10 tips learning german online
Do you want to learn German from scratch or do you want to improve your German? You've probably heard that it's difficult to learn German, but if you like a challenge, you'll know that nothing is impossible. Learning German online to achieve your personal or professional goals is easier than you may think. We explain how to learn German online with a few simple and practical tips.
If you really want to learn German, the best way to do it is with online German classes at Classgap. On our platform you can train with native or bilingual private teachers. Through the virtual classroom you can access all the tools and resources you need to enjoy the experience of online German classes.
1. No more than 15 words per day
This advice is obvious and we recommend it with every language you want to learn. Trying to learn more than 15 new terms a day is a waste of time. Trying to memorise the whole dictionary at once will only serve to frustrate you, as you will hardly memorise anything at all. Learning German is done step by step, slowly but surely.
Whatever the pace, the important thing is that you find your ideal teacher on Classgap. Sign up for our platform and enjoy the benefits of being taught by a native German tutor or even a teacher based in Berlin. What are you waiting for? Book your German class now.
2. Basic vocabulary first
Numbers, colours, days of the week... Always start with the most basic vocabulary that will enable you to hold a short conversation in German. If possible, learn vocabulary by semantic groups (e.g. fruit or vegetables). Remember that if you want to learn basic German expressions, we explain which ones are essential in this article.
First memorise the words and then learn their pronunciation, and write it all down in a notebook... You will also have to learn the gender that goes with each of these words, but for this you will probably find the following point useful…
3. Learning the genders of German
One of the difficulties with German is the use of genders. English speakers are not used to using genders, so it is a bit more complicated for us than for Spanish speakers, for example.
However, German does not follow the Spanish rules. Despite having Spanish equivalents, the words do not match and the articles are completely different. This language 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, there are no fixed rules for plurals either. Each word has a different plural, and at first glance, it is not easy to detect the reason. And while we can find three different types of gender, we have 5 plural endings to memorise.This language 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.
- Masculine: the father / a father
- Feminine: the mother / a mother
- Neuter: the child / a child
- Plural: the parents / parents
They may seem difficult to memorise, but there are a few tricks to learn them more easily:
- The colour trick: when you write the memorised words in your notebook, do it in different colours. Blue for masculine words, red for feminine words and green for neutral words. We assure you that it works.
- The trick with the slips of paper: stick a slip of paper with the respective name and gender in German on every object you come across. However, we advise you to limit yourself to the space in your home; we don't think you'll be looked at favourably if you start sticking them around the office.
4. Keep in mind the German sentence structure
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 inspired George Lucas 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.
This is not always the case. However, as you start to work with more complex sentences, the elements of the sentences change depending on whether they are affirmative, negative, subordinate…
5. Start reading and writing
Once you know enough words and have a basic knowledge of German grammar, it's time to pick up a good book. Both to review what you've learned and to learn new vocabulary. To make sure you don't find it too boring, here are a few options to get you started with a good read:
- One man too many (Ein Mann zu viel): This is more than recommended reading for beginners, as the vocabulary is very simple. On the other hand, the sentences have a simple structure and are not too adjectival.
- Oh, Maria: As with Ein Mann zu viel, the vocabulary and grammar in this book is very accessible, making it a very suitable German book for those who are taking their first steps in the language.
- Anna, Berlin: In this case we find a novel with a little more complexity than in the previous cases, but no less comprehensible. It is ideal for learning everyday vocabulary.
Writing is another of the infallible tricks for learning German. It is one of the best ways to help you memorise German vocabulary and put what you have learned into practice. We recommend that you write a short text every day, including Sundays, which includes the words you have memorised during the day.
6. Music, podcasts and films are your allies
Watching films with German subtitles and listening to music while paying attention to the lyrics can help you learn vocabulary and how to pronounce it correctly. This point is of vital importance, as it is not only important to know how words are spelled correctly, but also how they should be pronounced. As with books, we bring you a small recommendation in case you don't know what to watch:
- Dark: is the first German-language Netflix original series. A sci-fi thriller series created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese. Set in the fictional town of Winden, Germany, Dark follows the aftermath of a child's disappearance that exposes the secrets and hidden connections between four families as they slowly unravel a sinister time travel conspiracy spanning three generations.
- The Wave (Die Welle): is a German drama film based on the Third Wave experiment. In a project week that aims to teach the benefits of democracy, a teacher who has to explain what an autocracy is decides to conduct an experiment in the classroom. Through his motto: "power through discipline, strength through community, strength through action, strength through pride", he gets the pupils to follow a new rule every day.
- Slow German: is a private podcast by Munich-based journalist Annik Rubens. She created this podcast in 2007 to help everyone who wants to learn German, especially advanced learners. You can find this podcast on different platforms such as Spotify, Podbean, Amazon or on her website. It currently has more than 200 episodes of around 5 minutes in length. It is also possible to access the transcripts of the podcasts in Pdf, however, this section is not free of charge.
7. Review the German vocabulary you have learned
From time to time you should review everything you have learned. Do this regularly, so that you don't forget those terms you've worked so hard to memorise over time. If possible, try to review them once a week. By following these 7 steps you should have no problems with expensive German vocabulary.
To continue practising the German language, sign up for Classgap and find your German teacher online. Don't wait any longer, discover all the advantages of learning with online German classes.
8. Take advantage of the resources offered by new technologies.
In addition, as an extra piece of advice, I recommend that you surround yourself as much as possible with the language. The media are a great ally of the language learner in this respect. Thanks to the Internet, you can make the most of the resources in German: to get started, you can watch simple videos on YouTube, or read a newspaper in German.
I'm sure if you Google "learn German" you will find thousands of free online courses. They are good for learning grammar. Another exercise is to read the news in German. There are many German newspapers that you can read on the internet that will also help you to learn.
9. Speak, speak and speak German!
To improve your oral fluency in everyday situations, try to repeat dialogues and texts used in class, make up sentences and add them to a conversation with the new ones you learn every day. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, no one expects you to be perfect. Remember that the purpose of language is to be able to communicate. As long as communication flows, everything will be fine.
In principle, German vowels are pronounced exactly the same as in Spanish. The 'a' is 'a', the 'o' is 'o'. So if you know some Spanish it will be very useful in this case. However, everything changes with vowels with umlauts ('Umlaut') and diphthongs.
10. Online German lessons
Classgap is the ideal platform if you want to take German lessons online. Unlike face-to-face classes, online learning is not subject to 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 development of the class is easier and will generate a closer and more complete feeling.
Do you want to know how Classgap works? It is very easy to use, just follow these steps:
- Once you have registered, you will be taken to the list of German teachers.
- Use the filters to select what you are most interested in: if you want 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 teachers have a 20-minute free trial, so take advantage of it and present your objectives to see if he/she is 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 teacher.
- 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 register with Classgap to find your online German teacher. Learn a new language without leaving home - start today!