How to learn German online to grow professionally

It is often said that English is the language of choice if you want to find a good job, but nowadays you need more than that to stand out. German is one of the best options if you want to find the job of your dreams. You may be asking yourself, but what level of German do I need? In this article we will answer all your questions.

The range of professional opportunities opens up when you speak German, whether in companies in Germany, Switzerland, Austria or in any other country, as you are likely to have business relations with a German-speaking country. There are many companies that offer jobs and finance German language studies in parallel. Many of the headquarters of European institutions, such as the European Central Bank or EIOPA, are located in these countries.

If you want to fulfil your dream of working in one of these countries, Classgap is your solution. Sign up for our platform and get access to the list of German teachers. Enjoy all the benefits of learning a new language from home. Don't wait any longer and book your German class online now.

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The most difficult elements of German

Spanish speakers may find it much easier to learn French, Portuguese or Italian. Spanish, as a language with Romance roots, is more similar to French than to German, but we do have common vocabulary and share grammatical structures...

Despite this, we sometimes back out without fully knowing what is so complicated about German. We dismiss the possibility without doing a bit of research first. But that is not a good enough reason to give up on a language like German. For this reason, in this article we will take a look at the most difficult elements of German and how to overcome them successfully.

Declinations

One of the most difficult and different parts of German is that in order to indicate the function of a word within a sentence, a declension is added. What does this mean? Well, depending on the suffix of a noun, we can find out what kind of element it is: direct complement, indirect complement, subject...

Nominative: indicates the subject, that is, the person who performs the action.
Accusative: indicates the direct complement (DC), who receives the action of the verb.
Dative: indicates the indirect complement (IC), who receives the indirect action.
Genitive: indicates who is the owner or to whom something belongs.

As we can see, in German we have to learn four different declensions. For those of you who have ever learned Latin, it works in a similar way and you not only have to remember the endings of the words, but you also have to learn the articles and pronouns of each declension.

It is a matter of understanding the mechanics and memorising the different endings. With a little practice and a few exercises, this should not be a problem. You can make post-its to help you remember it even when you're not studying in depth.

Genders and plurals

Another difficulty in German is the existence of genders. This can be a problem for English speakers because unlike in Spanish, we do not have genders in words.

However, German does not follow the Spanish rules. Despite having equivalents in Spanish, the words do not match and the articles are completely different. German has not only two genders, but three: feminine, masculine and neuter. The problem is that there are no fixed rules that can help us determine the gender of the word.

As with gender, plurals do not follow any set rules either. Each word has a different plural and at first glance, it is not easy to see why. We have 5 plural endings to memorise.

Masculine: der Vater / ein Vater
Feminine: die Mutter /eine Mutter
Neuter: das Kind / ein Kind
Plural: die Eltern / Eltern

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Pronunciation

Sometimes, when we hear someone speaking German, it may seem that the language is nothing like English. And let's not kid ourselves, English has a very different tone and sounds. However, unlike other languages, German is a language that is read as it is written.

What does this mean? It means that all the syllables of a word are vocalised. There are no exceptions, no tricks and no silent letters. Therefore, we must learn the sounds of vowels, consonants and diphthongs. The aim is to successfully learn the main differences and to start speaking as soon as possible. Some examples of differentiating elements in pronunciation are:

Umlaud: ü/ä/ö when we have this umlaut above these letters they are pronounced differently.
Diphthongs: ei/ie/eu/äu are diphthongs that have a different pronunciation, the sounds are not the ones you read.

Although the spoken language may put many beginner learners off, it is actually one of the easiest aspects to master. If you practice, you can master it in a semester or even less. Our advice is to practice with a native German teacher online. He or she can give you tips, correct words and generally help you become more fluent.

Complex vocabulary:

If you've been thinking about learning German and have done a bit of research, you'll have noticed that one of the main features of the language is the existence of very long words. And it's true, you may come across Freundschaftsbezeugung (demonstration of friendship) or Nahrungsmittelunverträglichkeit (food indigestion).

And it is normal that this is intimidating at first. We are dealing with a language with Germanic roots, and it does not come from Vulgar Latin like French, Spanish or Italian. The vocabulary is not going to be similar to ours. Moreover, as we have seen, there is a certain tendency to compound vocabulary, which is why there are words like the ones mentioned above.

That said, we must normalise this phenomenon and lose our fear of this type of vocabulary. And the formula for doing so is to learn it little by little and without haste. Unlike declensions and plurals, vocabulary is better understood than memorised. Try to do practical exercises, to use them in your writing, in your conversations, etc. Regular use will help you remember them.

Sentence structure and order

The structure of sentences and the order of words in a sentence is completely different from English. We are not used to constructing sentences in such a different way. To illustrate the problem, German is probably the language that George Lucas was inspired by for Yoda's dialogue in Star Wars.

We find verbs separated or at the end of sentences, particles appearing in different positions depending on the function of the sentence... It's like learning to write all over again. You have to understand how it works and the rules, and once you get the hang of it, it is only a matter of time before you master the structures completely.

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And beware! If you have studied Spanish, you will know that subordinate clauses in Spanish are complicated and in German they are not going to be any easier. Remember that sentence structures are different, so once you've mastered the formula for simple sentences, it's time to enter the complicated world of compound sentences.

If you are just starting out, try to avoid them. Don't use them until you know 100% that you have mastered them. Don't complicate things, and try to keep it simple, at least at the beginning. The more complex you make the sentence, the more difficult it will be for the other person to understand you.

Official German diplomas: which one to choose?

After introducing you to the most complicated elements of German, we are going to talk about the official German diplomas that will certify your level. You should know that most of the official German certificates belong to the Goethe-Institut, the most important German public institution for promoting German culture abroad. Are you ready to find out which German language certificate you need?

Goethe-Zertifikat A1: This is one of the most basic certificates and is the best way to start learning German. There are two ways to obtain this certificate, depending on your age. For young learners, there is the Fit in Deutsch 1 and for adults, the Start Deutsch 1. Both are equivalent to level A1 in the areas of reading, listening, writing and speaking.
Goethe-Zertifikat A2: this is one of the most important, it certifies that you have mastered some basic notions of German, although it does not allow you to write complex texts fluently, it does give you the opportunity to understand single words and read texts of minimal difficulty, as well as to communicate verbally with native speakers in everyday or emergency situations.
Goethe-Zertifikat C1: This official German qualification is one of the most important, as it certifies your advanced level of German. Precisely because of its relevance, in the work or academic environment, various companies, universities or pre-university institutes will value the fact that you have this certificate to give you benefits such as being exempt from taking the different placement tests that form part of the admission process.

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Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS) This German language qualification formally certifies a highly advanced and superior level by testing your language skills in reading, listening, writing and oral communication in the German language. In addition, if you are interested in working abroad offering your German language skills to students, this qualification provides special recognition by the Federal Republic of Germany as a teaching qualification.
TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache): This exam is designed by the TestDaF Institute, through which it is possible to obtain another official German language certificate, especially if you are a foreigner and aspiring to obtain an academic or scientific research position in Germany. The results of the test are classified according to 3 levels: level 3, 4 and 5. A minimum of level 4 is required to linguistically overcome all obstacles in order to validate your knowledge of German for academic institutions or specific fields of work.
Goethe-Test Pro: This German qualification gives you the option to access different job opportunities that require you to have good listening and reading skills in your professional position. It is a type of exam that you neither pass nor fail, you will simply get a result that certifies whether you have a German level between A2 and C2.

These are the most important qualifications that certify your level of German. However, if you have a private German teacher, he or she will probably be able to tell you what your level is and whether or not you are ready to take the test.

German lessons on Classgap

Classgap is the ideal platform if you want to take German lessons online. Unlike face-to-face lessons, online learning is not dependent on pandemic restrictions and has many advantages. You will be able to study safely and enjoy all the tools of the platform. With our resources, you will see how the class is easier and you will get a closer and more complete feeling.

Do you want to know how Classgap works? It's very easy to use, just follow these steps:

How it works

Once you have registered, you will be able to access the list of German teachers.
Use the filters to select what you are most interested in: if you want them to be a native speaker or not, the price you want to pay, the timetable you want...
Once you have found the one you like best, you can book the class. Many tutors have a 20-minute free trial, so take advantage of this and present your objectives to see if they are the right person to help you achieve them.
When the class starts, you will have the option to access the virtual classroom. There you will find all kinds of tools to make your online classes complete. The virtual whiteboard, chat, the option to share documents, links or files...
Once the class is over, you will be able to leave a comment about the class, this way you will help other users who are interested in the same tutor.
If you have any doubts or problems, don't hesitate to ask, our Customer Service team will solve them.

Furthermore, on our platform, we have integrated all the functions and tools you need for your online private lessons in a virtual classroom. Don't wait any longer and sign up for Classgap to find your online German teacher. Learn a new language without leaving home. Start today!