byCharity Johnson
April 9, 2018
0Comments
Do you want to learn German but feel overwhelmed with the number of learning resources available out there? Fear not, help is on the way! It doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, if you want to learn for free or are willing to pay. We’ve put together 10 of the best websites to help you learn or improve on your German.
Deutsch Akademie claims to be the “most comprehensive” free resource for learning German. Here are a few of its best features.
Via Deutsch Akademie
Highlights: You don’t need an account with Deutsch Akademie to be able to access all of the material on the website. Even as a visitor you are free to use more than 20,000 grammar and vocabulary exercises as well as more than 800 hours of interactive online resources. The courses are structured according to the European Framework of Reference for Languages, so this resource is great as a starting point for learning German, or as a supplement to a current course you are taking.
Level: Beginner to Advanced
LEARN GERMAN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS NOW!
SIGN UP NOW TO GET THESE FOR FREE!
- 100 Days of German Words and Expressions E-book
- 300 Useful German Adjectives
Price: Free
2. Babbel
Obviously, Babbel is one of the big names when it comes to language learning. Their courses may come at a cost, but they have been tried, tested and proven effective.
Via Babbel
Highlights: Babbel’s German course draws into two core categories – pronunciation and vocabulary. A fancy feature is the speech recognition tool that is integrated with your browser. Take note that you need a microphone and the most recent version of Flash for this to work. Babbel’s strategy for helping you improve your vocabulary is “optimal intervals” or exercising the words and rules that you struggle with the most. Another cool feature is the Babbel mobile app. This tracks and synchronizes your progress so you can take your learning with you.
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Price: First lesson free, next lessons only available through paid subscription
3. BBC
Trust the world’s oldest broadcasting company to inject an entertaining twist into learning one of the world’s oldest languages. From stand-up comedians to F1 drivers, the BBC’s selection of resources is a fun take on improving your German.
Via BBC
Highlights: Not quite sure if your German is beginner, intermediate, advanced or somewhere in between? The BBC has a test that can help you determine your current fluency. Feeling adventurous? Challenge your skill-set by watching/listening to actual German news on TV and radio. You can also watch video tutorials and learn handy holiday phrases on this website for no price at all.
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Price: Free
4. ActiLingua
ActiLingua is a frontrunner in German language education. Established in 1988, ActiLingua has three schools located in Vienna, all of which have great cultural and leisure programmes. The school-owned residences hosts both students and families. To supplement this learning, ActiLingua’s website is home to some excellent resources for learning German.
Via ActiLingua
Highlights: There are 10 lessons available for beginners and 24 lessons (concentrating on grammar) for advanced learners. If you’re not quite sure what level you are, you can get an evaluation through ActiLingua’s Test Your German feature. This can help you match your level of fluency with the available courses.
Level: Beginner and Advanced
Price: Free, register here to access their Free Member Area
Deutsch Online draws on four core language competencies: reading, listening, speaking and writing. This course offers person-centered learning methods to improve your German.
Via Deutsch Online
Highlights: The course begins with the Goethe-Institut’s standard placement test. This will determine your level and course recommendation. Each course is divided into chapters that touch on situational conversations, vocabulary and grammar. Different learning methods are available for your learning styles and needs. Online classes with personal tutors are then scheduled for you to be able to develop your speaking and communication skills. Upon completion, you will be awarded a certificate by Goethe-Institut.
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Price: €675 per level, you can register or book a consultation on their website
Other than being an international broadcasting agency, Deutsch Welle, or DW, is also an advocate of language learning. The German Courses section of their website allows you to learn the language at your own pace.
Via Deutsch Welle
Highlights: E-learning is the name of the game with DW. Videos, podcasts and audio clips are available on their website for both students and teachers of German. The levels are categorized according to the European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Price: Free
DUO is your easy-access go-to web portal for learning German for various purposes.
Highlights: If you are preparing for a trip to Germany, DUO will equip you with the skills you need to communicate comfortably in German. People have found the tutorial side of the course extremely useful when it comes to expressing themselves more confidently. The course may come at a cost, but you can’t put a price tag on progress.
Level: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Business
Price: Courses start at €109
8. Duo Lingo
Duo Lingo is a household name when it comes to language learning. Its German lessons only take 5 minutes to complete but are presented in a fun, game-simulation session. Duo Lingo also claims that its courses are scientifically proven to work!
Via Duo Lingo
Highlights: Duo Lingo is great because it adapts to your specific learning needs and pace. The vocabulary exercise are tailored to help you learn as much as you can, as fast as you can. To top it off, you are given your score as soon as you complete the exercise – allowing you to get immediate feedback and monitor your progress. This progress can then be synchronized with your Duo Lingo app, so that you can even learn German on-the-go.
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Price: Free
9. GermanPod101
GermanPod101 takes pride in providing culturally relevant material for learning German. Not only do you get to learn about everyday Germany, you also get to do it through out-of-the-box, fun-filled lessons.
Via GermanPod101
Highlights: GermanPod101 updates its library every week, so there’s always something new to look forward to. To date, over 750 million lessons have been delivered. Your course progress on the website can also be synchronized on a mobile app.
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Price: Free to an extent. Basic, Premium and Premium+ subscriptions available on their website
10. Grimm Grammar
Last but definitely not the least (and quite possibly the most amusing) resource for learning German is Grimm Grammar. True to its name, this website is an “irreverent revival and shameless exploitation of 19th-century Grimm Fairy Tales for honorable pedagogical purposes”. In other words, 36 19th-century characters from the classic story book have time-travelled to help you learn German!
Highlights: The parts of speech are individually and humorously introduced in sectional overviews, then integrated into more complex topics as you progress. Grimm Grammar is an excellent resource for beginner learners, on its own or to complement an existing course.
Level: Beginner
Price: Free
Websites are a fantastic resource for learning German, as long as you are willing to put time and effort into doing so. From here the internet is your oyster!
What websites have you found most helpful when it comes to learning German? Don’t forget to let us know in the comment box below!
Next Article
About the author
Charity Johnson
Charity Johnson is a third sector worker and former secondary teacher based in the Scottish Isles. Her blog, Archipelagal, is the (re)telling of her geographical and ideological whereabouts.
FAQs
Where can I learn German online for free? ›
- Duolingo.
- Memrise.
- Lingvist.
- DeutschAkademie's German Audio Course. TV Shows and Videos.
- Easy German.
- Extr@ Government Resources.
- Deutsche Welle.
- FSI German Courses.
- Know Your Goal - And Plan How to Get There. ...
- Study Daily. ...
- Prioritize Key Words. ...
- Start Talking from the Beginning. ...
- Study Vocabulary Daily. ...
- Use Free Apps and Tools. ...
- Develop Activities That Target Your Learning Styles and Schedules. ...
- Treat Mistakes Like Free Lessons.
The world's most popular way to learn German online
Learn German in just 5 minutes a day with our game-like lessons. Whether you're a beginner starting with the basics or looking to practice your reading, writing, and speaking, Duolingo is scientifically proven to work.
The app guides you to learn in a natural way through exposure, which works well for English native speakers who are studying German because the two languages are quite closely related. Duolingo German is also good for those who like to jump in at the deep end.
Is German easy to learn? ›Getting Great at German
German might not be as familiar to English speakers as Spanish, but it's still one of the easiest languages to learn. Like Spanish, it's also a phonetic language, which makes pronunciation easy to figure out.
It is estimated that a total of 30 weeks or 750 classroom hours are necessary to learn German. But you could complete those 750 hours in a matter of months or over the course of many years.
How can I learn German by myself? ›- Set yourself a goal. ...
- Start off on the right foot. ...
- Turn learning German into a habit. ...
- Practise speaking German with online tutoring. ...
- Learn new vocab in meaningful chunks. ...
- Make studying German rewarding. ...
- Dive into German culture with TV.
- Listen in. Every good conversation starts with good listening. ...
- Learn the genders. German has three genders, so it's important to learn nouns along with their gender. ...
- Hack your memory. ...
- Turn up the volume. ...
- Record yourself. ...
- Create a personal phrasebook. ...
- Speak up.
On average, it takes the following amount of time to achieve the next language level: A1: approx. 150 hours of lessons.
How hard is A2 German? ›German A2 exam pattern is quite simple. As it's a language, there are 4 modules- Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. It is a 60 points exam and you have to score a minimum 36 points (60%) to pass the exam.
Is A2 German enough? ›
Levels A1 and A2: These levels provide you with basic knowledge of the German language. If you have no previous knowledge, attending an A1 course is highly recommended. Levels B1 and B2: Here is where you will learn German at an advanced level.
How do you get B1 in German? ›- attend a preparatory course (Studienkolleg) to qualify for admission to university in Germany.
- live and work in Germany.
- prove that you have successfully reached level B1.
- be issued with an official and internationally recognized certificate.
- Best Overall: Lingoda.
- Best Budget: DeutschAkademie.
- Best for Flexible Learning: Rocket German.
- Best for Listening Comprehension: GermanPod101.
- Best for Casual Learning: FluentU.
- Best for Learning in a Traditional Setting: Goethe-Institut.
- Best for Conversational Practice: italki.
1. Mandarin Chinese. Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world. Mandarin Chinese is challenging for a number of reasons.
Can I pass A1 German with Duolingo? ›Can we learn enough German language in Duolingo to clear A1 and A2? Yes you can. Duolingo is a great tool for vocabs and basics learning, if you use Duolingo web version you can read grammar reviews written by contributors and there is a discussion space for each exercise.
What is B2 level German? ›The Goethe-Zertifikat B2 is a German exam for young people and adults. It certifies that candidates have acquired advanced language skills and corresponds to the fourth level (B2) of the six-level scale of competence laid down in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
How long learn German fluently? ›So, how long do you need to learn German if you want to reach this level of fluency? According to the U.S. Foreign Service Institute (FSI), you'll need about 750 hours of study to become fluent in German. This means that if you study 12-15 hours a week, you'll be able to speak like a pro in just a year!
Is German harder than English? ›Some parts of German grammar are particularly tricky for English speakers to get to grips with, but German grammar is actually arguably easier to learn than English grammar because it follows set rules that are laid down by the three regional authorities, in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (with small differences ...
Is German harder than French? ›Nitty-gritty things like these can make getting started a bit of a challenge – but between the two, French will be a little easier, with (slightly) fewer endings to learn. That said, experts largely agree that the more German you learn, the easier it gets, while French gets more complicated the deeper you dive in.
Is B1 German fluent? ›The B Levels: Conversational
B1 German speakers have no problem understanding the main points of a conversation when clear standard German is used, especially when the topic is something familiar like school or work.
How difficult is A1 German? ›
German A1 exam pattern is quite simple. As it's a language, there are 4 modules- Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. It is 60 points exam and you have to score 36 points (60%) to pass the exam.
Can Germans have A2 without A1? ›Yes you can. It is not necessary that one has to appear for the A1 exam first. One can appear for any of the German exam levels directly. I hope that my answer helps you.
Can I learn German in 3 months? ›You need more than 3 months to be fluent. But even with such a short time, if you adjust your strategy, you can actually learn German and get really close to being fluent.
Can I learn German in 6 months? ›The average language you need to know 2,000–3,000 words to be fluent. That not including grammar and idiums. Therefore if you wish to learn 2,500 words in 6 month (180 days) you need to learn about 14 words per day.
Where do I start with German? ›- Master the alphabet. ...
- Learn easy/important words. ...
- Basic grammar: study nouns, verbs and adjectives. ...
- Learn how sentences are constructed. ...
- Talk to German speakers regularly. ...
- Try watching some German movies or listening to German music. ...
- Learning German online.
These levels are classified as A1 for beginners, A2 for elementary, B1 for intermediate, B2 for upper intermediate, C1 as advanced, and C2 as mastery. Expath, like many other language schools, splits these levels in half to accommodate students' time and budget planning (e.g. level A1 is split into A1.
Can I learn German in 1 month? ›German is a difficult language! Within a month, you should be able to get a hang of most of the basics, such as haben and sein and using the Perfekt tense, enough to where you'll be able to navigate your daily life with relative ease.
What are the top 3 languages spoken in Germany? ›There are over 193 best German language courses on udemy with user ratings 4.5/5 and above. Udemy German language courses are created by top-rated German instructors and are beneficial for those who want to learn German for various purposes.
Is Goethe Institut free? ›Learning is better together: In our online community, you will find more than 200 German exercises for all levels, free of charge – as well as other people to practise with.
Is Goethe good for learning German? ›
The Goethe-Institut is the globally active cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany. We promote cultural exchange, education and social discourse in an international context and support the teaching and learning of the German language.
Is Goethe Institute online good? ›Summary: The Goethe Institut is ideal for both beginners and advanced learners. This program is highly customizable and features personalized support from a real instructor, which makes it the best online German course for students who want a lot of tutoring.
How many days it takes to learn German? ›German is rated as a category 2 language and considered to be similar to English. The FSI estimates that German takes approximately 30 weeks, or 750 classroom hours to learn. This study was conducted on a group of language students who spent 25 hours per week in class, and three hours daily on individual practice.
Which German language certificate is the best? ›Level C is the most advanced level, and is split between C1 (Advanced) and C2 (Proficient (near-native)). Level C2 is recognised by all German universities as the level of language competence required for entrance into German-language courses, although some might accept students with B2 or C1 certificates.
How can I learn German at home? ›- Set yourself a goal. ...
- Start off on the right foot. ...
- Turn learning German into a habit. ...
- Practise speaking German with online tutoring. ...
- Learn new vocab in meaningful chunks. ...
- Make studying German rewarding. ...
- Dive into German culture with TV.
- Create a study plan and set goals. ...
- Study regularly to improve your German. ...
- Remove all possible disruptive factors while learning. ...
- Always learn German words with their correct article. ...
- Create some helpful study tools. ...
- Invent some simple memory hooks and outwit your brain.
- Best Overall: Lingoda.
- Best Budget: DeutschAkademie.
- Best for Flexible Learning: Rocket German.
- Best for Listening Comprehension: GermanPod101.
- Best for Casual Learning: FluentU.
- Best for Learning in a Traditional Setting: Goethe-Institut.
- Best for Conversational Practice: italki.
150 hours of lessons. B1: 300 hours of lessons. B2: 240 hours of lessons. C1: 240 hours of lessons.
What is A1 level German? ›The Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 is a German exam for adults. It certifies that candidates have acquired very basic language skills and corresponds to the first level (A1) on the six-level scale of competence laid down in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Which institute is best for German language? ›- Institute for International Education of Students Abroad (IES)
- Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)
- The Middlebury School.
- GLS Campus Berlin.
- Junior Year in Munich (JYM)
- Center for Study Abroad (CSA)
- NACEL Education Travel.
- Goethe University.
What level of German is required to work in Germany? ›
Generally, German language skills at level A1 of the CEFR are required here. However, there are numerous exceptions, which you can read up on in this section.
Can I learn A1 German online? ›Learn German anywhere with our A1 german course online. In summary, the A1 German course face-to-face or online will teach you the basics (die Grundlagen) of the German language. Our no-desk, speaking-based approach will give you the confidence you need to practice German.
Are Goethe courses worth it? ›I highly recommend this to everyone who wants to learn German and experience the culture deeply combined with a lot of fun. Even for people who are only looking to learn the language without the cultural part, Goethe is still the best choice due to the quality of the courses and the great learning atmosphere.
How do you pronounce Goethe? ›How to Pronounce Goethe? | German & English Pronunciation - YouTube