The best way to learn German

As with any language, the fastest and best way to learn German is through total immersion, preferably through living in a German-speaking country.

If that’s not possible, here are some other options:

Learn the basics. The foundation of the German language is its vocabulary, verbs (and their conjugated forms), sentence structure and grammar rules. Stick with High German, and build a foundation by learning the basic rules of the language. “When you end up speaking with someone with a different dialect,” says Bell, “ask in the nicest, sweetest German you can, ‘could you please speak in High German?’ until you get used to it.”

Learn and memorize German idioms. Germans use a lot of idioms in everyday speech, and they often don’t make sense if you translate them directly. For example, where we say, “cross your fingers,” Germans would say, “Drücken Sie die Daumen,” which literally means, “press the thumbs.” Familiarizing yourself with German idioms will go a long way in terms of comprehension.

Practice speaking German. Find native speakers with whom you can practice your German. They may try to speak in English to make things easier for you, but insist on using German to improve your speaking and comprehension skills. Also, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, says Walter. “In the beginning, it's more important to make yourself understood than to try to be perfect,” he adds. “The more you speak, the better you'll get.”

Learn German pronunciation. For the most part, pronunciation in German isn’t far off from English. However, some letters are different. For example, the guttural “r” comes from your uvula instead of the tip of your tongue as in Spanish. The German umlauts atop certain vowels – ä, ö and ü – also don’t come easy at first. Repeat how these are spoken by Germans to master them.

Practice reading and writing. In addition to speaking with native Germans, plan to write so you can practice other forms of communication. Also, look for opportunities to read German websites, books, newspapers and magazines.

Watch German media. Watching German movies and television shows can help you get the hang of how Germans speak, so you can imitate their grammar. “Try it with subtitles in English first, closed captioning in German next and then without written help,” says Walter.

According to Bell, speaking is the most difficult element of learning German. “There are so many things that go into being able to speak,” she adds. “You have to be able to think about your accent, your pronunciation, and that's one of the things that not all Americans are good with.”

German Learning Resources

Here are some resources to assist you in your goal to learn German:

German movies. If subtitles are available, these are good for all levels. You can use streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime or rent German movies.

German TV shows. These are for all levels, though beginners may consider watching children’s shows for more basic vocabulary. Options include Mobdro (free), YouTV (free, paid versions with access to more shows start at around $7 a month) and various German TV apps from select networks like ARD and ZDF (free).

German radio. TuneIn radio offers a variety of German radio stations that cover all sorts of topics, and they’re free. This option is better for advanced learners because there’s nothing to help you translate what’s being spoken.

German podcasts. Another free resource ideal for advanced learners, German-speaking podcasts cover various topics. There are also podcasts dedicated to helping you learn the language, which can be good for beginners. We recommend podcasts from Coffee Break German and Easy German as being very popular options among beginners, and even more intermediate learners.

German books. Beginners and even intermediate learners can use German textbooks to master the basics. The most helpful books include a Duden grammar book and Langenscheidt dictionary. You may also choose to read fiction and nonfiction books written in German, though you’ll want to choose material based on your ability level. You’ll typically need to pay for these options.

German websites. Free sites like Leo.org and Linguee function as online dictionaries and can help with slang and idioms, including examples of use cases.

Online German classes. You can learn German online by taking courses based on your level of understanding. Websites like Deutsche Welle, DeutschAkademie and Deutsch-Lernen.com offer free courses. And of course, MVA also offers German classes every Sunday! 

German learning apps. Popular apps like Duolingo (free, $6.99 a month for premium version after free trial), Babbel, 50Languages (free), Memrise (free, premium subscriptions start at $7.50 a month) and many more offer the ability to learn German on the go. “Duolingo presents things in a really good manner,” says Bell. “I've just done some assessments for them, so I've seen how it works, and they present the verbs – especially the verbs – in a manner that's easy for people to learn.” 

Other than the mentioned materials, there are various other free options available for you to learn German! For example, just with a simple few clicks and keywords on Youtube, a variety of videos are ready for you to explore. For beginners, you can try out Easy German, a very popular channel that interviews Germans right on the street, and as a result, you can learn the most typical and local phrases that are used by the citizens on a daily basis!

Source: https://www.usnews.com/education/learn-german-guide