How to learn German? Resources, methods, and study plan

Summary

Zoe, a multilingual PhD student, shares her German learning journey and strategies in this informative video. She recommends resources for different proficiency levels, including language schools, online courses like Lingoda, and platforms like Deutsche Welle's Nico's Weg. Zoe emphasizes the importance of building a solid foundation, using Anki for vocabulary, and engaging with diverse media for immersion. Her study plan templates cater to various levels, from beginners to advanced learners aiming for fluency, offering practical advice for overcoming plateaus and integrating German into everyday life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Zoe is a language enthusiast who speaks seven languages and is currently pursuing a bi-national PhD in sociology between France and Germany.
• 📚 Zoe has been learning German for three years with various interruptions and has tried numerous language learning resources and methods.
• 🌟 She is excited to share her ultimate language learning methods and resources for German, tailored for different proficiency levels.
• 📈 For beginners, Zoe recommends focusing on one or two learning resources to avoid confusion and build a solid foundation.
• 🏫 Zoe suggests attending Goethe Institute for structured learning or using online platforms like Lingoda for flexibility and practical lessons.
• 🔍 She emphasizes the importance of using tools like Anki for vocabulary learning and Reverso for dictionary and conjugation exercises.
• 📝 Zoe provides a two-hour study plan template for each level, covering all language skills including listening, writing, speaking, reading, grammar, and vocabulary.
• 🎧 For intermediate learners, she recommends resources like 'Narichtenleicht' for pronunciation practice and 'Easy German' for colloquial expressions and cultural insights.
• 📚 At higher levels, she suggests immersing in German through movies, series, news, and podcasts relevant to everyday life and academic/professional interests.
• 📈 Zoe encourages challenging oneself at higher levels by increasing study intensity, exposure, and focusing on maximizing the effect of each learning session.
• 💪 She concludes with motivational advice to stick to daily routines and practice, highlighting that progress in language learning is gradual and requires persistence.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video and what is her educational background?

The speaker is Zoe, a language enthusiast who speaks seven languages and is currently doing a bi-national PhD in sociology between France and Germany, based in Frankfurt.

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to share Zoe's language learning methods and resources she has used to quickly improve her German, structured by different learning levels.

How long has Zoe been learning German and what were her learning stages?

Zoe has been learning German for three years with interruptions. She studied A1 on her own, attended A2 class at the Goethe Institute in Egypt, continued to B1 on her own, took intensive courses at the university, and is now studying C1 independently.

What is Zoe's advice for beginners in learning German?

Zoe suggests beginners focus on one learning resource, a maximum of two if time allows, to avoid confusion and information overload while building a solid foundation in the language.

What are some of the platforms and resources Zoe recommends for learning German?

Zoe recommends the Goethe Institute for language school learning, Lingoda for online courses, Nico's Weg by Deutsche Welle for online self-study, Anki for vocabulary learning, and Reverso for dictionary and conjugation exercises.

How does Zoe utilize the platform Lingoda for learning German?

Zoe appreciates Lingoda's flexibility, offering time options and the ability to join another group on another date if a lesson is missed. She also mentions the Sprint Challenge, which offers cash back for consistent daily lessons.

What is the Sprint Challenge on Lingoda and how does it work?

The Sprint Challenge on Lingoda is a program where if a student takes a lesson every day for sixty days, they can get a 100% cash back. It's designed to encourage consistent learning and rapid progress.

How does Zoe recommend using the platform Nico's Weg effectively for learning German?

Zoe suggests following the exercises directly for the first few lessons, rewriting the script after watching the video, and then reviewing the grammar and vocabulary list at the end of the video without rushing to learn too much at once.

What is Zoe's suggestion for improving pronunciation in German?

Zoe recommends following a short article with Nachrichtenleicht, a website offering slow speed audio with transcripts, which is beneficial for practicing pronunciation, increasing vocabulary, and developing good shadowing habits.

What are some of the study habits and techniques Zoe suggests for learners at different levels of German?

Zoe suggests using a two-hour study plan template covering all skills, engaging in tandem exchange focusing on pronunciation, using resources like Grammatik Aktiv for grammar, and immersing in everyday and academic/professional German through movies, series, news, and podcasts.

How does Zoe approach learning German at the B2 and C1 levels?

At B2 and C1 levels, Zoe focuses on exposing herself to the language as much as possible without overwhelming note-taking and review. She uses resources like Grammatik Aktiv, German movies, series, news podcasts, and follows accounts on social media for daily updates in German.

What motivation does Zoe offer for those who feel stuck or frustrated in their language learning journey?

Zoe encourages persistence, reminding learners to stick to their daily routine and practice, as improvement comes with time and consistent effort, drawing parallels to her own experiences with learning French.