Best tips and tricks to learn the German language

German Deutsch is the official language of both Germany and Austria, as well as one of the official languages of Switzerland. German, along with English, Frisian, and Dutch, is a member of the Indo-European language family’s West Germanic group (Netherlandic, Flemish). The recorded history of Germanic languages begins in the first century BCE, with their speakers’ first contact with the Romans. There was only one “Germanic” language at the time, and there were only minor dialect differences for several centuries after that. Only after the sixth century CE can one speak of a “German” (High German) language.

 

“Perfect practice makes you perfect!”

You may fantasise about learning German in Berlin, but in reality, you are learning German in your car on your way to work, or at home with an online course or books.

But since you are here, I will ensure I show you a reliable superfast route of accomplishment!

Immersion and practice are the keys to learning German, whether in Berlin or at home. Yes, it will be more difficult if you do not live in German culture, but there are still numerous ways to incorporate German into your daily routine.

Make colour-coded flashcards with vocabulary and gender information. We recommend using coloured flashcards to help you remember the gender of German nouns: Write feminine words on yellow cards, and masculine words on green cards, for example. As you go through your vocabulary list, you’ll begin to associate the word and its context.

Keep a German journal. In this diary, you can write whatever you want: Make a weather report. Make a shopping list. What you intend to do on that particular day. What you already did on that particular day. A character sketch of a coworker. We recommend focusing on writing in a specific tense until you’re comfortable changing tenses. For example, if you’re just learning the present tense, try writing only in it until you’re ready to switch to another tense. Aim for one full page of writing per day.

Read in German at least once a day. It doesn’t matter – just start reading! The most important thing to do is to read about something that interests you. If you enjoy cooking, check out a German food blog. If you enjoy reading women’s magazines, why not check out the online German versions of Marie Claire and Vogue? For literature buffs, read a book in German that you enjoyed in English. Remember to write down any unfamiliar vocabulary so you can look it up later.

Modify your technological settings. Why not make German the language on your phone, tablet, or computer? It’s a simple way to become acquainted with the language, and it’ll also serve as a reminder to practise!

Organize and label items in your home or office. On a post-it note, write down the German names of objects in your home or office, then stick the note to the object. Say the German name aloud every time you look at the item. 

Set up a weekly “German movie night.” If done correctly, watching movies or German programmes can be a great way to help absorb spoken German. If you’re learning German for the first time, it’s probably best to start with a German TV series or even cartoons rather than a full-length feature film. (The voices on children’s shows usually speak clearly and without slang, making it much easier to understand.) If you’re ready for a feature film, avoid watching it with English subtitles because you’ll be reading more than listening. Instead, look for a German film with German subtitles for the hearing impaired. The German words will help you understand oral German and improve your reading skills.

Listen to the radio in German. Listening to German is an important part of your home study because it sounds very different from how it is written. Thank goodness for the internet, which allows you to listen to German radio without difficulty. 

Use German, and speak to yourself, your pet, or even a plant. Admit it: you mutter to yourself from time to time. We’ve all asked ourselves, “Where are my keys?” or “What should I make for dinner tonight?” or even “Let’s go!” Consider the phrases you use the most – at least five of them – and translate them into German. Say them in German from now on. When possible, practise saying them aloud in front of a mirror so you can see how your mouth moves as you speak.

Play some German music. Nothing can take you deeper into a language than a song. Find your favourite German song on YouTube and memorise it. Pay close attention to how words are pronounced.

Find a German chatting partner. There is no way around it: in order to truly learn German, you must speak it. A language exchange with a native German speaker is possible thanks to communication programmes such as Skype and Google Talk. You’d speak in German for 30 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of English, with each of you correcting the other. For more information, visit websites such as Conversation Exchange and How Do You Do.

Make up a story. Examine the menu of a German restaurant on the internet. Pretend you’re in Germany and about to place an order. Practice saying what you’d order and the phrases you’d use to do so.

Repeat a phrase or word for 24 hours. Repetition is the most effective method for remembering words and phrases, so choose a word or phrase that you will repeat throughout the day. Set reminders for yourself and repeat this word or phrase as often as possible. For example, if you want to learn the phrase “What time is it?” (Quelle heure est-il? ), you can stick a note next to your clock to remind you to say it whenever you look at it. You can also put the phrase on your phone or screen saver so that you remember to say it every time you look at your phone or computer.

German is an inflected language with four cases (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative) for nouns, pronouns, and adjectives, three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter), and strong and weak verbs. German is the native language of more than 90 million people worldwide, placing it among the languages with the greatest number of native speakers. German is widely studied as a foreign language and is one of the Western world’s major cultural languages.

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