwoaf — the tail of a squirrel and the test of true Tyrolean pronunciation — and pack your dirndl or lederhosen to continue your language studies in this traditional Austrian state.