Germany is considered the fourth most powerful country in the world, according to the 2021 Best Countries report. It’s easy to understand why: it has a huge influence in the European Union, and it’s a hotspot for startups, scientists, and engineers. Plus, when we group up the three major German-speaking countries, we get over 70 Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine. So, it’s not a coincidence that German is the second most used language in science. But the arts are also well represented, with 11 German-speaking winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature. However, learning German offers more than a career boost or easier access to scientific studies. Germany is one of the few countries where university education is completely free, even for international students. This means that if you learn German, you can get your degree from a first-rate college without having to pay student loans for the rest of your life.
Because of German’s popularity, it doesn’t take much research to find various strategies, tips, and other resources to help you study. However, since German is such a unique language, it’s challenging to learn without a carefully built study plan. Above all else, years of research mean that language learning software offers a course structure that will help you quickly learn German.
Another reason to use software to learn German is to better memorize the 20,000 words required to reach fluency. Language learning platforms introduce new vocabulary at the right time to make this process faster. They even include revision sessions to make sure you don’t forget anything.
Language learning tools also help with the complex German grammar system. It explains all the different verb forms, when to use one of the three genders (male, female, neuter), and more. Finally, since spoken German is so different from its written form, you’ll also need to study how to create sentences so that you can have conversations with a native speaker. And let’s not forget that German pronunciation isn’t the easiest. By integrating speaking exercises with speech recognition, many language learning platforms can evaluate your pronunciation and tell you exactly where you need to improve.
Used by millions, Busuu is a well-known and well-loved language-learning application. Based in the UK, this platform ensures an engaging experience by providing a decent variety of exercises. There are 12 courses available, and all of them are built taking into consideration the language’s and country’s cultural aspects. In other words, besides teaching vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, Busuu also provides hints on how to properly behave when speaking with the natives. What’s more, Busuu offers a limited free plan that you can use forever. That being said, a paid subscription is necessary to have access to Busuu’s full potential, such as the ability to interact with other people using the app. The price can be as low as $5.41 per month, and there’s a 14-day money-back guarantee to test the premium plans.
Pimsleur was one of the first self-instructional language learning courses to hit the market. Back in 1963, Dr. Paul Pimsleur released his very first reel-to-reel tape with a Modern Greek course. Nowadays, Pimsleur offers programs for more than 50 languages. Though the time of reel-to-reel tapes is long gone, there is one thing that Pimsleur maintained: the Pimsleur method. By combining graduated interval recall, the principle of anticipation, core vocabulary, and organic learning, Pimsleur helps people speak a language in no time. It’s possible to get the various learning language courses by purchasing each level of the program, or by subscribing to a monthly billing cycle that provides full access. Either way, unless you get the CD version it’s possible to use the software both on desktop and mobile, or to download the lessons in MP3 format for offline use.
Lingoda is the perfect language-learning service for people looking for live classes but still wanting flexible schedules. Instead of repeating exercises, Lingoda enables its users to schedule one-hour lessons with real teachers 24/7. Lessons can be solo or in a group, and all teachers are native speakers. Unfortunately, it only offers courses in four languages: Spanish, German, French, and English. It’s also more expensive than other language-learning apps where lessons average the $10 mark. However, people who are committed to taking daily lessons for three months straight can get refunded up to 100%. Students can try Lingoda through the 7-day free trial available for the Monthly and Marathon subscriptions.
Although German and English are both West Germanic languages and share some vocabulary, the truth is that German is far more complex than its distant cousin. That’s in part because the language is constantly expanding with new terms created by a process known as Wortbildung – you might know them as those catchy words like ‘Rechtsschutzversicherungsgesellschaft’. This means that German has dozens of ways of expressing the same thing, making it even longer to memorize all the necessary vocabulary. On top of that, you also need to learn when to use a particular expression. Language learning software won’t make this challenge go away, but at least it can make it more fun and ensure you don’t forget any words that you’ve already learned. And let’s not forget that Germans use three genders (male, female, and neuter), which follow some vague rules.
Spoken German is very different from how it’s written. Even if you understand everything you read, you’ll still have a hard time understanding what people are saying. That’s because Germans don’t speak with proper grammar as we know it. They substitute the genitive with the dative, rearrange sentences to emphasize the most important part, use incorrect verb forms, and the list continues. So, using a language learning app that offers both writing and speaking exercises is essential, but you already knew that since German also has such challenging pronunciation.
Language learning software will guide you through your German learning journey, but there are a few ways to improve your experience even further. The fastest way to memorize any language is through immersion, which means having contact with the language as much as possible. Fortunately, Germany is the home of fantastic TV shows, movies, and music. For example, if you’re into The Office, you can improve your listening and speaking skills by watching the German version of the show – Stromberg. Meanwhile, if you’re into crime drama series, Tatort has been running since the seventies and follows an ever-changing cast of police detectives.
German literature is also full of excellent books for you to read. The novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind was an international sensation in 1985, and it also got a Netflix adaptation. Last but not least, 6% of all websites are written in German, so you’ll easily find online articles about all kinds of topics.
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