Have you set yourself the goal of learning to speak as well as write German correctly and fluently? Would you also like to finally be able to correctly master the complex and far-reaching German grammar and hold exciting conversations in German with the help of a broad vocabulary?
German is one of the most important languages of our time. There are numerous reasons to start learning German. Especially in Switzerland, German is an official language and therefore of enormous importance. Whether one learns German for integration, naturalisation, professional reasons or because of private interest, it is and remains a very complex and difficult language. For many learners, learning German is an immense challenge.
In this article you will learn everything about learning German and we will share with you the best tips and tricks to achieve success as quickly as possible.
Learn German through professional language courses
The fastest and clearest way to achieve learning success is to attend a professional German course. Several empirical values and surveys show that language learners reach their respective language level faster if they regularly attend a professional language course. In addition, learners find it easier to learn the foreign language and to stay motivated and on the ball when they attend a German course. The following reasons are responsible for this:
It is very difficult to learn a language on your own. German grammar is very complex, far-reaching and has many exceptions or special cases. Comprehension problems and difficulties in solving exercises are not uncommon when trying to learn German alone. No one is there to clarify gaps in knowledge and clear up misunderstandings. What has been learned must also be continuously applied, not only in the form of exercises, but also through active language training and simulating everyday situations. Without practising and using the foreign language, what has been painstakingly learned is quickly forgotten. In addition, difficulties or comprehension problems often only become apparent when the language is used. It is also important that language learners are immediately made aware of their mistakes, otherwise they may become a habit. In addition, motivation is quickly lost if one is alone with this mountain of grammar rules and vocabulary and does not learn with a structured concept.
Professional language courses counteract all these difficulties.
The most important advantages of professional language tuition summarised:
- Regular and active use of the German language through various diverse forms and exercises
- Immediate clarification of comprehension problems and targeted training of personal difficulties
- Professional German lessons adapted to own language level, individual goals, specific difficulties and personal preferences
- Choice of numerous teaching formats and German courses, perfectly suited to everyday life and individual preferences (private lessons, group courses, conversation training, specific exam preparation for several German certificates, etc.).
- Highly qualified teachers with several years of experience in teaching the German language as contact person
- Proven learning concept created by language teachers with learning objectives and targeted exercises adapted to the respective language level.
- Quick learning success
A professional German course is the best option to achieve the fastest possible learning progress and a worthwhile investment in yourself and your future.
Practice makes perfect
Whether you are learning German on your own or taking part in a German course, it is essential to practise a lot in private. Practice makes perfect. The more you practise, the better your German will be and the faster you will make progress. You can only achieve a broad vocabulary if you learn the relevant words and then use them to consolidate them. Grammar rules and special cases must first be understood, then learned, but finally always applied continuously so that German becomes intuitive for you and you develop a feeling for the language. When practising, it is also important that you make mistakes. Mistakes are good because you notice where there are still difficulties or misunderstandings and you can work on them specifically. Practising shows whether what you have learned has really been understood and consolidates the entire content of the material. If you don't understand something, look it up on the Internet, ask a friend who already speaks German or ask your teacher if you are attending a German course. When practising, also make sure that you use a certain variety of exercises. Try to do different exercises on one topic. It is also helpful if you set a fixed time for the day when you only learn German. By doing this, you will create new habits, get into a learning routine and keep at it. Only through constant practice can you develop a certain feeling for the language and make rapid progress.
Integrate German into your everyday life
To make rapid progress in learning German, you should try to integrate your new language skills into your everyday life. Find situations in everyday life in which you can use your new German skills. Tell your friends and family what you have learned. Translate German texts, read books and newspapers in German. Watch films or TV programmes in German or translate song lyrics into German. You can also go to a café and place your order in German. Play games in German or do crossword puzzles. There are plenty of little opportunities in everyday life to use your new skills. Start thinking in German and develop a natural intuition for German.
Use your circle of friends
Perhaps there are people in your circle of acquaintances who already know German well or whose mother tongue is German. Take advantage of this opportunity. Speak or write to your friends in German. Arrange to meet them more often. Ask your friends to correct you if you make a mistake.
You can also start a pen pal relationship with someone whose mother tongue is German. You then write your texts in German and your pen pal replies to you in your mother tongue. This way, both get something out of it and each learns the other's language.
You can also take part in any leisure activities and use your German there. In your sports club there are certainly people who speak German and with whom you can talk. Take advantage of these small opportunities to practise and train your German.
Your circle of friends will start speaking German with you automatically. You can benefit enormously from this. German will become easier and more intuitive for you. You will learn German without really noticing it and you will make fewer mistakes and be able to speak more fluently without much effort.
German courses are of course also an immense advantage, because there you have a group of people, all with the same goal. In group courses you can actively apply what you have learned with the other course participants. In class, you will practice speaking fluently and without errors. In the group or with a counterpart you will find it easier to speak German. You can talk together during the breaks, continue to meet after class or solve exercises together. It is definitely more fun to learn German together with like-minded people.
Stay motivated
It is also important to stay motivated when learning German. Continuity is the be-all and end-all. However, you can only stay on the ball if you enjoy learning and thus remain motivated. Motivation also remains high when learning progress is clearly noticeable and you do not feel left alone. Remember, learning a foreign language is not a race and setbacks are completely normal.
Here are the best tips to stay motivated when learning German:
- Bring variety into German learning and use a variation in the exercise forms
- Set a fixed and realistic time for learning German and leave it at that.
- Listen to yourself; if there is ever a day when you don't feel so good or find it hard to concentrate, take a break and don't overdo it with learning
- Integrate German learning into your everyday life in a playful way
- Make learning German exciting, for example by watching German films, reading books in German or playing games in German with your friends.
- Set yourself smaller milestones (e.g. weekly or monthly goals) and look back with pride at what you have achieved so far; keep reminding yourself of how far you have already come.
- German courses can help enormously to stay motivated, so be sure to consider whether this would be an option for you.
Language courses
A language study trip is always a great opportunity to learn a foreign language as quickly as possible and also a unique experience in life that you are guaranteed never to forget. You will learn all the important basic rules and expand your vocabulary in professional German lessons. Afterwards, you can actively use what you have learned in the German-speaking country. You have no choice but to communicate in German in order to make friends and find your way around in the foreign country. With the help of a language study trip, it is really easy for you to quickly make linguistic progress and develop a feeling for the language and an intuition for German.
However, there are also a few disadvantages to language study trips. Unfortunately, they are not very suitable for everyday life, which means you have to take a longer period of time off to do a language study trip. The longer a language stay lasts, the more effective and efficient it is. For many people, taking that long off is not easily possible or even an option. On top of that, language stays can usually become very expensive very quickly. The travel costs, the language lessons themselves and the cost of living in the foreign country all have their price. In addition, they should continue to use their German after the language stay. Otherwise, everything is quickly lost again.
More suitable for everyday life and cheaper than language stays are therefore definitely professional German courses. Regular lessons ensure that you will improve your German language skills bit by bit and that you will soon be able to speak German fluently and without mistakes. The continuity, which is present in German courses, ensures that you stay motivated and that there is always someone there who can explain difficulties and eliminate incomprehensibilities.
