Privacy Policy

This policy explains which personal data SpeakGerman.ch collects, why we use it and what your rights are. It follows the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP / nDSG) and, where it applies, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Who is responsible

SpeakGerman.ch · Ludmila Kurowska · Spitalgasse 4, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Email: hello@speakgerman.ch

If you have any questions about your data, write to us at the email above. We usually reply within a few days.

What data we collect

We only collect what we need to run our courses and events:

• Contact details: name, email address, phone number
• Learning details: your German level, goals and preferred course times
• Messages: what you write to us on Instagram, WhatsApp or by email
• Course and payment details: which course you booked, invoices and payment status
• Website data: technical data such as IP address and browser type, when you visit speakgerman.ch

You give us most of this data yourself, for example when you fill in our sign-up form or send us a message.

Why we use your data

• To place you in the right level and group
• To confirm your spot at trial lessons and Open Door Days
• To send you reminders and updates about your course or event
• To manage bookings, invoices and payments
• To answer your questions
• To keep our website working and secure

We send you news about new courses or offers only if you agreed to it. You can unsubscribe at any time.

We never sell your data.

Legal basis

We process your data because:

• it is needed to organise your lesson, course or event, or to prepare a booking you asked for
• you gave us your consent, for example for newsletters
• we have a legitimate interest, for example in answering your messages and keeping our website secure
• the law requires it, for example keeping invoices

Services we use

To run the school we use trusted service providers. They process your data only on our behalf.

Service	What for	Provider
Google Forms	Sign-up forms and level check	Google
WhatsApp	Community, group chats, reminders	Meta
Instagram	Direct messages and posts	Meta
Website hosting	Running speakgerman.ch	godaddy.com

Please note about WhatsApp: in WhatsApp groups, other members can see your phone number and profile name. In the Community announcement channel, your number is not shown to other members.

Data outside Switzerland

Some of our providers, such as Google and Meta, may store or process data outside Switzerland, including in the EU and the USA. Where a country does not offer an adequate level of data protection, these providers use recognised safeguards, such as the Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework or standard contractual clauses.

How long we keep your data

• Sign-up forms and trial lessons: up to 12 months, if you do not book a course
• Students: for as long as you study with us, plus 12 months after your last course
• Invoices and payment records: 10 years, as required by Swiss law
• Newsletter: until you unsubscribe

After that, we delete your data or make it anonymous.

Your rights

Under Swiss data protection law you can:

• Ask which personal data we hold about you
• Ask us to correct wrong data
• Ask us to delete your data, unless we must keep it by law
• Ask us to limit how we use your data
• Withdraw your consent at any time, for example for newsletters
• Receive your data in a common format

Just send us an email. We may ask you to confirm your identity. If you think we are not handling your data correctly, you can also contact the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC / EDÖB).

Data security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against loss, misuse and unauthorised access. Only people who need your data for their work at SpeakGerman.ch can see it.

Website and cookies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies so that it works properly and to improve your experience. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time. We do not currently use analytics or tracking cookies; if this changes, we will update this policy.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when our services change. The latest version is always on speakgerman.ch.

Contact

Questions or requests about your data: hello@speakgerman.ch