Prioritize. Start with spoken German if you want to learn German for business or travel! To begin a conversation, use words that are commonly used rather than more difficult words that are rarely used!
Be wary of bogus online German learning resources! Enrol in an intensive course. It would be extremely helpful in your German studies! When you’re first starting out, keep translating German words/phrases into English to a minimum! As you progress, consciously move away from it. Make an effort not to write in your head. Use Spaced Repetition System apps like Anki and Memrise for flashcards. Learn fundamental phrases, connector words, and conversation starters to help you communicate and express yourself in fewer sentences.
Grammar is a unique feature of every language that defines the rules for speaking and writing in that language. It is the soul of a language, so mastering it is difficult! As a result, starting with grammar is never a good idea if you want to learn a language quickly! If you start learning a language with its grammar, you are likely to get sidetracked because the results may not be encouraging enough for you to continue investing your efforts! Especially if you’re having trouble with verb endings and tenses!
In reality, a learner uses a variety of tools to prepare for the various learning heads, such as learning grammar, perfecting their pronunciation, and expanding their vocabulary.
Your first step in learning German should be to do something that will give you the confidence to begin speaking and understanding German. You don’t have to be perfect. All you have to do is get started and enjoy yourself.
Rather than words in your native language or English, try to associate German words and phrases with images and visual situations! After some time, study grammar with grammar software or a textbook. To achieve the same result, I recommend Rocket German or Duolingo. Every day, study a language in short bursts or for 2-4 hours, as much as you have time for. It is far more beneficial to study on a regular basis for a short period of time than to try to do it all in one sitting on weekends! Practice without missing a beat. There are no shortcuts or methods for avoiding practice.
Improve your listening skills by listening to talk shows, German news, movies, and audiobooks, to name a few online resources! Use YouTube to your advantage by streaming German radio stations! Watch German films with English subtitles and English films with German subtitles to accelerate your learning. Learn with songs, podcasts, and anything else you can get your hands on to make the most of your free time.
Keep a journal of new phrases, not just interesting or complex words, that will assist you in constructing your first conversation. Begin with children’s books. Children’s stories are a great place to start learning to read in German. Children’s and young adult stories are more likely to use simpler language and ideas than adult texts. Always keep a German dictionary nearby.
Set attainable goals! Study on a regular basis, but not excessively! Determine your unique learning style, which will help you master the language. Read aloud to improve your pronunciation. Find a conversation partner on Lingoci, Verbling, or iTalki to practise speaking and get feedback. Recognize the difference between genuine and phoney German cognates. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes. It’s something we’re all guilty of. Why should you be discouraged or embarrassed by this? Track your progress by engaging in continuous review – repetition is essential!
While children’s learning is intensely structured, orderly, and ‘textbook driven,’ as we grow older, learning takes on an entirely new ‘meaning’ and ‘method of learning!’ We no longer study from textbooks or take weekly tests to demonstrate our comprehension. To ensure that we learn, we assume the roles of both a learner and a teacher. As a result, we consciously observe and improve our own learning, just as we would as teachers. We also indulge and use a variety of methods to help us learn. Why? Because there isn’t a single all-encompassing method for learning everything! To improve our German skills, we must seek out the best resources, which include teachers, books, online practice and so on, because nothing is stacked up in one place for a learner to pick and walk away from! Remember, self-studying is NOT for everyone!
