Learning German: the Methods That Worked for Me
Do the same with any other language!
Learning a foreign language requires a lot of time and work, which is too much for those who only aspire to acquire a better career by doing so. German has become the global business and science language while Germany is the biggest economy in the European Union. Perhaps those practical reasons were the main ones why I decided to jump into learning German.
A lot of people have fears and inner voices telling “you will not make it”. Do you think I was an exception? No, I also thought that at the age of 30 it should be quite difficult to successfully catch up with a new foreign language. Who cares that I have a degree in philology. I even thought that learning a new language has something to do with my IQ. However, did you know that only around 16 percent of what it takes to learn a second language is attributed to intelligence? Mathematical reasoning problems, given in various formats, make up the majority of IQ tests. Perhaps this explains why IQ has a stronger link to academic performance than to life success. Doing well in languages, like doing well in business, politics, or love, needs a different kind of intellect than that which allows you to succeed in school. The same in learning a new language — IQ is not a major factor.
Let’s do it! Let’s learn fast!
Whatever your motivation for learning a new language, you can surely agree that learning it quickly would be ideal. STOP IT! That’s not the case. You cannot learn a new language a fast way. Well, of course, you may learn how to introduce yourself or to understand very basic sentences. However, when we speak about real learning and real knowledge, then I do not imagine a fast way of doing it. Finally, think why do those guys sit few years in university trying to master the language if there is a way to learn it in a few weeks? Simply because there is no way how you can learn a new foreign language in a fast and a simple way. When I started with German I understood it. The sooner you realize this, the less disappointed you will be.
Trick and tips? Or just a methodological way of learning?
Learning a language, especially when starting from scratch, appears to be everything from quick: you’ll need to brush up on your grammar, remember vocabulary, and practice speaking. I am not even sure if there is a golden rule for doing this but for sure some basic rules apply to everyone who starts learning.
Of course. nothing can replace the hard work and effort required, if you follow the appropriate method and commit yourself to the process, you can learn a new foreign language.
Let’s roll!
So, these are the main methods that I used while studying German.
1. Establish language-learning objectives
Setting objectives for what you want to achieve is the first step in learning a new language. This makes a lot of sense when you think about it. How do you know what you want to achieve and judge if you’ve achieved it if you don’t establish goals?
Most of us are intimidated by the prospect of learning a new language. There are a lot of words to learn and a lot of ways to study. Setting objectives helps you concentrate your attention so you can quit sweating the small stuff and get down to work. When I started with German, I set a goal — to learn B2 German. That means that I should be capable of speaking, reading, and writing about professional topics. I did not want to be a professional translator or interpreter. It’s beneficial to have a long-term objective in mind — something you aspire to accomplish later.
Long-term ambitions, on the other hand, are too intimidating to motivate you daily. Break down your overall aim into smaller chunks and define weekly or monthly targets. Set specific objectives and concentrate on what you want to learn rather than how much time you want to spend studying. “This week, I’m going to study 30 German vocabulary words connected to shopping,” for example, is a nice objective. According to research, those who establish the correct goals are more likely to succeed. You need to concentrate on precise, measurable results.
2. Learn the “correct” vocabulary
Students’ vocabulary growth refers to their understanding of the meanings and pronunciations of words that are required for communication. They can check what a word or a sentence means after they grasp what it means. This is critical for them to maintain a dialogue. They are halfway to talking successfully if they grasp what the other person is saying and know what terminology to respond with.
The quantity of words in a language is astounding. For example, the English language has between 600,000 and 1 million words. More or less the same with German. It is impossible to learn all of them. And yes, this word IMPOSSIBLE suits here.
Fortunately, you don’t need to study nearly as many words to become fluent in a language. Consider this: the top 100 words account for over half of all English language texts, and the top 1,000 words account for nearly all of the rest! You may save time and boost the quantity of information you absorb fast by focusing on learning these terms first. The same applies to the German language or any other language in the world! Once you learn the first 1000 words, you will start to understand the basics of the language. Actually, you will be able to speak and simply exchange information. What is more, you will be able to communicate in any daily situation in a simple way.
So, I go online and google the phrase “most common words in German” or “top 1000 words used in a language”. I convert to PDF, print and boom — I have it! 15 pages with the most used words in the German language. Then, all that remains is to learn them.
3. Begin using the phrase throughout the day
It may be daunting for a newbie to try to utilize the language all day, but it is not as tough as it appears. There are several simple and even enjoyable methods to incorporate the language into your daily routine. For example, I have been always interested in history. So, I took historical articles written in German. I learned not only German but also useful pieces of history daily. Of course, that should not be an academic article for C2-level speakers. Something, that you could easily digest.
When you grow weary of active learning, turn to passive learning by performing things in your target language that you would typically do in your native language. Streaming a film or a TV show is another option. I really liked Youtube videos as Kurzgesagt or documentaries about the Second World War.
4. Grammar. Please, no!
Grammar is the glue of language, as current language learners realize, and modern technology has responded to this notion. Language is made up of three main components: phrases, vocabulary, and discourse. Grammar is crucial as grammar covers a wide range of topics relevant to spoken languages, such as recognizing tenses and sentence construction. It assists us in communicating information in a style that the audience will recognize and comprehend.
I had to learn German grammar as well. Again, I googled “German grammar summary PDF” and I found a valuable resource for learning — the 60-page booklet to print. All for free! Of course, you may find many PDF grammar books that contain 400–600 pages but for a start nobody needs it. I wanted to realize the way the German language function. What is the difference between English, Portuguese, or any other language that I already had learned? Anyway, the thing is that grammar is still essential. Once you learn at least 1000 words, you need to realize the way they function in a sentence.
5. Speaking, speaking, speaking
Speaking is an interactive process in which the listener receives information and, if required, acts on it. To communicate successfully, it’s crucial to improve both speaking and listening abilities.
I realized that without speaking my German will not be good enough. I needed to find a speaking partner. So, I decided to go on Facebook groups where people share language knowledge. I wrote a simple message in a group called Learn English:
“Any German speaker willing to learn English for free? I offer 15 min conversations in English in return for 15 minutes conversations in German.”
Guess what, next day I had like +10 friendship requests. I stack with people from Germany and I had almost daily calls on WhatsApp. For me, this method was an ideal way to improve my German in all aspects: from grammar to listening skills.
Secondly, in my work, I accidentally found one colleague who also practiced German for a while. I had to speak with her daily on different topics related to work, so I suggested she switch to German. In that way we won twice: we discussed topics that were important as well as we practiced German!
Practice makes perfect
To sum up, to learn a language you need to dedicate time and effort, however, with the right methods, it comes easier. After a few years, I started teaching German to others. Of course, not advanced level, however, I am confident working with beginners and sharing my own experience of learning. Anyway, to improve daily, I also need to practice daily.