Resources for Learning German

If the music featured here on Sprachmelodie has convinced you that German is an amazing language and you’re looking for more resources to further your German learning, look no further. 

Here are a few resources and tips that have been helpful for me on my own learning journey.

Courses and Tutors

In-Person German Courses

During my first few years of learning German in the U.S., I took courses through adult education centers in my area (including the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, if you happen to be local to the Boston area). I liked these as they seemed to be a bit less intense (and less expensive) than taking a course at a local university or language school, but still gave me a good overview of the language and introduced me to some wonderful teachers and fellow students. If you’re living in Germany, most towns have a Volkshochschule which would likely offer a similar experience.

Of course, courses at a university or language school are still a good option! Later on, I also took a few courses through the Goethe-Institut, an international German language school with locations both throughout Germany and abroad. 

With in-person classes, a lot also comes down to the personality and teaching style of the instructor. I was incredibly fortunate to have a first teacher who was incredibly kind, patient, and encouraging, which makes a world of difference when starting such a daunting task as learning German!

In-Person German Tutoring

Many German teachers also offer private tutoring, especially during times when classes are not offered. On a few different occasions, I had the opportunity to meet with German teachers I had met through courses either one-on-one or with one or two other students, which was also incredibly helpful. Taking German lessons with a private tutor provides the advantage of learning tailored exactly to your level and goals. A Google search may help you find German tutors local to your area.

Online German Courses

While offers for online language courses abound, I can only speak for Lingoda, a unique online language school which offers the chance to complete a Language Sprint – commit to completing a certain number of classes within a defined time frame (such as 15 class a month for 3 months), and receive a percentage of your course fee back upon successful completion. I completed a Language Sprint in the spring of 2020, when COVID-19 lockdowns didn’t leave me with many options for practicing my German in person. I found an advantage of Lingoda classes to be regular speaking practice with a variety of native German instructors. 

Online German Tutoring

Also during the 2020 lockdowns, I started meeting one-on-one weekly with an online tutor that I met through iTalki, an online platform which connects language learners with qualified tutors. This was also a great experience – my German teacher could tailor my lessons to my interests and needs, helped me prepare for Goethe-Zertifikat B2 Exam (more about these exams below), and also provided guidance as I started working in Germany.

In an unexpected turn of events, our family later ended up moving just two towns over from my German teacher (who I had previously only known online), meaning we could become real-life friends as well. I can’t promise this will happen for you, but you never know!

Free German Course Alternatives

If a language course or tutor isn’t currently in the budget, check out the free German course materials available through Deutsche Welle. Your local library may also have a variety of textbooks, audio materials, or language-learning software to help get you started. Many of the other resources listed below are also free!

Apps

Duolingo was one of my first touch-points with the German language, and I think it’s a decent (and fun) way to make some initial contact with a language. It’s also a bit infamous for the crazy sentences it puts together – my husband’s family found it hilarious that I was learning sentences in German such as “Die Katze ist deine Familie” (The cat is your family) and “Der Bär trägt ihre Kleider” (The bear is wearing her dresses). These are the important things to learn!

While Duolingo can be helpful to begin with, it seems to have limitations when it comes to really learning grammar and practicing other skills such as speaking. (Or at least it did when I used it in 2015!) Eventually, you’ll likely want to look into some additional resources to take your learning to the next level.

Youtube

The Easy German Youtube channel features conversations “on the street” with real German learners – the videos are interesting and accessible, and there is even a series of “Super Easy German” for those who are just starting out.

Podcasts

Listening to podcasts is a great way to practice your German listening skills while on the go or doing other things around the house. Here are a few I have enjoyed:

Coffee Break German
Slow German
Deutsch – Warum Nicht?
News in Slow German
German Conversations (This one isn’t technically a podcast, but rather a paid audio resource that I found helpful for developing listening skills.)

Books

I found the Dino Lernt Deutsch series of short story books to be helpful and entertaining for the A1-A2 level.

Other Resources, Tools and Ideas

Conversation Groups or Partners – While still living in the U.S., I met weekly with a group of other German learners to practice speaking together. While none of us were native speakers, I credit this experience with greatly increasing my confidence in speaking German. Once I moved to Germany, our local library also offered regular conversation groups for those learning German.

Language Exams – All Goethe-Institut locations (as well as many Volkshochschule in Germany) offer standardized language exams in German, ranging from levels A1-C2. These exams are often necessary for obtaining a German visa or studying in Germany, but I’ve found the process of preparing for an exam – each of which includes a reading, listening, writing, and speaking component – to be a great way of consolidating and evaluating your own current language skills. Practice exams are also available for free on the Goethe-Institut website.

Google Translate Chrome Extension – use this browser extension to quickly translate words, paragraphs, or a full website.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many available resources for learning German. While it could seem a little overwhelming, the good news is you don’t have to do it all – just pick something that interests you or fits your current life stage, and start there.

Language learning has looked different for me in different seasons, and experience has led me to believe that there’s no one right way to go about it. I’ve personally found variety and flexibility to be valuable in sticking with German for the long haul – as well as adjusting my expectations towards accepting and enjoying the ongoing journey, rather than being frustrated when overall progress seems slow. 

My biggest tip for you is to just keep going! You’ll be surprised by just how far regular, consistent contact with German will take you.

Note: This page contains affiliate links for iTalki, which means I may receive a small payment if you sign up using the links on this page. Thank you for your support!