As you learn a new language, it can be hard to keep it retained as you go through long stretches without using it. It is especially true if you are not around native German speakers. You can only practice your language among those who speak it fluently, as initiating a random conversation is a neat way to make your German tutor proud.
Yet, it can be alarming when you hear someone speaking German, and you can't recount your courses. We don’t yet live in a cyberpunk world where everyone has a universal translator implanted in their brain. Until that day, this guide shall provide you with the basic resources for improving German vocabulary and retaining it.
Steps to Take Right After Your German Class
As you complete the latest lesson, whether about akkusativ pronomen or modal verben, you still have that new information fresh in your head. It is the most appropriate time to retain it long-term. Thus, you should follow a few easy steps to retain the best part of it.
Write Down Your Insights
The rules for using different words and their iteration can be tough to follow in German. Thus, it would be best to write down your lesson in a separate notebook. It not only helps you make the most out of your German language courses but also provides an excellent revision tool should you need to brush up on your skills before an exam or a vacation. Considering the context is also essential, as the version of words can change with the tense, gender, or person.
Review Your Class Notes
It is the advice that has been valid ever since the first pre-school English lesson. If you have a German teacher who takes the class every few days, you must review the notes from your previous sessions. Unlike French or Italian, German grammar has a syntax that varies significantly from English.
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Therefore, revising it makes it easier to stay up to speed in the next class. Additionally, students come across peculiarities in the grammar and clear any doubts in the next German class. It is an excellent way to avoid the last-minute rush before your exam and cover the rest of the courses more conveniently.
Conduct Creative Exercises
“Practice makes perfect.” That quote applies aptly to not just the language, but any other talent people desire to acquire. You need not follow the textbook exercises. There are different methods to perfect your speaking, reading, and writing skills. For example, a proven way is to obtain English sentences from newspapers, magazines, or blog posts and convert them to German. You can also try browsing through social media posts and translating all the content you come across.
If you have some more free time outside your lesson, you can take it one step further. An effective way to learn new languages is to speak and write famous words and phrases from your idols or movies. Whether English or your regional language, you'll find the German version will give a comical new take on it. It is something you're unlikely to forget and grants an interesting start to conversations with your friends.
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Retaining Vocab Lessons In Your Daily Life
Many students only limit their study of linguistics to fixed time slots. While this basic method is a historically successful step, the content you come across daily can help you enhance your German lessons for free. Here are a few techniques you can utilise without investing too much time.
Start Watching Movies/Series with German Subtitles
You can try switching on German subtitles of your favourite movies and TV shows as you watch them. It is an excellent step for people who have grasped just the basics of the German language. The subtitles can help learners accelerate their reading speed, as students have to read them in the short dialogue window.
Once you’ve gotten used to it, you can switch the audio language to German so you can study the apt pronunciation and numerous accents. It might feel weird to many people for the first few weeks. Watching the original Star Wars trilogy should prove a lot more confusing for novice speakers. Still, you can use the method to learn complex terms within a short period.
Listen to German Music and Podcasts
While students are assigned books that describe the folklore of Germany, the music and podcasts are much more practical resources if you don’t have the time. Sure, your German class has a standard set that works for most learners, but you can gain a better insight into the culture with more audio-focused media. There are free apps that many speakers have used to improve their German grammar.
Germany’s music industry has always been about expressing the idea of free speech and goodwill, even during the worst of times. Several of them detail the country's rich history, which you can learn in physical form through the monuments and museums. German podcasts also have a diverse selection to choose from. Zeitsprung and Minkorrekt are a couple of the best podcasts for German listening. You can also try lessons from Coffee Break German or Slow German to work your verbs and adjectives.
Visit Online German Forums
No matter which topics interest you the most, you can find online forums with German posts that can speed up your learning. They might not necessarily be based in Germany, but you can learn the phrases swiftly if they belong to something you're interested in. For example, Engineering students might find a German automobile blog a massive addition to their existing course. They can revise all the terms for everyday use as well.
Online forum apps also allow you to make pen-pals with someone who shares the same passion. That way, you can ease them into healthy conversations to practice your vocabulary. Native German speakers don't use German for every word. An online friend can give you the perspective step you cannot gain with even the best German tutor.
Add a German Keyboard to Your Phone or PC
Once you know how to read and write German, it is time to learn how to type German. Chances are, if you desire to work or study in Germany, you would most likely be working on a computer. The country has excellent internet coverage and often provides new higher-end hardware than what you would be allotted in most Asian countries.
You can install a German keyboard for your PC or smartphone to practice how to type in German. Windows users should go to the keyboard settings and find the appropriate keyboard under the Languages tab. Both Apple and Android users can select alternative symbols by tapping and holding any of the alphabet keys. If that sounds a bit slow, you can step up your speed by changing languages from the Google Keyboard (Android) or download third-party apps (available for both Android and iOS).
Further Steps to Enhance Your German Vocabulary
Once you're familiar with the basic words and phrases, you can work on expanding your German vocabulary.
Read More German Literature
While books like 'Hansel and Gretel' are great for learning the language, various novels and poems exist that can teach you more advanced German vocabulary. The works of Thomas Mann, Bernhard Schlink, and Franz Kafka are some of the best picks. You can also try German comic books and graphic novels if you feel like starting off slow.
German poetry can help you understand complex literary devices. Poems written by Lisel Mueller and Walter Kaufman may help in learning about metaphors and alliterations and grant an excellent insight into the German culture of their respective time periods.
Travel to Germany or Neighboring Countries
Studying online courses or searching for 'German classes near me' can only get you so far. Travelling to a German-speaking nation is the best learning resource you can acquire. You can learn plenty to hone your vocab skills, from signboards to cafe conversations. Speaking to the locals also allows you to learn the variation in accents and verbs that you would otherwise miss out on.
And it is not just Germany that you might consider. Countries like Belgium and Austria also have a majority of the population who speak German. It is also the official language in Switzerland. Given that you can travel around most of Europe without a visa, it would be a great vacation as you apply your courses in various cultural backgrounds.
Switch Your News and Shopping Lists to German
You need to integrate the language into your daily routine to retain and enhance your vocabulary. The German language class may be excellent to set the foundation, but you need to use it in real life to become an expert in the language.
Using the language in the most basic tasks is a way to do that. Try to write your shopping lists or work reports in German. If you read a multi-lingual news app, it would help to switch to the Deutsch version to keep up with worldly events while practising your vocab.
Why Choose Superprof for Your German Learning Needs?
German is not a popular language in a country that already has 122 official natively spoken languages, not including dialects. Thus, finding a reliable German tutor who can help you learn at your own pace while clearing your doubt can be tricky.
On Superprof, you can join German language classes at home or online.
Whether you choose the website or app, you'll have access to several certified linguistic experts. You can choose from multi-level courses depending on your study or work prerequisites. Parents can consult with tutors to explain their child's particular needs and create a custom course for the most efficient learning experience if required.
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