Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Learn the basics
• Method 2 of 3: Continue your studies
• Method 3 of 3: Expand your language knowledge to an advanced level
• Tips

Guten Tag! No language is easy, and German takes a lot of patience and practice. German is a logical language with ordered sentence structure and few foreign words included in the language. German is a Germanic language, just like Danish, English and Dutch. German and Dutch are closely linked and with a little effort and time, you too can learn the German language!

To step

Method 1 of 3: Learn the basics

1. Start learning the vowels and consonants. Most German sounds resemble Dutch. Knowing the sounds makes it easier to understand and pronounce the words.
   • Note how vowels sound independently, but also in combination with other letters. Just like in Dutch, a combination of two vowels is pronounced differently than when you use the vowels separately.
   • Likewise, consonants also sound differently in different places in a word or as a concatenation. Learn these variations so you can pronounce the words correctly.
   • Do not forget that German has a number of letters that Dutch does not know. (Ä Ö Ü ß) You will also have to learn these, as well as the pronunciation. That way you know how to use and pronounce them in words.
2. Learn the basic vocabulary. Learn the basic vocabulary so that you have a framework to place nouns, verbs and adjectives that you will learn later. It is also important to learn a few words before traveling to Germany or speaking German.
   • Start with the simplest words, such as "yes", "no", "please", "thank you", and the numbers 1-30.
   • Continue with common constructions such as "I am" (ich bin), "you are" (du bist), "He / She is" (er / sie ist), etc.
3. Learn the sentence structure. That is not very difficult, because Dutch and German are very similar. Many variations are possible. Start with the simple one and expand to more later.
   • Germans will generally be perfectly able to understand what you want to say, even if you get the word order wrong. Pronunciation is the most important thing to be understood, so focus on that most in the beginning.

Method 2 of 3: Continue your studies

1. Learn nouns. Once you know a basic framework of the language, you will want to learn and use more words. Nouns are a great place to start. Try to start with the most common and everyday words, the words about things you use and see every day.
   • Keep in mind that nouns adapt according to number and gender.
   • Good words to start with are words related to food, objects in and around your home, important places in the city, and important people you meet or need (such as the doctor, police officer, etc.).
2. Learn verbs. You will also want to learn important verbs. With that you let the nouns you have already learned do something. German verbs are conjugated. So you will have to learn the basic rules of verb conjugation.
   • Learn the easy verbs before starting the difficult ones. Run, walk, stop, jump, fall, be, have, say, do, go, etc. These are what you will need most in the beginning and they are easier to learn than the difficult ones.
3. Learn adjectives. Once you know nouns and verbs, you will want to add adjectives to your sentences to expand them. Adjectives are also part of the basic sentence structure. So keep an eye on it when you get started with this.
4. Read. Try to read as you learn these words. This gives you the opportunity to practice the words you already know, as well as to learn new words. Read simple books, such as children's books, as they are easiest to understand when you are just starting out.
5. Watch movies. Watch movies with subtitles. This will help you understand the movie and follow the storyline, while hearing the pronunciation in the meantime. This is a great way to expand your vocabulary. Try to pay attention to the translation versus the spoken text.

Method 3 of 3: Expand your language knowledge to an advanced level

1. Take advanced lessons. As you start to expand your knowledge, you will want to go to class to work on the language at your own level. This will challenge you and confront you with the more difficult situations of the language.Advanced classes can be found in the community center, ROCs and universities, but it is also possible to take online classes at well-regarded schools such as the Goethe Institut.
2. Try to study in Germany. The German state encourages exchange programs and you will find that there are many possibilities. Staying in Germany is the very best way to learn the language, as you will be immersed in the language and learn how to use it in practice.
   • You can go to Germany as an exchange student or register as a student at a German study program or university. A student visa gives you permission to stay in the country and education is much cheaper than in many other places. You might also consider looking for a job instead of going to school. If you are young, you could even apply as an au pair or nanny. English speaking au pairs are very welcome in Germany.
3. Find German friends. German friends give you the chance to put your language into practice, get tips on pronunciation and grammar, learn new words and get to know the culture. You can chat online, call via Skype or find a German in your own area (eg at your school, etc.).
4. Read extensively. Read everything you can get your hands on. Try to read at a slightly higher level each time, so that your vocabulary is expanded. You can read any source, but try to choose sources that have good grammar and sentence structure. This will help you to master the language correctly.
   • You can read German magazines or newspapers online. Examples are Die Zeit, Frankfurter Rundschau, or Der Spiegel (which is considered more accessible than most newspapers).
5. Watch movies without subtitles. This will help you understand the language without having to resist the temptation to resort to translation. You don't have to understand all the words at once. You will learn more each time. This is a good way to expand your vocabulary, as it introduces you to words you don't find in everyday situations.
6. Write. It doesn't matter what you write, just write. Correct writing requires a lot of your language skills, but it helps you to master the language and to expand your knowledge of the language. If possible, submit your writings to a native German and ask for corrections and feedback.
   • You can write letters, newspaper articles, a diary, poems, etc., the possibilities are enormous.

Tips

• Find a list of the most common verbs, nouns and adjectives in German. Learning all of these words will give you a good place to start. You can also create a list of the most common Dutch words and translate them into German.
• As with learning any language, practice makes perfect. Challenge yourself to use the language and use it as much as possible in everyday situations.
• Don't leave big gaps between your study moments. If you do, you could forget a lot. Try to learn at least two to three hours in a row and, if possible, do it daily.
• Look up every word you see or hear and don't know. Keep a notebook handy and write in it every word you don't know if you don't have time to look it up right away. Even scribble it down if you don't know the exact spelling. Google goes a long way in helping you find the right word.
• German is known for its long, complicated words (like Pfändungsfreigrenzenbekanntmachung!) But don't let that intimidate you. After a while you get used to the words and the pronunciation. Once you develop these skills, it becomes very easy to break the words into pieces.