This post aims to teach you how to learn German language and culture on your own. Make sure to read this and start your leaning journey in no time.
German language and culture
Learning a new language can be challenging. Even if you put in the time every day and feel like you’re making progress, it’s easy to get stuck on certain words or phrases.
Learning a foreign language can be extremely beneficial in your career and personal life, but it is not easy. It takes time and effort to become fluent in another language.
But what exactly makes learning another language so challenging?
Perhaps it’s because most of us aren’t native speakers of English — we have to actively think about how we would say something in another language rather than just assuming we know how to say it.
Perhaps it’s also because there are so many different elements involved when learning a new language: grammar rules, vocabulary, phonetics, syntax – even cultural context comes into play when learning a new language.
Try to learn German and the culture at the same time.
Learning German vocabulary and grammar rules is an important part of learning the language, but you should also try to learn about the culture while learning the language.
Why? Because the culture will help you understand the vocabulary words and phrases you are learning. It will help you to understand why the language is used the way it is used.
For example, in German, there are both informal and formal ways of addressing people. It can be very insulting if you don’t know this, and you use the wrong form of address with someone.
Or, if you’re talking about visiting a sick friend, in German, you wouldn’t say, “I’m going to visit a sick friend” – you would say, “I’m going to see a sick friend.” Why? Because in German, to “see” someone is an informal way of visiting them.
Watch movies and TV shows in the language you’re learning.
You can also learn a lot about the culture of the German language by watching movies and TV shows in German. This will help you see how the language is used in real-life settings and also help you build your vocabulary.
Find shows and movies appropriate for your German level, so you aren’t overwhelmed. You can do this by looking at the free language resource Common Sense Languages, which rates movies and TV shows based on their language level.
One word of caution, though – while watching TV and movies in German is a great way to learn, it’s important not to rely on subtitles too heavily. You want to hear the language as a whole, not just read the words as they are being spoken.
Use flashcards to build your vocabulary.
Flashcards have become a popular way to quickly and efficiently build vocabulary. You can use them to learn new German words and to review words you have already learned.
There are many different types of flashcards you can use when learning German. You can create your own by printing off German words and their English translations.
Or, you can use online flashcard tools like Anki or Memrise. These tools allow you to create your own flashcards and review them as often as you’d like.
When building your vocabulary flashcards, try to find words and phrases you’re likely to use in everyday situations. This way, you’ll be able to use the words and phrases in conversation sooner than if you were to learn words that aren’t used as often.
Don’t be afraid to use tools like google translate.
As you’re studying German, it’s a good idea to get used to using tools like Google Translate.
Using translation tools like Google Translate (or one of its alternatives like Bing Translator or icanTrans) is a quick and easy way to translate words and phrases to another language.
While these translation tools aren’t perfect, they can help you quickly get a general idea of what a word or phrase means. Using these tools sparingly and only when trying to learn a new word or phrase is a good idea.
Otherwise, using translation tools too often can make you forget the German word that you were trying to learn in the first place.
However, Google Translate does have one major benefit: You can use it to translate entire sentences, paragraphs, and even blog posts from German to English and vice versa.
This can help you to practice your new-found vocabulary, and it can help you to understand the context of what you’re reading.
Take advantage of language apps and tools.
There are many language apps and tools available to help you learn German. Some are free, and others offer a paid subscription, but they all have one thing in common:
They will help you to learn German quickly and efficiently. Here are a few language apps and tools worth looking into:
Babbel
Babbel is a language-learning app that offers courses in 12 languages, including German. Babbel has beginner, intermediate, and advanced German courses and an app and course for deaf or hearing-impaired people.
Babbel charges a monthly fee, but promotions often let you try out the app for free for a limited time.
Duolingo
Duolingo is a free language-learning app that has courses for 13 different languages, including German. Duolingo is primarily focused on teaching grammar rules, pronunciation, and building your vocabulary.
The app was created by a team of language experts and had a large and active user base.
Memrise
Memrise is an online language course with courses for several languages, including German. The course is free, and it offers bite-sized lessons that are perfect for people who only have a few minutes here and there to study.
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is a well-known language-learning app. It offers several different language courses and a wide variety of different price plans to choose from, including a free German language course.
Find a language partner who can help hold you accountable.
Find a language partner who is learning the same language as you. You can find language partners on websites like Interpals or Live Lingua.
You can also create an account on one of the language learning apps or sites to find language partners. With a language partner, you can hold each other accountable and help each other to stay motivated.
Plus, you can share tips and tricks, ask questions, and bounce ideas off each other. Working with a language partner is a great way to stay motivated while learning German.
You may hit some bumps along the way, but having someone else to help keep you going will help you stay positive and push yourself to keep learning.
Conclusion
Learning a new language can be challenging, but it is also extremely rewarding. It can help you to grow professionally and personally, and it can change the way you see the world.
To be successful in your language-learning journey, it’s important to learn about the culture of the language you’re trying to learn.
You can do this by watching movies and TV shows in the language, using flashcards to build your vocabulary, and using language apps and tools.
