Welcome to the language of Bratwurst, Autobahn and Oktoberfest - German!
Being able to speak German can be a big plus on your CV and can be incredibly helpful on trips through Europe. Read on and find out how to learn German - quickly and efficiently. We’ve put together a game plan of how to get started and what to keep in mind!
There is no doubt: Learning German is hard. And it's even harder to stick with it.
But there is a way to learn German and actually see results. It's called Rocket German.
Rocket German is an online German course that uses simple methods, powerful technology and effective strategies that are proven to work!
Our members agree:
Over 90 million people worldwide speak German as their native language. And they are not only in Germany, but also in Austria, Switzerland – and even Italy! German is a language of both business and culture.
And by culture we're not just talking about Lederhosen and Oktoberfest. German culture includes fascinating traditions, a vivid music scene and the best poets in the world.
Many people say German is one of the hardest languages to learn. It's true. German is not exactly a walk in the park.
But we've found a way to make learning German work!
Rocket German uses the latest language learning technology and proven-to-work methods that enable you to become fluent quickly and effectively. Unlike other online courses or apps, we teach you how the German language truly works – and won't just make you learn phrases by heart.
You will train all of your language skills – listening, speaking and writing – and fully understand the fundamental principles of German grammar and culture. You will be able to speak and understand German faster.
Before I tell you more about how Rocket German will accelerate your learning process, let's take a step back and look at the most effective ways to approach learning this fascinating language:
Where should you start when learning German?
The answer is simple: sounds. Before you begin memorizing words and their meanings, learn how to hear, pronounce and spell German sounds.
As in English, the consistency between written and spoken German is rather weak, which means that learning how to write and read in German doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to master the spoken language. That’s why it’s a good idea to get familiar with German sounds before moving forward to the second stage, writing.
The letters in the German alphabet are the same as in English; however, you’ll come across four letters that you might never have seen before: ä, ö, ü and ß. They look weird, right? These extra four letters, however, are not counted as part of the actual alphabet. But don’t freak out – you’ll master them! It’s just a matter of studying a little bit, listening to a ton of German and repeating the sounds until your tongue hurts.
The more time you spend focusing on German sounds and spelling, the more natural they will sound to you.
Study the German alphabet, work on identifying the letters and practice pronouncing any sounds that don’t appear in English.
Get started with these!
You can practice the whole German alphabet in your first Rocket German lesson. All you have to do is sign up for a completely free trial.
The next step is to start recognizing and memorizing vocabulary words. Take advantage of these tips to study vocabulary most effectively:
Keep it Practical
Learning German requires learning a lot of new words. There's no way around it.
Many people use their "bad memory" as an excuse for not learning a new language. Luckily, we have some comforting news for these people (and even those with great memories): you don't need to know all – or even the majority – of the German words to be able to speak it well. In fact, you don't even need to know half!
Many experts believe that 300 words may be enough to carry on an everyday conversation in German, which means that very little memorizing will do the trick.
That's right, only 300 words!
So what does that mean for you as a German learner?
By learning the 300 most common German words first, you can cut your work in less than half. You'll be able to communicate faster and with significantly less effort.
However, it’s highly recommended that you gradually expand your vocabulary to at least the 1,000 most commonly used words in German. With just 1,000 words, you'll be able to understand about 80% of written texts.
Here are some of the most common German words to get you started...
To begin, you should study German greetings, numbers, basic travel questions, how to tell time and the most practical German verbs as soon as possible. Rocket German has lessons on all of those topics! Sign up to a free trial here.
Now that you've mastered German sounds and conquered basic vocabulary, you’re ready to tackle grammar.
Don't worry! We'll make it as fun as possible.
Here are a few things that can help:
Keep it Practical and Live in the Present
Just like with vocabulary, make sure you learn the most practical German verbs first. These are the verbs that you use the most in everyday life. Instead of plunging into all of the different and complicated conjugations, make your life easier by starting with the present tense.
Begin by learning the present tense of the most practical German verbs:
Then work on stringing regular verbs into phrases:
Break Down the Grammar
When it comes to language, grammar decides the rules for the game. You can also look at it as the backbone that helps us tell a story. While German grammar may seem complex, it can actually be broken down into three basic operations:
That's it. That's not too bad, right?
Keeping this in mind, we can break down complicated grammar rules into easily memorized chunks.
Finally, the cliché saying that "practice makes perfect" has never been truer than in the language learning world. Learning German takes a lot of practice – but, with these tips, you can do that without a passport!
Read, Watch, Listen
Movies, music, television series, books, newspapers, magazines – anything you can read, watch or listen to is unbelievably useful.
Reading, watching and listening have a remarkable effect on your brain. Simply by being exposed to German, your brain is put to work. It starts trying to understand new words by making connections to previously learned words, and seeks to make sense of any unfamiliar structures. Basically, you're learning without feeling like you're learning.
After a while, you'll find yourself using German words and constructions that you didn't even study, thanks to your brain's ability to soak up vocabulary and grammar while reading a book or watching a series.
One word of warning, though: if you want to pick up the most useful grammar and vocabulary, make sure that what you're reading, watching or listening to is modern and in a dialect that you would like to learn. German dialects vary wildly from regions like Bavaria to cities like Berlin—and it changes even more when you consider Austria and Switzerland.
Make Mistakes
Unlike other academic subjects, learning German is a continuous, never-ending adventure that requires constant practice. Don't live in fear of making mistakes. In fact, embrace them!
In the language learning world, mistakes are a sign of progress. Mistakes help you to learn faster. Don't worry about upsetting native German speakers for being too "bold" and trying to speak with them in their native language. It’s okay if you say something that sounds a little strange. Just go for it!
Odds are, they'll love it and want to help you. Don't let fear get in your way. Interact in German as much as possible, and you'll be amazed by the results.
Now that we’ve established a game plan for learning German, let’s take a look at what Rocket German can do to help you:
Rocket Languages can help you learn German step-by-step – at your own pace. Our powerful tools cover German pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar.
To practice German sounds and improve your pronunciation, use our voice recognition tool, Rocket Record. You will sound like a native speaker in no time!
Try it out here:
To learn German vocabulary, let our Interactive Audio Lessons teach you how to navigate everyday situations, and test yourself afterwards with our Reinforcement Activities!
Listen to your first bit of Interactive Audio here:
To fully understand German grammar, head over to our Language & Culture Lessons for the finer points of grammar and culture!
Get lots of practice wherever and whenever suits you, with our free mobile app!
See, learning German is not that hard after all, right?
And here’s the best thing – you can start right now! Sign up for an absolutely free trial of Rocket German here.
You’ll get 6 hours of free lessons for an unlimited time!