Here are some of the things that you may be doing wrong while learning this language.
How not to learn German?
Learning German is no easy feat. Learning to speak German is even more of a challenge for most learners.
The grammar can seem confusing, the sentence structure tricky, and the pronunciation difficult to master. But it doesn’t need to be that way.
If you’ve also found learning German as challenging as we suspect you might have, then read on to learn how not to learn this awesome language! For many people, learning a new language can be difficult, especially if they try to do it alone, without anyone correcting their mistakes and misunderstandings.
We know that it can sometimes be frustrating, but with the right techniques and methods, you can make learning German easier than you think.
Read from the start
If you’re trying to learn German, start by reading German books, magazines, newspapers or German readings online. For beginners, reading is the best method to understand grammar rules and sentence structure and get a feel for how the language flows.
Not only do you get an insight into the German language, but you also get the chance to practice your reading skills. Reading allows you to focus on certain aspects of the language you’re having trouble with, without distraction from a spoken conversation.
Reading also helps you to practice vocabulary and expressions that you will use a lot in German and will therefore be very useful to know. You can also expand on what you’ve read with research, internet searches, and discussions with other learners.
Don’t use a dictionary
Don’t look up every word you don’t know in the dictionary. You may spend more time looking up words than reading and trying to understand what you’re reading.
Instead, focus on understanding the general meaning of what you’re reading first and then go back to the words you don’t know and look them up. You’ll learn more this way as you’ll be focusing on the overall theme of what you’re reading.
You’ll have more success learning German this way because you’ll be using your brain’s natural ability to connect new information and information you’ve previously learned.
Don’t speak from day one
Many people make the mistake of trying to speak German the moment they start studying the language. While it is important to understand pronunciation and get used to speaking the language, you also don’t want to stress yourself out.
Don’t try to speak in German from day one. Instead, focus on learning basic words and expressions and ensuring correct pronunciation. It’s much better to make small mistakes from the start than to make big ones later.
By focusing on pronunciation from the start, you’ll be able to correct your mistakes and ensure that you’re forming words properly.
Use the same tools for learning and practicing
If you are trying to learn German, it’s a good idea to use the same tools you will use for practicing German. For example, if you are going to read a German book, try to read it on the same website or application you will use to practice reading German.
This is because when you practice, you will be using the same methods you used when you were trying to learn. This way, you can focus on the important aspects of the language without the added pressure of remembering how to do something properly.
Mix up your methods
Don’t stick to one method or approach if you’re trying to learn German. You’ll have a much better chance of learning if you mix your methods.
For example, if you’re reading a German article, try to summarize it and write it down. If you’re trying to learn new vocabulary, try to use it in a sentence.
This way, you’ll be able to focus on all the important aspects of the language simultaneously. Learning German should be fun!
This isn’t something you can force yourself to do. It should be enjoyable. If you’re bored with your methods, try something new!
Only learn vocab you’re very likely to use
It’s important to learn words and expressions you’ll use a lot. But when you’re first starting out, it can be difficult to know which words are important and which aren’t.
To help you decide what words to learn and which ones to skip, you can use the “one-third” rule. According to this rule, when you start out learning a language, you should only focus on learning one-third of the total words in that language.
This will allow you to focus on the most important words and expressions and still give you much room to learn other things later.
Don’t actively listen and respond to native speakers
It’s natural to want to actively listen to German conversations and respond, but this is something you should avoid if you want to learn German properly. Instead, try to learn by reading and to summarize what you’ve read.
This will help you focus on the important aspects of the language without the added pressure of responding. You’ll also want to avoid actively listening to German conversations until you’re confident in your language understanding.
You may end up confusing yourself and getting the wrong impression of the language if you try to listen actively too early.
Bottom line
If you’re trying to learn German, there are plenty of ways to get it wrong and very few to get it right. Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to success.
Make sure to read from the start, don’t use a dictionary, don’t speak from day one, use the same tools for learning and practicing, mix up your methods, only learn vocab you’re very likely to use and don’t actively listen and respond to native speakers. With these tips, you’ll be well on speaking German like a pro.
