Michael Schmitz is a private tutor for the German language, author of a series of eBooks about German grammar and the creator of a unique and compelling German grammar video course in several languages.
After having worked in his field for more than 12 years, in 2013 Michael created smarterGerman, an enterprise based on his yearlong experience as German tutor and language learner. His step into independence started with an incredible achievement: He taught a total beginner German up to level B1 (Click here to find out what that actually means) in just 30 days. Usually one needs up to six months to get to that level.
His 13 year old son grows up billingual (Polish/German) and is already fluent in English. Though still struggling with Spanish, the little man is an amazing example of how important language learning is in Michael's life.
Teaching German is not only Michaels passion, it is his calling.
At the age of 18 Michael came in touch with the English language as so many of us in form of true love. But even after that relationship ended, Michael's love for learning languages and his interest in facilitating any form of learning grew and became an important part of his career.
In March 2013 a young Londoner, Camilla Noon, passed the Goethe B1 exam with a 91% score. She was the first of Michael's customers who reached this level in just 30 consecutive days from scratch. It only took her 3hrs of studying per day. Read more here.
One year later, in March 2014, Michael repeated the project above but raised the bar a bit and brought another total beginner to level B1 (oral proficiency) in just 14 days. Read the full story here. Today, Michael teaches German in 45-60 days with his own science-based approach which he is continously developing with help of you, the German learners.
Michael has worked in several low and high profile language schools over the years with all kinds of German learners and colleagues. He worked with groups of 30 students as well as one on one. Today, Michael only works one on one as that has proven to be the most efficient way to teach and to learn German. The results of his work speak volumes.
He's also a certified trainer for communication and behavioural change (ARTOP e.V. Berlin).
In his former life, Michael went through an apprenticeship as administrative civil servant at the Landkreis Osnabrück, which might be responsible for his desire to keep things in an orderly manner but maybe it's only the Virgo in him coming through in the second half of his life.
In 2007 and 2009 Michael received his Magister in Turkish Studies (Free University of Berlin) and in German as a Foreign Language (Technical University of Berlin). He's fluent in English and Polish, though he thinks the latter might require some actual polish, and currently studying the Greek language to put himself in the position of a beginning language learner once again. Of his Turkish there are only bits left despite successfully having passed the Turcicum in 2003 with a quite presentable outcome.
I am very happy to be able to share the essence of my knowledge and experience with you to assist you with your German learning or to still your hunger for information on the rich German culture beyond Lederhosen and Oktoberfest. If you have any question that you don't find answered to your satisfaction, just contact me and I'll see what I can do.
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