Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
& Cancellation policy
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Learn German America / JacobiTeacher
Learn German America provides live, instructor-led German language learning across multiple formats, including private tutoring, prepaid packages, group courses, and specialty in-person formats.
This policy explains how cancellations, rescheduling, and refunds are handled for each format.
Please read carefully before booking.
1. General Principles
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All lessons and courses are live and teacher-led.
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Time slots, scheduling work, and learning resources are reserved specifically for you or your group.
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Different learning formats require different cancellation rules.
By booking any service, you agree to the terms outlined below.
2. Free Consultations
Free 30-minute consultations
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Free consultations may be rescheduled if needed.
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Repeated no-shows may result in limited availability for future consultations.
3. Private Tutoring (Single Sessions – Online & In-Person)
Applies to individual tutoring sessions booked separately.
Cancellation more than 24 hours before the session
✅ Full refund or free rescheduling
Cancellation less than 24 hours before the session
❌ No refund
🔁 Same-day rescheduling may be possible only if teacher availability allows.
No-shows
❌ Full charge applies
Late cancellations after the scheduled start time count as no-shows.
Additional notes
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In-person sessions can always be moved online if needed.
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Changes must be made via the booking system or by text at (212) 960-3416.
4. Prepaid Minute Packages (German Online Packages)
Prepaid minute packages provide discounted, flexible access to private tutoring sessions and are valid for 12 monthsfrom the date of purchase.
Core rule for packages
Prepaid minute packages are time-based, not penalty-based.
This means:
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Minutes are never lost due to cancellations or no-shows
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Minutes are not refunded as cash
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Minutes simply remain available in your package until they expire
Cancellations and no-shows when using package minutes
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Cancellation more than 24 hours before the session:
✅ Minutes remain in your package balance -
Cancellation less than 24 hours before the session:
✅ Minutes remain in your package balance -
No-shows or late cancellations:
✅ Minutes remain in your package balance
In all cases, minutes go back into the pool.
Usage rules
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Minutes may be used for:
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30-minute sessions
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45-minute sessions
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60-minute sessions
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Packages may be shared within families or households unless otherwise specified
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Unused minutes expire after 12 months
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Package minutes cannot be converted to cash
5. Group Courses – Course Tickets (Multi-Week Programs)
A Course Ticket initiates or reserves a place in a structured, multi-week group course and involves scheduling coordination with teachers and other participants.
Before course confirmation
If a suitable schedule cannot be arranged within a reasonable timeframe after purchase, the Course Ticket will be fully refunded.
After course confirmation
Once a course schedule has been confirmed:
❌ Course Tickets are non-refundable
This includes situations where:
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personal availability changes
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the participant can no longer attend
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only part of the course is used
Course Tickets reserve capacity, initiate scheduling work, and define the course framework for all participants.
After the course has started
❌ No refunds or credits are issued for unused sessions.
Transfers & gifts
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Course Tickets may be transferred or gifted before course confirmation
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Once a course has been confirmed, tickets are no longer transferable
6. Class Tickets (Session-by-Session Participation)
Class Tickets apply to individual sessions within an already scheduled group course.
They do not reserve a place in future sessions.
Cancellation more than 24 hours before the session
✅ Session may be rescheduled or credited
Cancellation less than 24 hours before the session
❌ No refund
No-shows
❌ Full charge applies
Late cancellations after the scheduled start time are considered no-shows.
7. Weather & Emergency Cancellations
If Learn German America must cancel a session due to:
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weather conditions
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instructor illness
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technical issues
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or other unforeseen emergencies
We will:
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offer rescheduling or
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provide a full refund if rescheduling is not possible
8. Payment & Refund Processing
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Refunds are processed using the original payment method.
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Third-party processing fees may not be refundable.
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Accepted payment methods include:
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Credit & debit cards
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PayPal, Venmo, Zelle
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Apple Pay, Google Pay
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AfterPay (via Square)
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Cash or check (for in-person services)
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9. Questions & Clarifications
If you are unsure how this policy applies to your situation, please contact us before booking or schedule a free consultation.
Contact
Learn German America / JacobiTeacher
Phone: (212) 960-3416
Website: www.learngermanamerica.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Beginner’s Journey, Elementary Voyage and Elementary in Action
Q: What materials do you use for the lessons?
For my lessons, I use my own materials. These are PDF worksheets that remain accessible to you throughout the entire course and even afterward, so you never lose access. I’ve found that pre-made resources don’t always fit perfectly, so I’ve developed my own minimalist and beautifully designed materials to make learning easy and enjoyable. The same applies to homework, which I also provide in PDF format. This way, you can either print the worksheets or use them digitally—whatever works best for you.
Q: Where does the course take place?
All course materials are shared through Google Classroom. You’ll receive an invitation to join the Google Classroom, giving you easy access to everything you need. It’s very simple to use, so you won’t get lost. Before each lesson, you’ll also receive a Google Reminder with a Zoom link—just click it to join the video call. Our lessons take place on Zoom, where we work through the PDF worksheets that are always available for you in Google Classroom.
Q: How can I submit my homework?
Most homework assignments are grammar or vocabulary exercises. As mentioned earlier, you can complete them either digitally or print them out. Once done, you can submit your work through Google Classroom by clicking the “Turn In” button, and I’ll review it and provide feedback. At the beginning of the course, I also assign a voice recording task to check your pronunciation and help you with any tricky sounds or sound combinations. However, the main focus will be on PDFs and exercises targeting grammar and vocabulary.
Q: What level will I achieve after completing the course?
It’s important to understand that completing either Beginner’s Journey or Elementary Voyage alone won’t give you a full A1 or A2 level, as the courses consist of just 8 one-hour lessons each. During the Beginner’s Journey, you’ll cover the 8 most essential grammar topics, providing a solid foundation - pronouns, gender of nouns, verb conjugation, word order, German cases - dative and accusative, prepositions, modal verbs and possessive articles. After finishing this course, you can assess how you feel about your progress and decide if you’d like to continue with the Elementary Voyage. In the second course, we dive into more complex grammar, including the past tense. If you enjoy the pace and feel comfortable, Elementary Voyage is the perfect next step to continue building your skills. In order to follow the A-C levels, you need to learn certain vocabulary, a lot vocabulary that might not be part of your personal life. This can be done parallel to the courses if necessary. It does slow down the learning process. To follow the A-C levels, you need to learn certain vocabulary, a lot vocabulary that might not be part of your personal life. This can be done parallel to the courses if necessary. It does slow down the learning process.
Q: What level will I achieve after completing the course?
We genuinely care about our students and provide every opportunity to help you improve your German beyond the lessons. First and foremost, I create Quizlet flashcards for my students, covering topics like verb conjugations, nouns with their articles, and regular verbs. These flashcards are accessible for free and can be used anytime—they’re a great way to reinforce what you’ve learned. I also share my PDF guide, which contains the most useful resources for learning German, including recommendations for dictionaries, free shows with English and German subtitles, and beginner-friendly German podcasts. While each course consists of only 8 lessons, if you dedicate 20-30 minutes daily to practicing German—along with completing the lessons and homework—you’ll see noticeable progress and accelerate your learning process.
Q: What is the structure of the lesson?
For the Journeys and Voyages we always follow a clear structure, we start with a greeting and a brief warm-up, reviewing what we covered in the previous lesson. If there were any challenges with the homework, we take some time to address them as well. Next, I introduce new material, usually focusing on a new grammar topic. I aim to present it in a fun and engaging way to keep the learning process enjoyable. Afterward, we dive into practice through various exercises. Toward the end of the lesson, we focus more on speaking practice. The primary goal of the course is to help you speak German confidently, building simple but correct sentences while applying essential grammar rules—such as conjugation and word order. We dedicate as much time as possible to speaking practice in the final part of each lesson, giving you the opportunity to use what you’ve learned actively. I also share my PDF guide, which contains the most useful resources for learning German, including recommendations for dictionaries, free shows with English and German subtitles, and beginner-friendly German podcasts. While each course consists of only 8 lessons, if you dedicate 20-30 minutes daily to practicing German—along with completing the lessons and homework—you’ll see noticeable progress and accelerate your learning process.
Q: What is the best way to approach the course? What materials will I need?
I’m a fan of a more traditional learning approach, as I believe that writing things by hand helps you remember them better. That’s why I encourage students to dedicate as much time as possible to writing—it activates muscle memory and reinforces what you learn. So, you’ll need a notebook and a pen for taking notes, plus a laptop, computer, or tablet. While you can technically use a phone, it’s not ideal since I often share my screen during the Zoom lessons, and a larger screen makes it easier to follow along. For the best experience, I recommend using a device with a bigger display to keep things clear and comfortable throughout the course.