Guten Tag! Wie geht es euch?
When it comes to language learning, it’s always a challenge. The real question is whether you are up for it, especially when it comes to German.
As foreign languages go, German ranks up there with the top most difficult ones, so people always ask me if I have a magic answer to learning German in an easy way.
Despite studying German since 2002 and achieving fluency, I continue to encounter new aspects of the language, highlighting its richness and depth. In my quest to master German, I explored various methods including language courses, textbooks, apps, conversations with native speakers, watching films and many more.
I have a few great tips and techniques to help you out when those crazy long words start to trip you up.
German Lessons and Limitations
I had German lessons at the language school I attended, but I wasn’t very interested in it back then (plus, my lecturer wasn’t too serious about it either). While the idea of attending German classes may seem like the best language learning option, there are several limitations that would make German more difficult to learn.
Strict language lessons will suck the life right out of your German learning attempts. Languages are organic, living things, and when you focus on grammar, phonetics, and spelling alone you won’t learn to speak and enjoy it.
Instead, I found there are better methods to learn any language, including German using unique approaches and strategies that will make the language you are learning easier to digest and speak.
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Best German Learning Strategies
A learning strategy isn’t a cheat to help you pass your German exams. Instead, your ability to converse in German and use the language optimally is determined by these methods:
Live German while You Learn It
When you have no other choice but to learn a language to speak to native speakers, you’re sure to pick up that language in half the time. I lived in Germany as a language student in 2005, which meant I had to find my way in communicating with the locals who were all German native speakers.
While living in Germany at that time, I was wonderfully immersed in the language, the culture, and the unique sayings of German. Because of that comprehensive exposure to the language as a living thing, I was able to quickly gain fluency, and I now speak German at native C1 level.
As you can imagine, you will develop a greater understanding of the language’s nuance by conversing in it daily when you buy groceries, order a beer at the local die Kneipe (the pub), or fit clothes at a shop.
If You Can’t Live German - Watch It
Not all of us can uproot and move to Germany while we learn the language, but you can stimulate your sense of how to speak German with sensitivity by watching it on TV and movies and listening to it in music.
Consider watching German shows on Netflix, Disney, and Amazon Prime. A neat trick is to choose a show you are familiar with or that has subtitles in English to watch in German. I adore watching Friends in German.
If you are brave, you can watch a show in English, then watch the same show in German, which will also give you an idea of how the German language flows.
Read German to Speak It
Another excellent way to learn German is to read it. Books offer a range of characters, settings, and interactions, which all help you pick up German. A real page-turner will be a perfect pick to help you see, read, and even hear (with audio books) German in the comfort of your home.
If you find a magazine that’s available in English and German, you can buy a copy of both, reading both at the same time to help you see how German differs from English. This is one of the best ways to find the nuances in these two languages and master them. Plus, it will also expose you to German culture.
Sing German
Oh, the Germans are great singers, and not just at a rowdy Octoberfest. There are many excellent German singers and performers, and you can listen to their songs while reading the lyrics in English (and German, of course).
Singing a language accesses a different part of the brain, helping you memorize words, phrases, and sounds for clearer pronunciation and better fluency. Plus, it’s loads of fun to sing along to your favorite German pop band or hip hop group.
My personal favorite is Schlager, and I watch videos on YouTube, while checking out the lyrics in subtitles or in the comments section. Plus, reading the comments from other German fans (and using the translate feature) is a great way to further invest in German.
Online Tutorials
Thanks to technology, you have access to so many free resources, such as YouTube’s language learning channels. Simply find a couple of language videos about learning German, and you’ll be bombarded with thousands (if not millions) of tutorial videos explaining different real-life situations in German.
My favorite channel on YouTube is Easy German, which is a great channel that offers unique videos, twice-weekly uploads, advice, vocabulary lists, and interaction on Discord. You can really dive into what speaking German is all about in a non-academical way to master the language much more efficiently than any paper-course ever will.
Choose a German Tutor
When you get stuck, it’s worth it to find someone who is not only great at German but also excellent at explaining the challenges to you in English. This is where an online tutor can be invaluable. There are some amazingly talented German tutors on iTalki and Preply
Sign up for a German Language App
There really is an app for everything, including learning German. No need to buy an expensive book on the German language. Instead, sign up for German lessons on an app like Babbel, Duolingo, and Mondly.
I test language-learning apps extensively, and I can promise you these are the top three apps to consider, whether you are learning German or any other language. My quick overview on all three apps can help you choose one that works for you, or check out my detailed reviews for more information.
Babbel is a legitimate language app that’s favored by millions of people from across the world.
It offers essential German learning with structured lessons, but this will cost you as it’s a premium app with only a few lessons for free.
The app features a list of resources including a podcast, games, and a blog.
The gamified approach helps keep you interested as you don’t want to miss lessons and lose points.
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For beginners, Duolingo is a great choice.
The app is mostly free – if you’re happy to watch an ad after each lesson. The gamified design and features encourage you to keep to your daily lessons, which are fairly short.
The lessons are structured around listening, speaking, and minimal writing.
The competitions help keep you motivated and inspire you to remember phrases and words better.
Mondly is another excellent language app.
If you have access to virtual reality glasses, you will love Mondly, which uses the latest technology to create automated worlds where you can interact with “German speakers” and further master the language.
The basic features on the main Mondly app are free to use, but the paid version has so many groundbreaking features that it’s worth signing up for the premium version.
And if you are ready to learn another language, Mondly offers 42 languages, depending on whether you natively speak English.
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My Personal German Learning Hacks
As a polyglot, I have not only mastered several languages, but I also discovered a couple of amazing hacks that make language learning easier.
You can apply these hacks to learning German or any of the many languages of the world.
Consistent Effort Each Day
To learn a language, you should work on that language daily. Never step away from the language-learning mindset. By learning even a few minutes a day, you will better internalize German, which helps you master the language better.
Use routine to help you. Maybe do your German lesson in the morning with your first cuppa Joe, which means you’ll enjoy your lessons so much more. By making it a habit, you are more likely to persevere with the effort and continue learning (even on days where you don’t feel like it).
Use German and Speak It Aloud
Languages are made to be spoken. Don’t be afraid to speak German, even if you think you sound funny. If you don’t have German-speaking people to converse with, you can always talk to yourself in German. Translate what you hear on TV into German.
Let your tongue learn the Kehraus (dance) of the German language by forming words, articulating phrases, and speaking aloud.
Mistakes Are Part of the Journey
Accept that you will make mistakes, and these are nothing to be ashamed of. We all make them, and you can learn from them. Be open to making mistakes as learning from these can really help take your German learning to the next level.
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Focus on What You’ll Use
Learning German is intricate, so make things easy by focusing on the words and phrases you will use more frequently. Build on it from there as you master the basics.
You need only 400 words for basic communication, while 800 words will help you hold more fluid conversations. From there, you can build up to 2,000 words, which is sufficient for everyday communication and understanding.
Step up your game to 4,000 words, and you’ll be able to read magazines, newspapers, and most printed material with ease. Double up and you are near-fluent in German. It’s doable if you focus on those first 400 words.
Don’t despair when you discover that there are millions of German words. You don’t have to know them all to communicate comfortably in German. Most Germans don’t use the full lexicon of their language in daily communications, so don’t fret if you see their dictionary has more than 23 million words in it.
Create a Reason Why
Don’t learn German (or any language) “just because.”
For any language, you have to find a motivation or reason why you are learning it.
That reason will ensure you don’t lose your motivation. Discover your unique approach to learning German. My motivation stemmed from pursuing studies at a German university and eventually securing employment there.
Some fun ways to build motivation is to learn via gamified apps, develop an interest in German culture and entertainment, and travel to Germany and make German friends.
The Final Schritt (Step)
It’s worth your while and the time investment to learn any foreign language. German is widely spoken, and the culture is lively and unique enough to be mesmerizing.
When you hear that learning German is difficult, don’t lose hope. You can do it. Just stay on track with daily lessons and practice, and keep on working at it.
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Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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