Fast & efficient learning success
Sure, German can be a tricky language to learn. However, with the right strategy and motivation, learning German is a lot easier than you might think – whether for university, work or simply for your next trip abroad. Here we’ve put together our best tips and tricks to help you get started – and make lasting progress as you go along.
1. Clearly define your goals
Before you start learning German, you should take the time to set yourself specific and realistic goals. Do you want to prepare specifically for an exam, or are you just looking to make yourself understood in everyday life? Once you have clearly defined your learning outcome, you’ll find it much easier to stay focussed while working towards your goal, and to keep track of your progress and stay motivated – even when you hit the inevitable rough patch.
2. Structured learning periods
Set a specific time and stick to it. Short sessions of 30-60 minutes a day are more effective than a one-off studying marathon over several hours. Regular breaks are also important to allow your brain to process everything you’ve learnt – because even the most active brain needs a breather at some point after long periods of full concentration. Tip: Rewarding yourself with a small treat after each session, e.g. a piece of chocolate, is a great way of linking studying to a positive experience in your subconscious. This can go a long way in helping you stay on track in the long term, and carry you through the one or other motivational dip.
3. Integrate German into your daily routine
The quickest way to learn a language is to actively and regularly expose yourself to it. Even outside of your studying sessions, there are plenty of ways to integrate German into everyday activities without requiring much effort:
- Change the language of your smartphone, laptop etc. to German.
- Watch German-language series and films with subtitles.
- Listen to German podcasts and music to expand your vocabulary on the go – whether you’re cooking, doing sports, are on your way to work or going on a longer trip.
- Read bilingual books, German magazines or children’s books to get a better feel for the structure of the German language and to better understand specific words in context.
- Try to actively incorporate newly learnt words or grammatical structures into your next conversation.
Tip: Special digital learning podcasts and apps can be a great choice to help you study in a more focused way while giving you added flexibility to work from anywhere, anytime.
4. Use creative mnemonic devices & learning aids
Depending on your learning type, you may need particularly creative techniques to master vocabulary lists, grammatical intricacies and more. Write new vocabulary on post-its to create sticky notes and spread them around your home, or combine words with pictures and stories to help you remember new phrases even better. If you prefer a more classic approach, a neatly organised vocabulary book with space for personal comments and notes is a good starting point.
5. Book a German course
A well-structured German course is usually the best way to get started when learning a new language. Because with the guidance of experienced teachers, learning grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation systematically immediately becomes a whole lot easier. Additionally, courses for groups give you the chance to socialise with other participants, and practice your language skills. At the Österreich Institut, we know that everyone has individual requirements: That’s why we offer a wide variety of face-to-face and online German courses to suit your very own language level – whether A1 or C2. And if you want to put your knowledge to the test or need to show proof of your language skills, you can also take the official ÖSD exam directly at any of our locations.
6. Actively practice speaking
Practice makes perfect: look for tandem partners who speak German as their mother tongue or visit language cafés and conversation groups – that way, you can actively apply what you’ve just learnt, and at the same time have a counterpart who can give you feedback and tips on your pronunciation throughout the conversation.
7. Make learning grammar fun
Even if the mere thought of verb forms, moods and declensions sends shivers down your spine: take the time to understand German grammar instead of blindly memorising set phrases and sentences. Because only when you have understood the foundations you can really speak a language with confidence and use it flexibly in any given situation. To practise, you can analyse sentences and their structure, for example, or use interactive grammar exercises and learning apps to add an element of fun to the learning process..
8. Develop a cultural understanding
Not only grammar, but also the cultural context is an important aspect when learning a language – especially if you already happen to be a more advanced learner. Our tip: Read German and Austrian literature, familiarise yourself with the history and culture of the country, follow TV discussions on social issues, and read the latest news in German – for example with Österreich Spiegel, our specially developed language newspaper. Or explore our blog with lots of exciting articles about Austrian culture and much, much more.
9. Don’t be scared of making mistakes
Whether writing or speaking: Mistakes are part of the learning process. So don’t beat yourself up or let yourself be discouraged if you “mess up” here and there. At the end of the day, those so-called mistakes are nothing more than new learning opportunities to improve your skills.
10. Patience and perseverance are key
The most important thing when learning a language is to have fun! Use different learning methods to stay motivated, and don’t give up if things don’t go as quickly as you’d like them to. After all, language learning takes time. That’s why it’s particularly important to celebrate those small successes. Whether you understand a complex text for the first time or the shop assistant no longer looks at you questioningly when you ask for shoes in a size larger: A milestone is a milestone.
