German Learning Resources: Tips From a German Student and Teacher
Are you looking for German learning resources you can grab without costing you a lot of money or for free?
Whether you’re attending a German language school, trying, or starting to learn the most spoken native language in the European Union, these resources can cater to your needs. Believe me, I used these resources for learning German when I was a German student. Then, I became a German teacher after passing the B2 German level exam in my home country.
Update: This post was written and published by the previous owner of this website. As the new owner of this site, I made some minor edits and changes to match my own writing and publishing style, in May 2023. However, I have left the information mostly in it’s original form. – Amy
It’s all because I used these German learning resources, and you should too if you’re serious about learning and mastering the German language.
TAKE NOTE: You can apply these tips and use these resources even if you’re learning online or at home.
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Learn German through these Best German Learning Books
Barron’s Learn German the Fast and Fun Way – This was one of the best books I used when I was still a student learning the language. Even when I teach German, I turn to this book to get ideas and inspiration on what and how to teach effectively.
Inside the book, you will not only find pure texts on how to learn the language but images to assist you more in the learning process. If you don’t feel like studying German from context, you can also see a translation directly below the words.
Collins German Grammar (Easy Learning) – If you’re looking for a guide that is clear and easy to understand, this book is exactly for you.
If you have just started learning the language, this book will give you great explanations and examples which assist in teaching you even if you learn all by yourself.
CARDS AND NOTEBOOKS AS GERMAN LEARNING RESOURCES
Flashcards – As a student, I used flashcards to master German vocabulary and words, and I found it effective. If you don’t want to purchase cards, you can easily make your own flashcards using index cards. Such a simple but effective study method!
Even if you’re traveling or waiting for your appointments, you can have fun flipping through your German flashcards. It drives you away from boredom and at the same time, you’re learning.
Notebook – You only need a plain notebook so you can take down notes. I jotted down new words or phrases according to parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, etc.)
But it is really up to you how you would like to use the notebook for learning the language.
LEARN GERMAN THROUGH MUSIC
Why learn a language through music? When you can sing along without memorizing the lyrics of a certain song, then you also learn a language through singing. Moreover, learning through music is more fun and it doesn’t give you the impression of learning. No pressure, more fun.
If you listen every day to German songs or anyone talking in German, you will also know and adapt the pronunciation of each word. For example, ”Gehen”, when we read that normally, it’s just GE-HEN, but the right German pronunciation is GEHYEN or GEHYN.
Tokio Hotel’s Songs
Tokio Hotel is a German band now based in the USA. The band has English songs, but it also has a German version of the songs.
I used to hear the songs on YouTube when I was a student. You should listen first without looking at the lyrics, and try to understand or catch some German words. Jot them down and then verify those words by listening while reading the lyrics.
If you don’t know the words, that’s the time you to search for these new words and use them every day.
Lass uns Laufen (World Behind My Wall German Version) Lyrics – Tokio Hotel
Tokio Hotel – Automatisch (Lyrics)
Andreas Bourani’s Songs
One of his songs I listened to is the one you find below. It’s slow and mellow, and easy on the ears. If you love romantic songs, this song might be for you.
Helene Fischer Songs
If you love pop music, you should listen to Helene Fischer songs and practice your German listening skills.
LEARN GERMAN THROUGH WEBSITES
As long as you have an internet connection, you can browse through these websites where you can learn German for free:
- zeit.de
- spiegel.de
- rd.de
- deutschperfekt.de
- dw.de
- tageschau.de
Some websites mentioned above offer news services like tageschau, while others are German-language news websites like spiegel.
dw.de or Deutsche Welle offers exercises to sharpen your listening skills and reading comprehension like this.
LEARN GERMAN through YOUTUBE
YouTube is one of the best free resource websites if you want to learn a language or any skills. Some channels below are the ones I used or watched when I was learning and practicing my German language skills:
- Get Germanized
- Learn German – Deutsch für Euch
- Easy German
- Learn German
- Learn German with GermanPod101
- Learn German through Extra – Extra is a German show or television series with a bit vibe of Friends. I highly recommend this show which you can also find on YouTube for German learners in a beginner phase.
What German Learning Resources Do You Prefer?
Do you want to learn German or you’ve already started learning the language? What German learning resources do you love using that are not mentioned here? Share your experience in learning the language so others can learn from it too!
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