In our previous blog post we showed you several good reasons why you should study German and choose this beautiful language. Shortly: it is useful, exciting yet challenging.
So let’s assume that we have already convinced you and you decided to deep dive into the mysterious world of the German language. You might be among those rookies who immediately ask the questions: How can I learn German and how should I start this journey?
Since the demand for answering these questions are very high, we collected some practical tips and information on how to prepare for this exciting and challenging journey and which steps you should do first before you enroll yourself to a traditional language school.
Step 1. Choose your method
The majority of people assume that when it comes to language learning, all you need to do is to enroll to a language course at the local language school and start studying with a teacher in a small or medium study group. However, in the vast majority of cases this is not necessarily the ideal first step. Why? Everyone is different, so we must consider our goals, timeline, personality and daily routine.
Before you do anything we suggest to ask yourself the following questions:
- What is my main goal when it comes to studying German? What do I want to achieve?
- How much time do I have to reach this goal?
- What is my learning style? Am I open to study with others or prefer to get more attention from a teacher?
- How much time do I have on a daily/weekly basis for practicing German?
Once you have answered these questions you can easily decide on which method is the best for you.
For instance let’s assume that you are a type of person who needs to be inspired and open to study with others and need quick and dirty solution for reaching B2 level in German within 2 years. In this case you would rather want to study in a group at a traditional language school where you will have fixed lessons on a weekly basis.
Or let’s take another typical situation: your spouse got a new job abroad and you need to speak German as soon as possible, you are very busy and would prefer to take lessons at your own pace fitting to your personal schedule. In this case an alternative language school just like Kerry could be a good fit for you where you can study with your own private teacher.
As you can see no matter which method you choose, you should always consider very carefully your own personality and life situation before making such a decision.
Step 2. Master the basics, get prepared in advance
Whether you study at a language school or with a private teacher, you want to master the basics of the German language to a level where you are confident enough to have daily conversations and built it into your long-term memory. One of the newbie learner’s biggest mistakes are that they tend to avoid and skip the basics of a foreign language so when the more complicated and challenging grammar rules are coming they are confused and might lose motivation. So do not underestimate the importance of the basics of the German language, you will thank us later!
If you need a thorough guide for language learning, you can collect further ideas from our language learning guide here.
Step 3. Practice, practice
As you progress with your learning you want to make sure that you practice those new expressions, grammar regularly, ideally on a daily basis.
Kerry tip 1.: Read German news online
To start with the classics, check out the Der Spiegel or Die Welt and select the most interesting topic for you (economy, culture, politics etc.)
Kerry tip 2.: Watch movies
Watch German movies or foreign movies with German subtitle. At first this can be tough and hard to follow but try something easy where the conversation topics are very casual. Try How I Met Your Mother or Friends with German subtitle.
If you need a more authentic experience, then we vote for the following classics: Goodbye Lenin, Run Lola Run or The Downfall.
Step 4. Accelerate your journey: study German 7x faster!
As we have already mentioned previously, your goals, personal preferences and lifestyle should always determine your chosen method when it comes to language learning. If speed is important to you and you do not have much time or you already live in a German speaking country and struggle to communicate with foreigners, then two hemispheres language learning method might be a great fit for you.
What does that mean exactly? Our school’s success lies in speeding up the overall language learning process by providing a brain trainer machine with your lessons. This special and innovative device can help you master German language up to 7x faster. And if this wasn’t enough, we adapt language lessons to YOUR personal daily routine. So no more missed classes and prolonged language learning without any tangible result.
If you want to learn more about our innovative method, then check it out here.
Are you ready for the Kerry experience? Contact us!
