David Allen (爱伦)
About Me
Lessons
Availability
Reviews
Online
David Allen (爱伦)
Professional Teacher![]()
Teaches
English
Native
German
Native
Spanish
Speaks
Chinese (Mandarin)
Dutch
French
Italian
Portuguese
Swedish
Teaches
English
Native
German
Native
Spanish
Speaks
Chinese (Mandarin)
Dutch
French
Italian
Portuguese
Swedish
About Me
Me as a Teacher
My lessons & teaching style
Resume & Certificates
From United StatesLiving in Berlin, Germany (13:44 UTC+02:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Aug 3, 2020InterestsReadingScienceTech
Hi there! My name is David Allen (爱伦), I'm from San Diego, California but I grew up speaking both English and German and for over 10 years now I have been living and working in Germany as a German/English teacher and technical translator. I moved to Germany after I finished my university degree in German and Linguistics and I have since lived in Göttingen, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, and Berlin. I absolutely love it here, as Germany has a lot to offer in terms of nature, culture and a rich linguistic history. I have also lived and taught German and English in both Spain (Santander and Valladolid) and China (Beijing), and getting to know people and their languages is my passion in life!Me as a Teacher
Do you want to express yourself better in conversation and sound more authentic in German? I specialize in helping you to improve your speaking and pronunciation of German based on special exercises I design specifically for YOUR native language background (i.e. German for Chinese speakers, German for Spanish speakers, etc). My particular area of expertise is in phonetics and phonology, so I can help you to master the difficult sounds of German so that you feel more confident when you are speaking. However, I can help you with any aspect of your German that you would like to improve, including preparing you to take formal examinations like the DSH, the TestDaF and the Goethe Institut exams.My lessons & teaching style
I put great emphasis on communication and entertainment in my lessons, and I'm very passionate about helping you to achieve your German-learning goals as efficiently as possible but with a maximum of FUN! I am happy to adapt to your needs! If you learn German with me, I will show you - among other things - how to utilize YouTube videos to improve your listening comprehension and speaking, how to systematically schedule review sessions so that you remember what you have learned in the long term, how to use Google to check your grammar even when you don't have access to a native speaker, and how to use memory techniques (e.g. a memory palace) to remember the articles (DER, DIE, DAS) in German!My teaching material
- PDF file
- Audio files
- Text Documents
- Image files
- Articles and news
- Flashcards
- Video files
- Quizzes
- Presentation slides/PPT
Certificates
Diploma de español como lengua extranjera DELE C1 - Instituto Cervantes - 2016DELE SPANISH LANGUAGE CERTIFICATION - LEVEL C1
Certificate verified
Certificate in Teaching Younger Learners - International House Valladolid (Spain) - 2008
Certificate verified
Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults - University of Cambridge - 2007
Certificate verified
Education
2003 - 2007
Bachelor’s - German / LinguisticsDegree in German and Linguistics with an emphasis on Phonetics and Phonology
Work Experience
2011 - 2016
Business and Scientific English Instructor12 weekly hours of teaching at the Central Office for Languages and Key Qualifications (ZESS, Zentrale Einrichtung für Sprachen und Schlüsselqualifikationen)
2007 - 2009
English InstructorTaught General English and Cambridge Exam Preparation (Young Learners, FCE, CAE, Proficiency) to students of all ages
2009 - 2011
Full-time German/Spanish Game TranslatorTranslation of online and console games into German and Spanish, proofreading and revision of in-game content
2016 - 2022
Professional German Instructor and Translator- German learner curriculum development, management, and instruction
- Multilingual translation and memory training expert
- Design lead for data-aware, empowered language products focusing on increasing efficiency and enjoyment in language learning
5.0
Rating
198
Students
1,905
Lessons
99%
Attendance rate
99%
Response rate
German Lessons
German
English
Spanish
Trial Lesson
144 lessons completed
USD 20.00+
Conversational German Fluency / 德语口语和发音 / Alemán conversacional
A1 - C2Conversation1,277 lessons completed
USD 25.00+
Package with 20% off
Pronunciation - How to SOUND German when you speak - Speak more AUTHENTIC German and sound more like a NATIVE SPEAKER
A1 - C2Language Essentials178 lessons completed
USD 25.00+
Package with 10% off
German Academic/Scientific/Business Writing and Exam Preparation (Goethe, DSH, TestDaF) — Improve your German GRAMMAR and writing FAST using my Bilingual Method
A1 - C2Language Essentials210 lessons completed
USD 25.00+
Package with 10% off
Study Smarter: Tailored German Support for Top Grades (聪明学习德语：定制化德语支持，助你取得优异成绩)
A1 - C2Language Essentials34 lessons completed
USD 25.00+
Package with 12% off
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
David H
3 German lessons
Teacher’s pick
David is an excellent teacher and I highly recommend him to any German learner. He has tons of helpful tools and techniques to share from his wealth of language experience as both teacher and learner. In addition, his warm demeanor takes the pressure off speaking (even for a beginner like me).
I look forward to continuing learning with David in the future!
Apr 16, 2025
Alex朱宣铭
57 German lessons
Teacher’s pick
Being multi-lingual is one thing, however being able to teach beginner a language in a systematic manner is another. I have booked 20 classes with David right after the trial class with no hesitation. He is an articulate, inspiring and experienced teacher. Extra credit goes to David as he is good at utilizing AI, tools and resources to advance the learning process.
Aug 20, 2024
Kevin Smyth
2 English lessons
I just had my initial 30 min lesson, and I am very excited about working with David. it wasn't transactional and you can clearly see his passion for languages and teaching. looking forward to lesson #2
May 20, 2025
Arina Buryi
66 German lessons
Teacher’s pick
David ist ein großartige Lehrer! Es passt sich den Interessen der Studierenden an. Jede Unterrichtsstunde hat etwas Neues, der Unterrichtsstil ist modern und spannend. Das freut mich sehr, das ich diesen Lehrer gefunden habe!
Oct 25, 2024
Tim Shroyer
1 German lesson
I had a great time learning from David. He was really committed to helping me with my language journey. I am definitely looking forward to continuing working with him.
Jun 19, 2025
Liudmyla Girchenko
7 German lessons
David is truly an amazing German teacher. From the very first lesson, David focused on helping me speak — not just memorize words or grammar rules. His approach is all about unlocking the ability to communicate right away, and it works.
In just a few sessions, I’ve reached a level of speaking that I usually can’t hit even after months of studying other languages. That’s why I really enjoy his method—it’s fast, practical, and confidence-boosting. After 5 lessons, I can tell a story about one of my travel experiences and express a lot without needing to peek at any notes or materials. I was honestly surprised at how much I managed to remember. Also, the topics David suggests for discussion are always tailored to what I’m actually interested in, which makes the lessons even more enjoyable.
I’m excited to continue learning with David and highly recommend David to anyone interested in speaking German and other languages.
May 15, 2025
Trial Lesson
USD 20.00
Your final payment will be made in USD