The keys to learning German from scratch

Learning German from scratch isn't easy. Little by little, we're getting used to learning languages ​​in our country. English is a struggle, but we're getting there. And now it's time to get started on German. First of all, you must mentally prepare yourself and understand that German is a long-distance race. It's a complex language, with declensions, many irregular verbs, few rules that apply to everything, and subordinate clauses that are very different in structure from Spanish.

If you want to learn German, you're probably looking for a new career, a new personal challenge, or you want to travel and see the world. Whatever your reason, Language learnings is the best place to learn German from home . Sign up and find your perfect German teacher.

7 keys to learning German

Get your mind set:

Learning German isn't a one-day process. You'll have to work hard and be consistent if you want to achieve your goal. It's a complex language, with declensions, many irregular verbs, few universal rules, and subordinate clauses that are very different in structure from Spanish.

For this reason, the first thing you should do when learning German from scratch is to be prepared for endurance training rather than a sprint. Yes, you won't understand anything at first and you'll have to work hard every day, but the rewards will be worth it.

Set daily goals:

It's no use working hard one day and then doing nothing for four. Consider setting a goal of 30 minutes a day, for example. No matter how busy you are, anyone can carve out half an hour a day to learn German.

Start with the basics:

Colors, pronouns, the verb "sein," numbers... there's a lot of vocabulary you need to learn early in your German lessons. Getting down to basics and essentials will make it much easier to get around.

It's a language distinct from Spanish, so avoid the mistakes we Spaniards often make when learning new languages ​​like German. Learn everything you can about basic German, the first notions you need to familiarize yourself with the language. Learn the alphabet, letter sounds, pronunciation, peculiarities, grammar, and more.

Listening also teaches you:

A language is not a programming language. Speaking it is one of the easiest ways to learn it, but of course, if you don't have a clue, how will you speak German? Let's go step by step: first, we recommend you develop a good ear for German, a difficult but possible task. There are a large number of series, movies, music, and podcasts that can help you with pronunciation.

Start with the pronunciation of the vowels:

Initially, German vowels are pronounced exactly the same as those in Spanish. The 'a' is 'a', the 'o' is 'o'... The only one that varies slightly is the 'e', ​​since in two-syllable words (both with the letter 'e'), some Germans pronounce the first syllable as an 'i' ('Sehen' – 'Sijen'). However, everything changes with vowels with diaeresis ('Umlaut') and diphthongs. Let's start with the first ones:

The 'ä' has a sound that we could place halfway between the 'a' and the 'e'. E.g.: 'Ächten'.

The 'ö' is halfway between the 'o' and the 'e'. To pronounce it correctly, you have to position your mouth as if you were going to pronounce 'o' but say 'e'. E.g., 'Hören'.

The 'ü' is the strangest of all. It's pronounced by forming a 'u' in the mouth but saying a slight 'i'. And now you're wondering why Germans make things so complicated... E.g., 'Übung'.

And now let's go for the diphthongs:

'Ei' is vocalized 'ai'. Ex: 'Bei' – 'Bai'.

'Eu' sounds like 'oi'. Be careful, because in many words you'll find these two vowels together but in different syllables (as in 'Mu-se-um'). E.g.: 'Euro' – 'Oiro'.

'Ie' is pronounced like a long 'i'. E.g. 'Spiel' – 'Spiil'.

And lastly, 'äu' is also vocalized as 'oi'. Ex: 'Häuser' – 'Hoiser'.

Accentuation in German:

Accentuation in this language isn't complicated at all (unlike many other aspects). To begin with, you should know that it's usually the first syllable of a word that needs to be stressed. Although there are, of course, a few exceptions:

If a word has a prefix, the first syllable of the root word must be stressed. For example, in 'gefahren', the accent should be on '-fa-' since 'ge-' is a prefix.

Verbs ending in '–ieren' are stressed on their second-to-last syllable. E.g., 'Studieren'.

Nouns ending in '–ei' or '–ion' also need to be stressed on their last syllable. E.g., 'Datei', 'Nation'.

In compound words (such as 'Obstgarten') and words of foreign origin (such as 'Protokoll') the accentuation rules vary depending on the case.

Online German classes:

If you're sure you want to learn German, our platform is the perfect place. Language learnings connects teachers and students so they can take online classes through the platform, taking advantage of all the benefits and tools it includes. Studying on your own doesn't yield the best results. Your teacher is there to lend a hand when you need it and to work on different aspects of the language.

Get to know Germany:

This is the most direct and effective way. If you have the time and money, try spending some time in Germany. Just don't associate with only Spanish or English speakers. Many people, trying to learn German from scratch, choose to go to some remote village, where they force themselves to learn by pointing and gesturing. Remember that there are also other countries where you can travel and learn German.

Keep in mind that the easiest and most convenient way is to find a good German teacher online . Sign up for Language learnings to find the best online teacher. What are you waiting for?

Private online German lessons

The path may seem complicated, a seemingly endless climb. A mountain with an unreachable summit, but that's not the case. Learning German should be your top priority, and you must find the motivation to help you do it. If you don't know how to start, don't worry, we've got the best way to learn German: online private lessons.

In times of pandemic like the ones we're currently experiencing, avoiding contact with other people should be a priority for our health. Technology has made all its advantages available to continue our learning in a 100% safe and effective way. Learning German while avoiding exposure to the virus is possible with online classes.

Discover all the benefits!

Among many other advantages, online classes don't take up as much time as in-person classes, as they avoid commuting (which not only involves getting from one place to another, but also getting ready to go out, entertaining your neighbor, etc.). Furthermore, by avoiding the cost of said transportation, the price per class is lower, ranging between €10 and €25 on average. Thus, the two main excuses are eliminated with online private classes.

Language learnings is a language learning platform designed to connect students with their teachers online , with the aim of meeting their needs in a personalized way and adapting to the learning pace.

Want to know how it works? All you have to do is:

Visit Our website - Language learning

Find online German classes

Filter your language level

Select the schedule that best suits you (morning, afternoon, evening, or weekend)

View the list of teachers displayed on the screen

Select the one that best suits your needs

Book a class with him/her (many teachers offer a 20-minute free trial option).

How does it work?

So, with language learnings, the process is very simple, as the platform is specifically designed so that students can find their ideal teacher quickly and efficiently.

It also has its own virtual classroom, with all the tools to make online classes the best possible experience. Now that you've discovered the benefits, sign up and start improving your German right now!