Good morning! No language is easy, but if you really want to learn German, you can. A logical language with a well-structured syntax, German belongs to the Germanic linguistic group, which also includes English, Danish and Dutch. If you know English, or another family language, and Latin, you will certainly have an advantage in learning. Read this article to get started!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Basic Grammar
Step 1. Start learning the alphabet and pronouncing vowels and consonants to make yourself understood when you speak
The pronunciation of some letters is similar to Italian, while that of others is not.
- The pronunciation of the vowels varies if two of them are combined with each other. Example: the i and the e are pronounced as in Italian, but the pronunciation of the diphthong ie is similar to a long i.
- Consonants can also vary depending on where they are placed in words.
- Don't forget that German has extra letters not present in Italian: ä, ö, ü and ß.
Step 2. Learn useful words for a basic conversation and then focus more deeply on nouns, verbs and adjectives
- Start with words like Ja ("yes"), Nein ("no"), Bitte ("please / please"), Danke ("thank you") and the numbers from one to 30.
- Learn to conjugate Sein, “Being”, and Haben, “Having”.
Step 3. The sentence structure is very strict
Contrary to English, German is characterized by a SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) order, just like Latin.
Of course the Germans will understand you even if the word order is not very accurate. In the beginning, focus more on pronunciation
Method 2 of 3: Enlarge the Study
Step 1. Learn more nouns to enrich your vocabulary
- In the beginning, you should learn them along with their gender; German has three: feminine, masculine and neutral, and it is not always intuitive to understand what gender a name is.
- It starts with the foods, the objects found in the house, the important places in the city and the professions.
Step 2. Learn to conjugate verbs
In addition to Being and Having, learn the other basic verbs to start forming sentences: Essen ("to eat"), Trinken ("to drink") …
Step 3. Learn adjectives to make sentences more complex
Step 4. Learn the case system, which determines the function of words in sentences
This is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in German, which is why being familiar with Latin will help. There are four cases: Nominative, Genitive, Dative and Accusative.
Step 5. Read aloud
As you do this, underline the words you don't know and look for them. Choose children's books, easier to follow.
Step 6. Watch subtitled movies:
this exercise serves grammar, pronunciation and the development of cultural understanding. Pay attention to how the sentences are translated in Italian.
Method 3 of 3: Advanced Knowledge
Step 1. Take an advanced course to confront the most difficult aspects of the language
You can enroll in a university or private institute, but it is also possible to do one on the web. Search for classes that are right for you on the Goethe Institute website.
Try studying or working in Germany. If you are studying, you can do a cultural exchange or an internship, work as an au pair or babysitter or participate in Erasmus. Or, you can move to work. The options are many. By living on the spot, you can truly acquire excellent language proficiency
Step 2. Make friends with German people to practice the language in all its aspects, from pronunciation to culture
You can find them by posting an ad on the university bulletin board, on the internet, and asking around. If you can't see them in person, chat and call us on Skype.
Step 3. Read everything that comes your way
Opt for more complex texts, but choose good quality publications to learn the language correctly.
If you don't live in Germany, read local newspapers and magazines on the internet: “Der Zeit”, “Frankfurter Rundschau” or “Der Spiegel” (which tends to be at a slightly lower reading level than newspapers)
Step 4. Watch television and movies without subtitles
You may not understand everything at all, but with practice this will happen. Your vocabulary will improve and it will be natural for you to use what you have learned in everyday life.
Step 5. Write, no matter what, just do it
Writing reasonably well requires a good understanding of the language and grammar, but with practice you will improve these. If possible, ask a native speaker to correct your texts and give you their opinions.
You can write letters, a diary, movie reviews, or whatever else you have in mind
Advice
- Don't let too much time pass between study sessions. Be constant and alternate between reading, writing and listening.
- Dedicate a notebook to the words you learn and always write them with the corresponding article to find out what gender they are.
- German is famous for having very long and complicated words (like Pfändungsfreigrenzenbekanntmachung!), But don't be intimidated. After some time, you will understand how they are built and pronounced. Once you have mastered these skills, it will become easy to know how to break up longer words and understand them.
- Dedicate a notebook to the words you hear and do not know and then look for them when you can and know how they are spelled and pronounced.
