Sprechen Sie Deutsch: a quick guide on learning German

How do you smash learning German? The trick to learning any language is to find a way of doing it that you find fun, then it motivates you to continue learning and helps you to achieve your goals—win.

Most of the time you have to test-drive a bunch of approaches to see if they help move your language skills along (or bore you to death). But not today.

We’ve put together a list of learning styles, apps and online courses to help you figure out what could work for you.

Different methods for learning languages online

You might love your revision cards or prefer learning through conversation. Maybe you get on better with the structure of academic teaching modules or secretly crave a fully immersive experience. Often it’s a combination.

All of these are recognised methods for learning languages and they’re all available online. Think about how you respond to these different types of learning and whether one or more could make your target language “stick”.

1. Traditional teaching involves studying grammar rules, learning and memorising vocabulary, working through translations and performing written and oral tests. You advance through a recognised framework that usually involves grades
2. Interaction focuses on learning through conversations with another language learner. It builds confidence in speaking and offers immediate feedback
3. Immersion usually happens abroad in the country of your target language but you can also achieve it online through online video gaming in immersive environments where the language is used, as well as through reading, watching films and listening to podcasts in the target language. You can even set your mobile, tablet or laptop to your target language to really immerse yourself
4. Audio-lingual learning involves repeating back audio recordings. It helps you with sentence construction, pronunciation and understanding the cadence of a sentence
5. Content-based instruction is where you learn a subject or skill in the language you’re trying to learn. It provides a context for your learning and can help you build a significant subject-based vocabulary
6. Task-based learning is just that. Learning through carrying out a task. Having a purpose and defined outcome is supposed to make the learning process more meaningful

Apps for all types of language learning

Knowing the style of learning that suits you best is a useful tool in the next process: choosing your learning material.

Thankfully, there are apps for almost all parts of language learning. Many of them even have some cool, distinctive features.

Language transfer

The Thinking Method is the standout feature of Language Transfer. Instead of memorising, you’re guided towards learning the patterns of your chosen language and connecting them to familiar concepts in your native one.

It’s completely free and there are no premium fees or subscription levels.

Pimsleur

With Pimsleur, you’ll learn through limited numbers of essential words at each level so you’re not overwhelmed. The app focuses on helping you recall the vocab at different speeds too.

You’ll also learn grammar through different contexts. This gives these complex rules real world meaning and association for you.

Anki and Memrise

These are best for those who love a flashcard. In Anki, you can set up your own flashcards to help with vocab and pronunciation or download decks others have created and shared already.

Memrise follows the same flashcard setup with quiz questions that include video clips of native speakers.

Google Lens

Google Lens is great if you want to learn your own way. You can scan and translate the text of whatever you're reading in your language of choice, whether it’s a book, magazine or menu.

Like most Google products, it’s also free.

italki

With Italki, you get to chat to a native speaker to practise your conversation skills and message teachers to get help with specific problem areas.

Netflix, Amazon, Spotify

Why not use the tools already at your disposal? Immerse yourself by watching films and listening to music and podcasts in the language you want to learn.

Whatever TV and film subscription you have, you can set the subtitles to your native language to give you a reference point. You can also check out the lyrics (if available) to foreign language songs within Spotify.

Mix and match your apps

The great thing about these apps is you can pair up whichever ones suit your language goals, style of learning and the level you’re currently at.

For example, an intermediate level speaker might have a good range of vocabulary but need to brush up on their grammar more, so they might opt for Pimsleur. A complete beginner might want to up their vocabulary first, in which case, Memrize might be the better choice.

Best online language courses

While app-based learning usually fits into or around your lifestyle, letting you jump in whenever the mood takes you, you might want something a little more rigid than that.

That’s where the set structure and milestones of an online course excel. They move you through a program of steps towards increasing levels of fluency that you can track.

Here are 5 tried and tested options that you’ve likely heard of already.

1. Duolingo

This is considered one of the best online language courses, or at least the most well-known at the moment.

Duolingo’s online language classes are mini-lessons that use text-based quiz-style questions with small graphics. You can win points and awards, which is quite cute, too.

2. Rosetta Stone

One of Rosetta Stone’s main features is its speech recognition tool that can feed back on your pronunciation and accent, which is perfect if you hate the idea of practising in front of a real person.

It’s also definitely one for visual learners as it uses lots of images and video resources.

3. Babbel

Babbel lessons are designed by linguistic experts and they focus on practical, real-world conversations you're likely to find yourself in if you start travelling to use your language.

Babbel’s language reviews focus on optimised repetition to encourage you to commit the vocab and grammar rules to long-term memory.

4. Refold

Refold focuses on “passive immersion” through books, TV and film. However, it still uses set goals and milestones to demonstrate your progress through each stage of learning.

Passive immersion is great because you can do it while you’re cleaning your room, cooking or travelling to uni on the bus.

5. The Open University

Many teaching institutions offer fully online language courses, so this is just one option. However, the Open University’s OpenLearn resource provides tons of free content and courses across a variety of language subjects. Finally, no student fees to worry about.

Currently, German language learners can opt into three different levels of “getting started” material or select from several subject specific courses, including food and drink, regional landscapes, and the world of work.

Other language learning websites and resources

It would be impossible to cover everything you can tap into to learn German right here and now, however there are a couple more extremely useful language learning sites to add that aren’t apps or courses.

1. LangCorrect is a great resource if you want to practice writing in German (or any other language). You submit your writing and then you get matched with a native speaker who’ll provide feedback on it, all for free.
2. deutsch.info is a free online platform that offers courses, games, videos, teaching materials and practical information about living and working in Germany and Austria.

Learning languages online isn’t always easy, but it can be free

No one is going to be fluent in five minutes, but that doesn't mean you have to labour away at something you don’t enjoy, particularly at a price.

With so many options out there, there’s no need to pay course fees or for premium access to find something you love, especially if you’re just getting started.

Find a learning pattern that works for you that you’ll actually enjoy, and check out the option above - whether that’s learning through games, conversations, courses or simply throwing on a Spotify playlist. Du hast the power.

Hero image source: gettyimages.co.uk