Frequently asked.
Clearly answered.

V‑IZ is your online German course on a monthly subscription: video lessons taught by a DaF-certified teacher (just like in a language-school classroom), the official Hueber „Schritte plus Neu" coursebook, and an AI trainer for writing and speaking. You learn flexibly — when, where and as often as you want. Behind V‑IZ is SH Sprachschule Heilbronn, which has been running BAMF integration courses for over 15 years.

The V‑IZ subscription costs €19.99 per month (incl. VAT) — no minimum-term contract, cancellable any time to the end of the period. You also need the Hueber textbook "Schritte plus Neu" (it's official course material, not a V‑IZ product). If you already have it (old language school, integration course, bought used), we unlock your level without a re-purchase. Otherwise you can order it via us — 2 × €23 = €46 per level at Hueber's list price (we make nothing on it), plus a €3.99 flat DHL fee for physical shipping to DE/AT, or free as a digital Hueber code by email. On first purchase you only pay the textbook (if ordered) — the subscription is free for 7 days and only billed thereafter.

On your first purchase, you pay only for the books — the subscription runs 7 days completely free, full access from day 1. If you order physical, the books ship via DHL in 2–4 working days (DE) / 3–6 working days (AT); for digital, you get the Hueber activation code immediately by email. If you cancel within the 7 days, your access runs until day 7, no charge. On day 8 we automatically charge the first €19.99 for your first subscription month; after that it's normal monthly billing, cancellable any time at period end. Stripe automatically sends you an invoice by email after every charge. The 7 free days are available once per person/email.

Instantly. Right after a successful payment you'll get a confirmation email with a sign-in link — you click, you're in, lesson 1 runs today. With SEPA direct debit it can take 1–5 business days, because the bank has to confirm the debit first. With physical book delivery the books arrive in 2–4 business days; you can start the video course right away — you only need the books from lesson 2 on.

No. You book monthly, no minimum term, no contract lock-in. After the first month you can cancel anytime to the end of the period — no fine print, no 12-month commitment.

Yes, in one click in the customer portal — no phone call, no email, no reason needed. The cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period; you keep full access until then. This option also fulfils the legal requirement for a "cancel button" under § 312k BGB. If you'd rather cancel by email, write to info@v-iz.de — we confirm without delay.

On your first purchase, today you only pay for the books (46 € · plus 3,99 € shipping for physical delivery) — the subscription is free for 7 days. On day 8 we charge the first 19,99 € for your first subscription month; after that automatically on the same day of each following month (example: first purchase 15 March → first subscription charge 22 March → next 22 April, then 22 May etc.) until you cancel. If that day doesn't exist in a given month (e.g. the 31st in February), the last day of the month is used.

We don't currently offer pause — but you can cancel at any time with one click. When you come back later, everything is still there: your unlocked levels reactivate immediately (no second book purchase needed), and your progress is saved. You continue exactly where you left off.

The Hueber books are yours — physical or digital. Cancellation only ends access to the V‑IZ learning platform (videos, AI trainer, exercises). With the physical version you keep the book forever anyway; with the digital version, the Hueber codes stay active in your Hueber account for 24 months from activation, even after cancellation. We also remember which levels you bought — so when you re-subscribe, everything is available immediately.

You can reactivate at any time — on the buy page you'll then see the subscription-only path: just 19,99 €/month, no book costs, because we still know which levels you had. Your progress is saved; you pick up right where you left off — the lessons you'd already completed are still marked as "done".

If you order the Hueber textbook via us, you have two options: Physical — we ship the real Hueber volumes by DHL to your home; you flip pages, write in them, keep them on your shelf. Shipping only to Germany and Austria, €3.99 flat (regardless of how many books). Digital — you receive a Hueber activation code by email instantly and read the volumes in the Hueber app on phone, tablet or computer, worldwide. Content and learning experience are identical; the digital version even has the audios embedded. If you already own the textbook, you don't need either option — we activate your level directly.

Per level (e.g. A1) you pay 2 × 23 € = 46 € one-time for the 2 Hueber volumes. Those are the official Hueber prices — we don't make anything on them. DHL shipping flat 3,99 € (one parcel, whether 1 book or 6) — shipping only to Germany and Austria. With the digital version, shipping doesn't apply at all.

Yes — the video course is built 1:1 around the Hueber textbook. Marlene shows the book pages on video, walks through the exercises and points to specific pages. Without the textbook you'd miss vocabulary lists, grammar tables and the practice material. But: you don't have to buy the textbook from us. If you already have it (old language school, integration course, bought used), we activate your level without a double purchase — just send us proof via the "I already have the book" form.

Hueber is the largest German textbook publisher for German-as-a-foreign-language. "Schritte plus Neu" is used in language schools, BAMF integration courses and adult-ed (VHS) courses across Germany — it's the classroom standard. For the digital version you'll need a free Hueber account on hueber.de/interaktiv — we'll walk you through the setup. With the physical version, the Hueber account is optional (for the audio downloads that go with the book).

Within Germany 2–4 business days, Austria 3–6 business days. We ship on weekdays within 1–2 business days of your order via DHL with tracking — you'll get an email with a tracking link as soon as your parcel is on its way. DHL doesn't deliver on Sundays and public holidays.

We only ship physical books to Germany and Austria. For all other countries (e.g. Switzerland, UK, USA, Türkiye, other EU countries) pick digital — you'll receive the Hueber code by email instantly, usable worldwide. The video course itself is accessible anywhere you have an internet connection.

Very rare — but if it happens: drop a line to info@v-iz.de with your order number. We'll check the DHL tracking, find out what happened and either send a replacement or refund the full price of the books. We cover everything if a parcel is lost — you bear no risk.

After your order you'll get an email with the code (usually within minutes). You sign in on hueber.de/interaktiv (or create a free account there), enter the code — and you'll have the books in the Hueber app on all your devices (phone, tablet, computer). The Hueber app works online and offline; once downloaded, you can learn without internet too.

The Hueber code is redeemable for 12 months from receipt. Once you’ve activated it, you have 2 years of access to the digital coursebook in the Hueber app and on hueber.edupool.de. That is more than enough time — you usually finish A1 in 3–6 months. After 2 years the digital access in your Hueber account expires. You can then re-purchase the books directly from Hueber, or contact us for a physical reorder — we’ll help on a case-by-case basis.

Current editions of „Schritte plus Neu" ship without a CD — instead you download the MP3 files for free from hueber.de/audio (code in the book). The audios are the same as those that used to be on the CD, just digital.

V‑IZ covers A1 through B1 according to the Common European Framework (GER). Currently available: A1 (beginner, no prior knowledge needed), A2 (elementary) and B1 (intermediate / work) — you can start any of the three immediately and combine them as you wish. The higher levels are coming concretely: B2 early Q3 2026, C1 end of Q4 2026, C2 Q1 2027.

That fully depends on you. Classic full-time pace as at a language school: 6–8 weeks per level at 4 hours a day. Realistic self-learner pace alongside work or family: 3–6 months per level at 30–60 minutes a day. V‑IZ is self-paced — you can pause Marlene anytime, repeat a sequence or skip a whole day. As long as your subscription runs, you have access to everything.

Per level you get 200 lessons of 45 minutes each — about 150 hours of video lessons, divided into structured units that follow the Hueber „Schritte plus Neu" curriculum. 200 lessons correspond to roughly two BAMF modules — the full BAMF language course up to B1 has 600 lessons plus a 100-lesson orientation course. Each level (A1, A2, B1) has its own course.

A1: introduce yourself, shop, book appointments, hold simple phone calls, book a hotel room, make a doctor's appointment, describe your home, talk about family. Topics: me + family, housing, food + drink, free time, work, health, travel. — A2: tell stories in the past, make plans, give reasons for opinions, write letters + emails, describe problems, deal with authorities, handle a job appointment. — B1: understand work-related texts, manage job interviews, speak up in meetings, read documents (rental contract, employment contract, letters from authorities), develop your own arguments in writing. All aligned with the GER standard and a fit for telc + Goethe exams.

That's what the AI trainer is for: you write texts (job applications, emails, descriptions) or speak freely (e.g. "describe your workday"), and the AI gives you instant constructive feedback on grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, pronunciation and punctuation. Available 24/7 — even at 11 pm, when your language partner is asleep. Marlene explains the rules in the video; the AI lets you practise them as much as you want.

The AI trainer has two modes. Writing mode: you write in German (or get a task like "write an email to your landlord"). The AI corrects grammar, suggests better phrasings, explains mistakes in your native language and gives you the most important learning tips. Speaking mode: you speak German freely into your microphone. The AI transcribes what you said, checks pronunciation + grammar and replies like a language partner. You can practise dialogues ("at the restaurant", "at the doctor's") or just talk freely. Important: the AI doesn't replace a human teacher for official assessments — it's your practice partner. Marlene teaches, the AI lets you practise.

Yes. V‑IZ is aligned with the Common European Framework (GER) and covers all four exam parts: listening, reading, writing, speaking — at the relevant level (A1, A2, B1). Hueber's "Schritte plus Neu" is one of the official prep textbooks for telc Deutsch and the Goethe certificate. You sign up for the exam yourself at a telc exam centre or Goethe-Institut (cost roughly 130–250 € depending on level and provider) — V‑IZ is the prep, not the exam centre.

Yes, V‑IZ is built for absolute beginners. With A1 you start right at the beginning — from the alphabet, through your first sentences („Ich heiße…"), to everyday conversations. The lessons are available in over 30 languages (from Arabic to Vietnamese), so you can understand the explanations in your mother tongue while you learn German.

No. V‑IZ is self-paced — you learn whenever it suits you, with no fixed timetable. Marlene teaches in the video (1:1 like at a language school), but she isn't reachable live. If you need live support, you can use the AI trainer for 24/7 practice or get in touch directly with Sprachschule Heilbronn, which offers in-person and live online classes (separate contract).

Yes. The V‑IZ learning platform works on any device with a browser — smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop. You don't need a separate app. Optimised for touch; videos play just as well on mobile as on desktop. Recommendation: tablet or laptop for longer learning sessions, phone for quick reviews on the go.

Partially. The Hueber books work fully offline — physical anyway, digital after a one-time download in the Hueber app. The V‑IZ videos currently need internet to stream; an offline download option for videos is in the works for 2026. The AI trainer needs internet throughout, since the AI computation runs in the cloud.

Yes, all videos have subtitles — either in German (to read along) or in one of over 30 languages (to understand). You can change the language for any video at any time.

No. V‑IZ is not a BAMF-approved integration course. The language level and coursebook are the same (Hueber „Schritte plus Neu", CEFR A1–B1) — but V‑IZ does not cover the orientation course on politics, law and history that is part of the BAMF integration course. If you have to provide proof of an official integration course (e.g. because the immigration office requires it), please contact a BAMF-certified provider — on request, we’re happy to refer you to our sister language school. For everyone else who simply wants to learn German: V‑IZ works just as well, but is more affordable and more flexible.

V‑IZ is usually not covered by the Jobcenter or the employment agency, because we're not a BAMF provider. Jobcenter and employment agencies generally only fund recognised in-person courses (BAMF, AVGS-certified). If you're entitled to a Bildungsgutschein or BAMF eligibility, it can still be worth booking V‑IZ privately on top — as a companion alongside your in-person course for more practice in the evening, on weekends or for review. At 19,99 €/month it's a fraction of what a second language school costs.

BAMF integration course: eligible participants pay €2.29 per lesson as own contribution (partly waived on request for Bürgergeld recipients). Self-payers without entitlement pay €4.58 per lesson — that is roughly €229 to €458 per 100-lesson module (A1, A2, B1 are 2 modules each). V‑IZ costs €19.99/month, cancellable at any time, with no funding requirements. The content is the same (Hueber „Schritte plus Neu"), but: the BAMF course is in-person with fixed times and includes a 100-lesson orientation course (politics, law, history) — V‑IZ is online, at your own pace, without an orientation course.

For German naturalization you usually need a B1 certificate (telc Deutsch B1, Goethe-Zertifikat B1, or DTZ with a B1 result from the integration course). V‑IZ prepares you for telc and Goethe — for the DTZ-specific exam part you can additionally practice in a targeted way with an exam trainer (e.g. from Hueber). The official exam is taken externally at a recognized exam center.

Highly recommended. Many learners do exactly that: BAMF integration course during the day, V‑IZ in the evening to deepen the material. Benefits: you can re-watch the day's lessons calmly, drill vocabulary with the AI trainer, do writing exercises before bed — and the next day you'll be one step ahead in the in-person course. At 19,99 €/month V‑IZ is a worthwhile add-on to the integration course — especially if you feel you're being "left behind" in the BAMF course because the pace is too fast.

Yes. If a classic BAMF integration course doesn't fit your day-to-day — because of shift work, family, caregiving, or because no suitable course is available locally — you can use V‑IZ as an alternative. We'll prep you fully for B1 (listening, reading, writing, speaking); you take the exam afterwards externally at a telc exam centre or Goethe-Institut. Important: speak with your caseworker first (Jobcenter, immigration office, migration counselling). Some authorities accept a B1 certificate earned externally if you explain your situation and prove you're actively pursuing language learning — but that's a case-by-case decision. We can't guarantee your caseworker will accept it; for many learners, though, this is exactly the path.

Yes. In our learning app you’ll find a free simulation of the „Leben in Deutschland" test (the same question pool as the naturalization test) — you can practice all 310 questions as often as you like. For German naturalization you usually need two pieces of proof: a B1 language certificate (which we prepare you for) and the passed naturalization test (33 questions from the pool of 310, at least 17 correct). Official registration usually goes via the Volkshochschule (VHS) — current exam fee €25.

Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), SEPA direct debit, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Klarna (invoice, pay now, instalments). Processed via Stripe (Stripe Payments Europe Limited, Ireland) — secure, encrypted, EU-hosted. Which methods are shown depends on your country and chosen delivery option.

Yes, with the Hueber books: at checkout you can pay for the books (€46 per level, €23 per volume) in 3 instalments with Klarna — 0% interest. Klarna runs its own credit check, usually without a Schufa entry. The subscription (€19.99/month) is not split into instalments — it is already a low-cost monthly model with no minimum term, and you can pause or cancel at any time.

Yes. After every charge you automatically receive an invoice as a PDF by email — with all required details (VAT ID or tax number, name & address of V‑IZ, invoice number, service period, VAT shown). You can also download the invoices at any time in the Stripe customer portal. The V‑IZ subscription is subject to 19% VAT (standard for digital services in Germany); the Hueber books to 7% VAT (reduced rate for textbooks).

During the trial (day 1–7) you cancel with 1 click in the customer portal — no charge, your access runs until day 7. After the trial (from day 8) standard subscription logic applies: the current period ends as booked, then it stops. The 19,99 € cover one full subscription month; we won't charge the next one if you cancel before — there are no prorated refunds. With physical books you have a 14-day legal right of withdrawal: we refund the outbound shipping, the return shipping is paid by the buyer (it's stated like that in the terms). The books must come back unmarked and as new. With digital books (Hueber code) there's no withdrawal after activation — the licence is consumed instantly and tied to your Hueber account; you confirm this explicitly at checkout. Unsure? Drop us a quick line at info@v-iz.de — we reply personally.

Not directly at the moment — we're working on a proper gift feature for 2026. Workaround: you can order V‑IZ for the recipient (with their email address) and pay with your card. They'll receive the sign-in link. If you'd like a personalised gift card or a bundle (e.g. books for a birthday), drop us a quick line at info@v-iz.de — we'll set it up individually.

Learning data and account are stored in the EU (Supabase Frankfurt). Payments are processed via Stripe (Ireland). Hosting (Netlify) and transactional emails (Resend) run via US providers under Standard Contractual Clauses + the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework. More details in our privacy policy.

Drop us a line at info@v-iz.de or call +49 1523 275 6171 (Mon–Fri · 09:00–18:00). We reply personally, usually within 24 hours. No bots, no hold queue. If a video won't load: a browser refresh (Ctrl+F5) or another browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) usually does the trick. For stubborn issues, send us a screenshot — we'll sort it out.

V‑IZ Video-Integrationszentrum is a registered sole proprietorship, owner Fuat Karacocuk, based in Mannheim (S 3, 2A · 68161 Mannheim). Contact: info@v-iz.de · +49 1523 275 6171. All required details (VAT ID, address, professional title) are in the imprint.