Learn German Language Online: Helpful Tips for Beginners
Did you know that there is a German word for nearly every complex feeling or process you can think of? Take the word ‘kopfkino’, for example, which translates to ‘head cinema’ and describes the vivid daydreams that play like a movie in our minds. Or ‘fernweh’, which describes the strange feeling of homesickness for a place you have never been to. The German language is full of unique words that lend to poetic and captivating conversations. It is no wonder that around 15.5 million people worldwide learn German as an additional language.
The flexibility of the German language
also results in compound words that sound like tongue twisters. A famous
example is ‘Kraftfahrzeughaftpflichtversicherung’, which translates to motor
vehicle liability insurance. As an international student, to learn German language is your ticket to many of the world’s best Universities, generous
scholarship opportunities, and exciting career prospects. This article will
explore some tips to make learning German online simpler and faster.
Learning German Language Online:
A Brief Insight into Proficiency Tests
If you’re applying to a German University in the upcoming intakes or looking to work in its globally interconnected and highly developed industries, you might need to prove your English language skills and some basic German language proficiency to the visa officers. You can get a proficiency certificate after learning the German language online and passing an officially accepted test. The names of accepted proficiency tests are mentioned below.
- Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF)
- Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH)
- Goethe-Zertifikat
- telc Deutsch Hochschule
- Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch (ÖSD)
These tests are concurrent with the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which measures your ability to understand and communicate in German from beginner (A1) to proficient (C2) levels.
Depending on your chosen University or institution, you may need anywhere from an A2 to a C1 certificate. In the next section, we will learn about some ways to make learning the German language easy and accessible.
Tips to Learn German Language Online for International Students
Learning any foreign language takes
time and commitment. You might have heard that German is a very difficult or
complex language, but it is quite easy to understand once you get used to the language
system and pronunciation. Some strategies to learn the German language are
given below.
1.
Start
with the Basics
The first step to learning any
language is to familiarize oneself with its alphabet and sounds. The German
language has some unique sounds, like Umlauts. The ä, ö, and ü Umlauts are
commonly used in German pronunciation. They represent distinct sounds, some of
which might not have a direct version in English or your native language.
Another unique sound in the German language is the Eszett. The symbol used is ß, used to denote a sharp ‘s’ sound.
Think of it as a double ‘s’ like in the English word ‘assess’, as compared to the
single ‘s’ used in words like ‘Saturday’.
Getting familiar with German pronunciation is the first step to gaining
proficiency in the language.
2.
Learn
the Basic Words and Phrases First
Build your vocabulary with day-to-day
life in mind. As an international student, you’ll need to be confident greeting
people, introducing yourself, asking and answering questions, completing
everyday tasks, and getting directions in German. Practice with the help of flashcards,
videos, lists of common words and phrases, or even apps like Memrise and Duolingo.
3.
Practice
a Little Every Day
Make learning the German language a
part of your daily routine. Watch German films and TV shows with subtitles, listen
to podcasts or YouTube videos frequently, and read German authors like Johann
Wolfgang von Goethe, Rainer Rilke, Franz Kafka, and Cornelia Funke. Use sticky
notes to label things around the house to ingrain vocabulary and try practicing
with fellow learners or native speakers to nail the pronunciation.
4.
Join
German Classes Online
Learning the German language online
without external help can get confusing. You might have difficulty finding
officially accepted study material, conjugating verbs, or developing the
confidence to speak fluently. Working with a dedicated tutor through a German
language academy online can make the process easier.
In a classroom environment, you learn
to mix speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills, giving you a holistic
experience of the language. The up-to-date study material, personalized
attention, regular exercises, and frequent practice tests provided by these
academies help you grasp the language at a faster pace.
5.
Take
it One Day at a Time
If you have a timeline to study in Germany,
make sure you start taking steps towards learning the German language well in
advance. It takes at least a year or so to get to an intermediate level in any
language, especially if you plan on retaining the language and being able to
use it in daily life. Set small goals every week and month to keep momentum and
stay motivated to learn the language as grammar and vocabulary become more
complex.
In summation, learning the German language online is a steady path. Practice each linguistic skill regularly,
celebrate your milestones, and get feedback from peers and tutors for the
proficiency test. You can also seek help from German language classes online to
score well on your upcoming attempt.

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