What helped you learn German fluently?

The language known today as German is believed to have originated from Proto-Germanic, which began to develop around 2000 B.C., as people began to settle in western areas of the Baltic Sea. German which is the official language of both Germany and Austria and one of the official languages of Switzerland, is estimated to have approximately 90–95 million people speaking German as a first language, 10–25 million speaking it as a second language, and 75–100 million speaking it as a foreign language. This would imply approximately 175–220 million German speakers worldwide. German is a global language along with English and is extremely popular among students due to the benefits offered by Germany to students who speak German.

There is no single best way to learn German. There are nearly as many effective ways to learn German as there are people who have done so. It’s not because you “don’t have the language gene” that you’re having trouble learning German. You most likely do not have an effective study method.

1. Speak German.

Speaking German is a skill that, like any skill, must be honed! Simply open your mouth and don’t be afraid to make some mistakes. If you start speaking right away, you’ll discover that you can have real (albeit imperfect) conversations with native speakers much sooner than you think.

2. Stop Speaking English!

Stop speaking English if you want to improve your German (although, depending on your job and lifestyle, it’s probably impractical to avoid English entirely, so it’s recommended that you try to limit your use of English if you can’t eliminate it entirely). If you live in the country and have a strict policy of only speaking the language you’re learning, speak the language you hear around you. This is the immersion method, and it works wonderfully. The explanation is simple. Not all hours are equal; forty hours of intensive German immersion in a single week is far more valuable than forty hours spread out over several weeks. The more frequently you immerse yourself, the lesser time you waste trying to remember what you learned last time you spoke German.

3. Study German by Listening to Podcasts and Audio Courses

German podcasts and audio courses are not a substitute for speaking practice, but they are a great supplement that can help structure your learning. GermanPod101 comes highly recommended by me. You could also look into the Mimic Method German, which will teach you how to master the 39 Elemental Sounds of German to improve your German pronunciation. For students of all levels, LingQ offers thousands of hours of German listening resources. LingQ is particularly useful if you enjoy reading while listening.

4. Enrol in a University for a German language Course

• Many universities offer degrees in German, which is a viable option if you’re serious about improving your German.
• A degree has the following benefits:
• You will learn advanced German-speaking, reading, and writing skills.
• You will gain a thorough understanding of the language and its inner workings, delving deeply into German grammar and nuances.
• In addition to the language itself, you’ll learn about German literature, the language’s history, and the culture and history of the countries where it’s spoken. You will typically spend a semester or an entire year of your degree studying and living in a German-speaking country. This is an excellent opportunity for the immersion I mentioned earlier!

Some universities may allow you to minor in a language in addition to your major course. It is sometimes possible to obtain a degree in two languages at the same time – usually, by expanding on the language you studied previously (for example, in secondary school) and starting with another (from scratch). A major disadvantage of a bachelor’s degree is that it takes three or four years to complete and can be quite costly depending on the country. There are less expensive and faster ways to improve your German. A bachelor’s degree in German is not for everyone, but for some, it is the best option.

5. Consider taking up shorter courses. 

If you don’t have the time or inclination to pursue a full degree in German, consider taking a shorter course at a language school in your home country. Many schools provide intensive programmes that can be an excellent way to learn German. You could live in the school’s hostel with your classmates and pledge to speak only German for the duration of the course.

6. Learn German with a Trainer (Online or In-Person)

Snail learning is similar to classroom learning. This is why online learning is becoming more popular.

One-on-one online tutoring is frequently less expensive than classroom group lessons! This is because your tutor does not have to spend time or money meeting with you. If you can afford it, I strongly recommend hiring a one-on-one tutor.

Italki is a popular platform for connecting with one-on-one German tutors via video chat. Lessons are inexpensive, with tutors available for as little as a few dollars per hour. Different German teachers have different teaching styles; don’t be afraid to try a few before deciding on one. Personal German lessons aren’t always better than online lessons; however, being able to take lessons from the comfort of your own home is extremely convenient. A face-to-face meeting isn’t worth the effort and travel time.

7. Learn speaking German with a Language Partner

Find a language exchange partner if you don’t want to pay to learn a language (also known as a language tandem partner or a conversation partner). Practice in German with a native German speaker who is interested in learning English. He is learning English from you while you are learning German from him! You can chat with German speakers on Italki or Skype! Italki isn’t just for private tutors! Thousands of language exchange partners are also available to help you practise German for free.

You could have a casual conversation with your partner about whatever comes to mind, switching languages at predetermined intervals (e.g. every 5 or 10 minutes). You could also go through a series of structured exercises or language games together. 

8. Involve yourself in German Language Meetups

A one-on-one language exchange is not required. Many cities host “language exchange” events in which people from all over the world gather to speak and practise multiple languages. Meetup.com is a great resource for finding similar events. Some meetup groups welcome people who speak any language. If you can’t find any German language groups in your area, start your own. Anyone can start a Meetup.com group, and you’re bound to attract a large number of people who have been waiting for something like this for a long time.

9. Join an offline or online language learning community

Learning a language is a marathon, not a sprint, and students may experience motivational difficulties at times.

You will be able to support and encourage one another in your pursuit of your common goal if you surround yourself with people who are on the same path as you – whether they are learning German or any other language.

The Add1Challenge (now known as the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge) is a monthly event hosted by Fi3M in which people from all over the world commit to having a 15-minute conversation with a native speaker of their new language after only 90 days of study.

10. Use Mnemonics for learning 

Languages necessitate extensive memorization of vocabulary, grammar rules, phrases, and idioms, among other things. There are better and worse ways to remember all of this information – and the best way is to learn mnemonics. A “mnemonic” is a memory technique that uses imagery or other mental cues to aid in information recall. There are many different types, but they all follow the same basic principle: find a way to associate something difficult to remember with something easy to remember. Mnemonic techniques are an extremely effective way of memorising large amounts of information.

The first-ever record of the German language dates back to a time when the Romans came into contact with inhabitants of the Rhine-Danube area during their occupation in the first century BC. Since then German has gone through many changes, from Old High German (from about 700 AD to the eleventh century); Middle High German (from about 1050 to 1350); Early New High German (1350 to 1600) to New High German (from about 1600 to the present). Modern-day German often referred to as “High German”, or Hochdeutsch, used as the language of administration, higher education, literature, and the mass media, is likely to be unrecognisable from the language that the Romans first observed. 

Multibhashi offers amazing online classes in the German language, you can enrol to receive expert guidance.  Click Here to enrol.