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EspañolGerman is a Germanic language, a subfamily of Indo-European languages. It is spoken by more than 135 million people, mostly concentrated in Central Europe. In fact, German is the official language not only of Germany but also of many other countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. It is a very important language because it is related to the history and culture of our continent.
At first glance, it may seem difficult to learn, but since it is very logical, the road will be downhill after you learn the basics. Besides, German and English have similar roots, so you'll find analogies in grammar and vocabulary. You'll also notice that the relationship between spelling and pronunciation is less complex.
If you want to learn German, or improve and train your skills in a practical but fun way, continue reading this article and discover our tips. Immerse yourself in the world of German culture through engaging activities that will help you learn without getting bored.
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HideLearn German by podcast and improve your listening skills
One way to learn the German language is by listening to a podcast. A podcast is a very useful tool to learn and become familiar with a new language, in a nutshell it is an audio content in original language made available through specialized platforms or websites. If you've never tried one, you should start now!
An important step in the learning path of a new language is definitely to be able to understand the person you are talking to. You can train this aspect through podcasts, adding new words to your vocabulary and improving your listening skills. You have the possibility to use it wherever and whenever you want, allowing yourself to use breaks and downtime of the day as learning moments. In addition, you can choose the genre and topic that you prefer and that interests you the most, so that you can expand your cultural knowledge as well as your language.
If you're looking for a practical yet fun and intriguing way to learn German, here are some podcasts in the original language to get you started:
- "Coffee Break German": this podcast is suitable for all beginners who wish to progress to an intermediate level. The main characters are a native speaker teacher, Thomas, and a student, Mark. Thanks to this podcast, you can improve your grammar, pronunciation, listening and also learn about cultural aspects in episodes of about 15-20 minutes, the length of your coffee break.
- "Slow German mit Annik Rubens": podcast created in 2007, consists of short episodes of about 5 minutes, each covering a wide range of topics. Annik deals with various themes related to everyday life and German culture. The advantage of this podcast is that the language is simple and understandable and the rhythm is very slow. Finally, you can find lists with the vocabulary used in the podcast on the website.
- "Warum nicht?": this podcast is about a journalism student working as a doorman through a series of adventures. You'll meet a number of amusing characters with whom you'll learn everyday vocabulary, German grammar and improve your oral comprehension. The total duration is about 26 hours, through which you can bring your German to an advanced level.
Learn German with movies and TV series
Learning a new language may seem complicated, but there are tricks to make this process more fun and not boring at all. One of them consists in learning and perfecting the language through movies and TV series in the original language. This method is especially useful for learning colloquial speech that is hard to find in grammar books, for expanding your vocabulary and for training your ear by listening to conversations between native speakers.
You can improve your German skills through movies or TV series by getting involved in the storyline, allowing yourself to learn through a process that will keep you entertained. You can find some highly recommended German TV series to get you started, just below:
- "Druck": this series is a German teen drama, specifically the reboot of a series called Skam; it tells the story of a group of teenagers in Berlin. It deals with topics such as cultural diversity, homosexuality, friendship and love. The advantage of this series is that the language spoken is close to youth language and slang, so you will have the opportunity to come into contact with a way of communicating that is difficult to access through traditional study.
- "Dark": one of the most successful German TV series in recent years; if you like the science fiction thriller genre, this series is for you. It is not suitable for beginners, but is perfect for those who have an intermediate or advanced level of German. All the cast are German and you can improve your level by getting involved in the dense and complex storyline. Don't worry if you get confused at times, it's not because of the German language.
- "Stromberg": this is one of the most popular German comedy series. It is inspired by the series "The Office" and is about the daily life of Bernd Stromberg, the head of an insurance company, in a mockumentary style. The puns and jokes in the TV series are a great way to learn German and enter into the humor and way of thinking of a country more easily. Perfect for learning German and having a laugh at the same time.
If you prefer to watch content with a longer duration, here are some movies that are perfect for learning German:
- "Lola Rennt": 1998 film in which Lola, a red-haired girl, has to get 100000 Deutschmarks in 20 minutes to save her boyfriend. The story is repeated several times and the audience sees Lola reliving the same scenes. In these scenes the dialogues are also repeated, which is perfect to train your German skills.
- "Das Leben der Anderen" (The Lives of Others): this film is set in communist East Germany in the 1980s. It is suitable for those with an advanced level of German as the dialogues are complex and German is spoken through different accents. Thanks to this film, you will not only improve your grammar and listening skills, but also learn a piece of German history. In addition, the movie is very popular, so you can easily find it with English subtitles.
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Best books to learn German and improve your vocabulary
Reading is a great way to learn a new language; the important thing is to find the right book for you, one that is suitable for your level of German and that talks about a subject that interests and engages you, so that you can stimulate yourself to continue reading without fatigue.
Reading will allow you to memorize new phrases, idioms and numerous words. In addition, you will be in direct contact with the application of grammatical rules that are clearly visible while reading. Keep in mind that, in addition to new linguistic skills, you will be able to develop and expand your personal culture.
If you want to improve your German in a fun way, you can't ignore reading. To get started, you could read a book in German that you already know, or you can take a cue from our recommendations:
- "Die Verwandlung": this book is known as "Metamorphosis" and is a great classic of literature by Frank Kafka. It is about a man who wakes up one day and discovers that he has been transformed into an insect. The author uses simple vocabulary and short sentences, so it is a perfect book for those who do not yet have a good level of German.
- "Cafe in Berlin": written by Andre Klein, this book is part of a collection of stories written especially for those who are just beginning to study the German language and are aimed at an adult audience. The protagonist of the story is Dino, an Italian who has just emigrated to Germany. He needs to learn the German language and culture — just like you — and will accompany you on this journey in a fun way.
- "Kinder- und Hausmärchen": it is a collection of hundreds of fairy tales written by the Grimm Brothers; in this book there are the original tales (and not adapted to children) through which you can greatly improve your level of German. You will find, for example, the original fairy tales of Snow White, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Puss in Boots and many others.
- "Die Leiden des jungen Werthers": in this great classic written by Goethe you'll find complex terms and grammatical structures, suitable for those who have a good level of German. This novel is ideal for those who want to immerse themselves in German history and culture. The story is about a boy who goes against the social conventions of the time through a "rebellion".
Learn German with songs
Are you a music lover and do you love listening to your favourite songs in your free time? Did you know that listening to music is a useful and not at all tiring way to learn a new language? Through music, you can improve your listening and pronunciation skills, and enrich your vocabulary through the lyrics.
You can listen to your German songs whenever and wherever you want, using the engaging rhythm of music to memorize phrases that you can use in everyday life.
If you are convinced to use music as a way to learn a new language (and have fun at the same time) you can start with these German songs:
- "The Beatles - Sie liebt dich" (She loves you): if you like the Beatles and you know their songs in English you should definitely know that before they made a tour in Germany they translated their songs into German, you can easily find them on YouTube and listen to them to train your listening and pronunciation skills.
- "Grün, grün, grün sind alle meine Kleider - Kinderlieder zum Mitsingen": this is a song for children, but it is also very useful for adults who want to learn some simple words in German. The song often repeats the same words, so it's easier to memorize them. You will learn colors and the names of some professions, as well as commonly used words like "clothes" or "love". The engaging melody will help you remember what you've learned.
- "Cro – Traum": if you have an intermediate level of German and you want to develop your vocabulary with terms about love, feelings, and relationships, then this song is for you. The rhythm is fast and it won't be easy for you to understand it perfectly at first, but thanks to the catchy beat and with the help of the lyrics, after a few listens you will have memorized many useful German words and idioms.
- "Nena - 99 Luftballons": this is a perfect song to learn German because you will surely be familiar with its rhythm. It is also one of the most famous German songs in the world and besides improving your German skills it will allow you to learn more about German culture and history as it is an anti-war song.
Are those ways useful?
Our tips will be very useful in your learning path, so follow them and you will improve in many aspects, such as pronunciation, listening, vocabulary and grammar. The most important thing is that you will be able to learn a new language while using your free time and having fun at the same time, and you will surely find suitable material for your starting level.
Our tips are valuable, but in order to learn a new language effectively, they must be integrated with real lessons. It is important to practice and receive feedback from a competent person during a learning process. With coLanguage you have the possibility to do this: through this platform you can follow German lessons provided by a qualified and professional teacher. In addition, you'll have access to flexible, personalized lessons based on your needs: you can choose whether to take lessons online or in person, how often you want to take them, and what aspects you’d like to focus on. Finally, you can also take advantage of group lessons with your friends, so you can practice your German with interactive conversations.
If you want to learn German or improve the skills you already have, combine our tips with customized lessons on coLanguage!