Starting German from the alphabet: KLUG's pre-A1 welcome module
Last updated 2 June 2026
If you have never seen written German, KLUG does not drop you straight into grammar. It opens with a short pre-A1 welcome module that comes before the A1 course: a gentle on-ramp covering your very first greetings, the German-specific letters and sounds, and the basics of how words behave. Only once you finish this module does the A1 path unlock, so the harder material waits until you have your footing. It is free to download and start, and the whole welcome module runs without any account.
What the pre-A1 welcome module actually covers
The welcome module sits before A1 and is split into three short stretches that build on each other:
- First greetings and orientation. Your opening words are Hallo, Tschuss, Ja, Nein, and Danke, plus where German is spoken (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and the idea that in KLUG you learn from pictures rather than translations.
- Survival phrases and numbers. The phrases that keep a real conversation alive, like Ich verstehe nicht (I do not understand) and Langsamer, bitte (slower, please), the numbers zero to ten, and how to say your name and ask for someone else's.
- The alphabet, sounds, and first sentences. This is the part for someone who has never read German: the umlauts a, o, u with their dots, the sz letter, and the ch and sch sounds, each with a plain example. It then introduces the three articles der, die, das and your first whole sentences such as Ich bin and Das ist.
By the end you have met about fifteen core words and can recognise the sounds that trip up most English speakers, before a single A1 lesson asks anything harder of you.
How the on-ramp works, and where the AI tutor fits
The welcome module is the default starting point. Until you complete it, the A1 path stays locked, so you cannot accidentally skip ahead. When you finish every part, KLUG marks the module done, shows a short "now in German on German" moment, and opens the full A1 course.
During these first beginner modules you can choose a support language so new words are also explained in a language you already know. KLUG's recommendation is to learn entirely in German from the start, but the support option is there if the very first steps feel too steep. After the early modules, hints shift further into German so you lean less on translation over time.
From the beginning you also have Fritzi, the fox companion, and KLUG's AI conversation tutor. The AI runs on your device, with no third-party tracking or analytics, and your data stays on the phone. The app is free to download and start, and full access is an optional subscription at 7.99 EUR per month or 59.99 EUR per year.
How it compares
| What you want | KLUG's pre-A1 welcome module | A printed grammar table |
|---|---|---|
| A gentle first step before grammar | A dedicated module of greetings, sounds, and numbers that runs before A1 | Rules presented all at once, with no warm-up |
| Seeing the German letters and sounds | Umlauts, the sz letter, and ch and sch each shown with an example word | Written symbols only, no example words |
| Knowing you are ready for more | A1 unlocks only after the welcome module is complete | No sense of sequence or readiness |
| Help in a language you already know | Optional support language explains new words in the first modules | Usually one language, take it or leave it |
| Practising what you just met | Picture exercises and an on-device AI tutor | Static page, no practice or feedback |
| Cost to begin | Free to download and start | Varies |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know any German before I start KLUG?
No. The pre-A1 welcome module assumes you have never read German. It starts with five everyday words and the German-specific letters and sounds before the A1 course begins.
Does the welcome module teach the alphabet and pronunciation?
Yes. Its third part introduces the umlauts a, o, and u, the sz letter, and the ch and sch sounds, each with a simple example word, so you can recognise the sounds that are unfamiliar to English speakers.
Can I skip the welcome module and go straight to A1?
Not by default. The A1 path stays locked until you finish the welcome module, so you build the basics first. Once every part is complete, A1 unlocks automatically.
Can the app explain new words in my own language at the start?
Yes. You can pick a support language for the first beginner modules so new words are also explained in a language you know. KLUG still recommends learning entirely in German, and the hints move further into German as you progress.
Is KLUG free, and what does the subscription cost?
KLUG is free to download and start. Full access is an optional subscription at 7.99 EUR per month or 59.99 EUR per year. The AI tutor runs on your device, with no third-party tracking, and your data stays on the phone.