How to learn and master German on your own

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How to learn and master German on your own

Well, I am pretty sure that you have heard the term, “Use it or lose it.” This is particularly true when it comes to learning and mastering a new language. I was born into a multilingual and multicultural background, and I have always been interested in learning more new languages.

However, I came to realize that my German was embarrassingly rusty when I was interrailing Munich, Berlin, and DΓΌsseldorf about two and half years ago. Apparently, I was losing my ability to use German, simply because I didn’t use it often enough to be able to master and maintain it.

Something needed to be done about my German, and I, therefore, included learning and mastering German as my New Year’s resolution. I am convinced that learning German back from scratch will benefit me more than just randomly catching up with it.

Having said that, I have developed my methods of self-study that usually work for myself in learning and mastering new languages, and German in particular. Furthermore, if you, just like me, also want to learn and master German on your own, I have included some resources that would hopefully be useful for you as well:

1. Learn the German Grammar and Usage

Learning the grammar and usage of German from scratch is a must in understanding German as a written and spoken language. There are other German grammar books available that are cheaper and more compact. However, if you are determined to learn and master German, these eTextbooks are must-reads, which include clear descriptions of all the main grammatical phenomena of German, their use, and accessible exercises. The eTextbooks also distinguish the most common forms of usage, both formal and informal.

2. Read German short stories

In my opinion, you simply cannot separate learning the German language from reading German short stories. To me, those two methods are inseparable and symbiotic, even. By reading short – and usually easy-to-understand – stories, you can learn how to use particular German words in a sentence, for instance.

CafΓ© in Berlin: Learn German with Stories 1 - 10 Short Stories for Beginners
Learning German Through Storytelling - A Detective Story For German Learners: For intermediate and advanced

3. Listen to German short story audiobooks

Learning German – or any other language – does not only involve reading but also listening. Listening to German short story audiobooks has contributed to my understanding of the German language. By listening to those German audiobooks, you can hear and listen to how sentences are being slowly and correctly spoken word by word by the author (a German native speaker), and you can repeat them as well.

BeginnersIntermediate & Advanced
1. Learn German With Stories: CafΓ© in Berlin1. Learning German through Storytelling: Mord Am Morgen
2. Learn German With Stories: Ferien in Frankfurt2. Learning German through Storytelling: Die Dritte Hand
3. Learn German with Stories: Karneval in KΓΆln3. Learning German through Storytelling: Des Spielers Tod
4. Learn German with Stories: Momente in MΓΌnchen4. Learning German through Storytelling: Zum BΓ€renhaus
5. Learn German With Stories: Ahoi aus Hamburg5. Learning German through Storytelling: Heidis FrΓΌhstΓΌck
6. Learn German with Stories: PlΓΆtzlich in Palermo
7. Learn German With Stories: Walzer in Wien
8. Learn German With Stories: ZurΓΌck in ZΓΌrich
9. Learn German With Stories: Digital in Dresden
10. Learn German With Stories: Schlamassel in Stuttgart
11. Learn German with Stories: Lockdown in Liechtenstein
12. Learn German With Stories: Sturm auf Sylt
Learn German on Duolingo.com

4. Practise using Duolingo

I am sure that you, or at least some of you, are already familiar with Duolingo. I love it, not only because it is free but because it also continues in development, is convenient (Duolingo app), interactive, and most of all, fun. I do not believe that one can fully learn a new language only by using Dualingo and its apps, but it is a free, fun tool that is also quite capable of complementing your learning process of the German language, or any available language for that matter.

Read and listen to German Newspapers and News Websites

5. Read, listen, watch German Newspapers and websites

Maybe you don’t have a German relative, lover, friend, or neighbor to practice your German with. Me neither. But, remember the term I mentioned above, “Use it or lose it”. To practice your German, use it or at least get familiar with everything Germans do by reading, listening, and watching German newspapers and other websites. My favorites are ZDF and DW because they are more interactive.

Bonus tips:

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Blogger, Cat Momma to SintraTheCat.com & Content Marketer at Libelcom.com

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