Germany is becoming one of the popular destinations for studying amongst Indian students. While most of the Indian expats are familiar with regular German bureaucracy like opening a blocked account, applying for accommodation, etc., people miss out on one of the most basic requirements, the German language. Yes! The German language is the first step into integrating in Germany. Although English still works as the communication medium, it is difficult to imagine life in Germany without being able to speak or understand German at all, especially if you are moving to smaller cities. Don’t worry! I have prepared a detailed list of top resources and strategies that you could use to learn and improve your German.
Table of Contents
Why Learn German?
Most expats believe that English is sufficient when moving to Germany, and often do not place equal emphasis on learning German. Therefore, let’s first understand why learning German is so important.
1. Economic Opportunities
Germany is the second-largest economy in Europe and fourth largest in the world. Knowing German can boost your chances in international businesses, particularly with companies like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Siemens.
2. Travel &Tourism
Germany is also a famous tourist destination. German is also one of the most spoken languages in neighbouring tourist countries like Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium. Tons of tourists visit Germany every year. Knowing German and being able to communicate with locals can really help you understand German culture in depth. German can really enhance your travel experience.
3. Job Opportunities
Even if you are able to navigate your day-to-day life by not learning German, you will require it during job hunting. Most jobs in Germany are held by native speakers and place significant emphasis on German at the company level. Knowing German can really open gates to wider job opportunities in fields like science & technology, business, engineering, etc.
4. Community & Connection
Learning German at an institute can help you build friendships with like-minded people and provide opportunities to practice your German with them regularly. If you are new in Germany and looking for friends, this could be your step one.
Effective Resources for Improving your German Skill
While many resources are available, it is advisable to combine a few to improve different skill sets, depending on what suits you best. For example, you can use some apps for speaking and listening, while you can read books or different materials available in the German language for reading practice. This way you can keep yourself motivated and also this does not feel monotonous like studying in a school every day. You can find some important resources that you can use to practice or improve your German language skills here.
1. Online Platforms and Apps
In today’s digital world, you can find everything online, including resources to learn a language, making it easier than ever to study online. All platforms offer both free and paid options. You can choose based on your requirements.
- Duolingo
It is a gamified platform ideal for beginners. It has resources with interactive exercises that keep you hinged to learning a new language. It covers vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure with fun activities to keep you engaged and motivated to learn a language.
- Babbel
Babbel focuses more on day-to-day conversational skills. It is suitable for beginners and intermediate learners. It emphasizes on how you can converse in day-to-day life. Furthermore, it explains grammar in an easy and simple manner. You can also download some material for offline access.
If you are willing to learn from this app, you can directly click the link above and start learning now! - Preply
This platform provides you 1 on 1 training with a native German language speaker. You can opt for personalized lessons depending on your goals. You have the option to choose your tutor from a wide variety based on their expertise. It is ideal for improving your conversational skills.
Ready to start your learning journey? Click the link above and unlock endless possibilities with this amazing app!
- Memrise
Memrise specializes in teaching German phrases and vocabulary. It uses engaging visuals and repetitive techniques to help you memorize vocabulary. It uses video clips featuring native speakers for you to understand pronunciation. Furthermore, it repeats certain phrases and vocabulary at regular intervals for you to memorize.
Click the link above to dive straight into learning from this app! - iTalki
It is similar to Preply, it connects students with professional teachers for live lessons. Tutors set the pricing for themselves, so you can select a tutor according to your budget and convenience. You can also prepare to learn German at business level with iTalki. You have an option to book your sessions in advance as well.
If you are excited about this app, click the link above to find out more.
- Busuu
It has plenty of fill in the blanks and multiple choice questions for quick learning. It has small videos with native speakers that help you learn pronunciation and vocabulary if you are short on time. Not only that, but it covers CEFR levels A1 to B2 with tailored lessons. You can also get feedback on your writing assignments from your tutors. It also has an offline version.
Give this app a try by clicking on the link above. - FluentU
It transforms real life clips like news, movies, music, etc. into a language lesson. Videos contain subtitles for you to follow along. You have the option to enable subtitles to translate them into your native language and view detailed definitions.
Click the link above to find out more about this app.
2. Books and Media
Even in modern times, books and newspapers are the best offline methods to gather new information and learn a language. The German language has a rich heritage of philosophy, art, and literature.
Some great books that you could use for improving your German language are mentioned below.
- German Grammar in a Nutshell by Langenscheidt
This book provides a concise and a beginner-friendly guide to learn German in an easy-to-follow format.
- German Made Simple by Arnold Leitner
This book covers grammar, vocabulary, and exercises for self learners. This book is for beginners.
- Intermediate German: A Grammar and Workbook by Anna Miell and Heiner Schenke
This book is perfect to learn German grammar and clear and concise manner. It contains exercises for practice and to strengthen understanding. This book is highly recommended for intermediate learners.
- German Short Stories for Beginners and Intermediate Learners by Olly Richards
This book contains short stories that keep you engaged and helps in developing German vocabulary.
- Hammer’s German Grammar and Usage by Martin Durrell
This book is highly recommended for the ones aiming for fluency. It is an advanced level German grammar book to get a good understanding of native level vocabulary and grammar.
While books remain the traditional and effective way to learn German, modern day media keep you engaged and entertained to learn a new language. There are many shows as well as movies available online to learn German in the most engaging manner.
- Goodbye Lenin!
A heartfelt story about post reunification Germany. This movie is very well known among German learners. It has some easy vocabulary and basic grammar to learn German.
- Dark
One of the best German web series with the highest online rating and dubbed across multiple languages, this show is based in Germany and revolves around mystery. It is recommended for intermediate to advanced German learners.
- Podcast: Slow German by Annik Rubens
This podcast focuses on speaking slowly, making it easier for beginner-level learners to understand vocabulary and grammar in an engaging way.
- Podcast: Easy German
This podcast offers an insight into informal conversations, perfect for intermediate and advanced level learners.
3. Language Classes
Although online platforms, media and books provide the basis for learning the German language, offline language classes are highly recommended if you want to learn German language in a proper, concise and easy to understand way. There are local institutes available throughout India for learning German language, however, Goethe Institute remains the pillar for learning German language. Goethe Institute has native tutors who conduct lessons offline and can help you in not only learning the German language and pronunciation but also with the German culture. Goethe Institute also conducts CEFR level German language exams. This institute is currently located at 7 places in India namely, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune.
Effective Strategies to Learn German Language
Although learning a language is an individual choice and every individual has their personal strategy and goals to learn a language, there are certain basic strategies that can help you structure your knowledge about German language. Follow this detailed guide to understand the simple strategies to learn the German language.
1. Set Clear Goals
Setting goals while learning a language is very important, as you do not want to overwhelm yourself with too much information. Also, it is essential to understand what level you want to reach in the language. Another thing to consider is your current level—beginner, intermediate, or advanced. If these things are clear to you, you can set realistic goals for yourself to learn German.
2. Learn Pronunciations
All the languages may sound the same from a foreign perspective, every language has its own pronunciations which become the nuances in learning the language. While the German language does not have different alphabets like in Mandarin or Hindi, it still has 4 extra alphabets compared to English namely, ä,ü,ö,ß. Nevertheless, pronunciation is not limited to these 4 alphabets but also to different combinations of alphabets within the language. Therefore, getting correct pronunciation early on helps you to learn the language easily. Therefore, getting correct pronunciation early on helps you to learn the language easily. For a list of essential German phrases, tips on basic language usage, and audio samples to help you with pronunciation, check out our article: Basic German Guide: Essential Phrases for Indian Expats.
3. Vocabulary Base
Having a variety of words at disposal helps you in communicating effectively. It also helps the listener to understand you better. Therefore, set a target to learn 10-15 basic words with its definition and meaning every day. This will help you to learn approximately 300 words in a month. Write short sentences using these words and try to use them in different contexts and situations. This way, even one word will help you communicate with different contexts and emotions.
4. German Grammar
German has a rich grammar base and therefore it sometimes feels overwhelming to remember everything. However, there are certain basic grammar rules that go a long way in communicating and are relatively easy to remember and understand. The German language has 4 cases namely nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive. Remembering their rules may be a little difficult, so I would recommend you to use it in different contexts along with vocabulary.
5. Surround yourself with the German language
Learning German from India becomes very challenging if you do not have friends or colleagues who speak German, therefore to keep yourself motivated, surround yourself with the German language. Change phone language to German, label furniture and different items in house or office with the German words along with their articles and practice daily.
6. Practice Speaking
There is no specific time duration to learn the German language, so don’t wait for perfect grammar. Try to speak German as much as possible, even with wrong grammar and pronunciation. This will help you build confidence. However, you should always consult a tutor online, offline or via mobile apps so that they can give you feedback on your conversational skills.
7. Consistency is the key
Learning German can be overwhelming and so most of the learners prefer to deviate from it very soon. However, learning every day for 30 minutes can improve your German language skills up to a great extent. Consistency reinforces learning and builds momentum.
Challenges in Learning German
Learning German comes with its own set of challenges. From grasping basic vocabulary and grammar to mastering the language, learners often encounter obstacles that can slow their progress. However, overcoming these challenges is key to success, so let’s explore ways to tackle them effectively.
1. Grammar
Grammar is usually the most difficult part of learning any language. The most common challenge in German grammar is navigating through the 4 cases. These cases actually affect word endings and sentence structure. Assigning correct genders (der, die, das) to the nouns is also challenging as the genders are quite different compared to the English language. Placing verbs at the right place may sound easy because of its simple use, however, with advanced grammar it becomes difficult to understand.
To overcome these common grammatical challenges, always focus on understanding case and gender rules through different patterns rather than just memorizing it. Use books and audio guides to break down grammar into easy parts. Try to use words in different contexts to understand the grammar better.
2. Vocabulary
The German language has a rich vocabulary along with its grammar, and it is almost impossible to remember every single word. Therefore, learn words in meaningful phrases like “Ich habe Hunger” (“I am hungry”) instead of just “Hunger”. Use online applications to practice words repetitively. Learn the most basic and easy German words first to gain confidence and perfect their pronunciation.
3. Pronunciation
It is still easy to read and understand German, but speaking it is the most challenging aspect of the German language. There are certain phonetics and pronunciations that are not used in other native languages, and therefore it is hard to understand them. This often leads to lack of confidence in speaking. Listen to native speakers, news channels, or podcasts and give emphasis on their pronunciation. Try to repeat those sentences with the same emotion and expression. This way you will not only develop correct pronunciation but also the confidence in speaking.
4. Listening
The German language has a lot of dialects, and native speakers also speak at a fast pace. There are also native slangs which you may not find anywhere online or in books. Therefore, start by listening to simple audio, then slowly switch to podcasts with native speakers. This way, you will not directly expose yourself to fast-paced listening. Try to understand without subtitles first and then switch on subtitles to compare whether you understood it correctly or not. This way, you will be able to know what you understand and where you need improvement in listening.
5. Consistency
Most of the beginners leave learning German at an initial stage. This way, they always feel overwhelmed with the German language. Therefore, set easy yet effective goals to progress. Use applications like Duolingo to practice easily and win awards to keep yourself motivated. Establish a routine and dedicate 20–30 minutes daily to learning the language.
6. Translate
Most learners prefer to translate sentences using syntax and vocabulary from their native language to learn the German language. This often leads to errors. Try to form a sentence in German itself. Label different things with German names in the house and try to make a sentence using them with the articles.
7. Fear of Mistakes
Even with strong motivation, the fear of making mistakes often lingers for new learners, hindering progress and slowing the learning process. Try to embrace your mistakes and learn from them. Take help from your tutors to rectify mistakes. Try to converse with other advanced learners. Reflecting on your mistakes will help you grow over time and boost your confidence.
8. Balancing All Skills
Learners usually excel in one of the 4 basic skills and lag at other skills. Therefore, allocate equal time to all the skills. Try to use multiple skills simultaneously like writing down what you are listening to. Keep record of your progress and divide time accordingly.
Comparison between different apps
There are many applications and institutions where you can learn German, however, it often comes down to budget and time while learning it. To make it easy for you, here’s a breakdown on prices, advantages, and disadvantages of these resources.
| Apps | Price | Features | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | Free (₹580/month for premium) | Vocabulary, grammar and phrases | Fun and engaging. Recommended for beginners | Limited depth for intermediate and advanced learners |
| Babbel | ₹500-₹1100/month | Practical conversational skills | Lessons with real life context | Limited free content |
| Memrise | Free (₹700/month for premium) | Vocabulary practice with native speakers | Multimedia rich | Less focus on grammar |
| iTalki | ₹800-₹2500 per hour | Live 1on1 sessions with tutors | Real time feedback | Cost dependent on tutor |
| Preply | ₹400-₹2500 per hour | Private lessons according to your goals | Flexible scheduling, large set of tutors | Quality differs from tutor to tutor |
| Udemy | ₹800-₹4000/course (one-time fee) | Video courses | Lifetime access, self-paced | No live interaction |
| Goethe Institute | ₹25000-₹50000 per course | Formal classes with exams and certificates | Internationally recognized | Expensive and fixed schedules |
| Lingoda | ₹650-₹1200 per hour | Group or online private classes | Certified teachers | Monthly subscription |
| Tandem | Free (₹580/month for premium) | Language exchange with native speakers | Cultural exposure | Depends on partner so not structured |
Personal Tips and Experience
As a student, learning German daunted me for a while, hustling through the tight schedules of university. However, I was motivated enough to keep pushing myself in the right direction to learn the language. I already shared some tips on resources, strategies, and challenges that I faced. However, there are certain language specific tips that I would like to share with you so that you can already begin to learn German. Remember, there is no right or wrong when it comes to learning a language, so always prefer to listen to your heart and mind on what works for you.
1. General Tip
- Do not multitask
- Work in small chunks
- Practice speaking as much as you can
- Have fun! Don’t lose motivation.
- Grammar matters but vocabulary matters more
2. Grammar Tips
- Start with der, die, das and always use it with nouns to master it.
- Work on separable verbs (trennbare Verben)
- Understand use of Modal verbs like müssen, können, etc.
- Learn dative and genitive cases
- Use most common conjunctions
3. Numbers
- Learn to count 1-100
- Learn to tell the time
- Write dates in German format
4. Important Vocabulary
- Food Vocabulary
- Travel Vocabulary
- Colour Vocabulary
- Emotions Vocabulary
- Animal Vocabulary
- Body Parts Vocabulary
- Family and Clothes Vocabulary
Note that tips won’t help you master your German language skills but can provide a pathway to learn German. As I said earlier consistency is the key so keep practising until you succeed. Remember “Übung macht den Meister!” (“Practice makes perfect”). So start your journey today. Viel Erfolg!
About the Author: Deep Parikh
