German Reading Material, Girls and Boys: 10 Graspable Books for Emerging German Readers
The German language may sometimes appear more impenetrable than the Berlin Wall. But hey, even that’s history! If you think you need to master every complicated grammar rule before you can enjoy the language, think again. If you think you need to have the dative, the accusative and all those neverending compound words down before you can start reading real German books, I’m here to tell you differently. And I’m not just talking about children’s books, though those can be a big help, too. Even some of the greatest German language writers, like Kafka and Max Frisch, have produced accessible works that’ll keep you hooked and boost your Deutsch skills in record time! The Benefits of Reading German Books Sooner Rather Than Later If you’re a beginner or intermediate learner who’s been putting off reading books in German, you’re probably doing yourself more harm than good. Books allow you to experience real-life language, as opposed to classroom language. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
10 Must-see German Animated Movies You'll Absolutely Love
Cancel your Friday night plans! Set down those flashcards and go restock your popcorn supply. Give your conversation practice a little rest and start putting holds on some of your library’s German movies. Not just any movies, though—we’re talking animation today. Oh yes, you’ll be adding some truly fascinating stories to your shelf, alongside “Toy Story” and “Frozen.” Even if you thought you were way past your animated movie phase, it’s time to rewind the clock and get settled in for some refreshing cartoon time. Why Watch Animated German Movies? There are plenty of reasons why watching German animated movies will help your language. Discover the wondrous German film industry. How to Learn German with Animated Movies It can be easy to get lost in all the fun of the story and forget you actually wanted to use the movie as a language tool. If you hear a word, but aren’t 100% on the meaning, you should quickly jot it down (or hit pause and write it down). All right, now let’s get to the films! 1.
Learn German Through TV: 8 Great Shows for German Learners
You’ve already read the must-read German classics. Next you turned to music, and continued learning German with some great modern songs that still get stuck in your head from time to time. And then you began watching German movies to take your German skills to the next level. The movies have been great so far! The answer: TELEVISION Yes, forget what your parents told you about watching too much TV. Not only can you learn tons of new slang from TV, but you can also gain great insight into contemporary German culture. In addition, unscripted shows—like reality shows—can expose you to off-the-cuff German, which can drastically improve your listening comprehension. Need a quick break from your German vocabulary flashcards? If you discover that you love learning German through authentic video content like these awesome shows, then you’ll have to check out FluentU. That’s what we’re all about. Now, let’s get on with the show! 1. 2. Drama, drama, drama! 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Learn German with Movies: 10 Great Movies for Learning Real German
Struggling to understand your friend from Basel? Not sure why that Viennese man told you to “greet God”? Recognizing regional dialects and slang are key to understanding the German language. One way to acquire an ear for these everyday regionalisms is to learn German through music. But my favorite way to learn real German is German films. Why Learn German with Movies? It’s simple, really. Movies are just fun and entertaining. So drop that Hochdeutsch textbook for now and start streaming one of the following German-language films! Tips on Learning German through Movies To learn German as effectively as possible, it isn’t enough to just watch the movies and expect to soak up the vocabulary. This all takes time and energy, and there’s still a lot of pain involved when you encounter unknown words. FluentU helps you learn German through movie trailers, commercials, news, and music videos. Learn German with Movies: 10 Great Movies for Learning Real German 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11 Awesome German Podcasts to Accelerate Your Language Learning
Oh, man. Just look at that calendar. You’re definitely a busy person. How can you possibly find enough time to study German? German TV shows and movies, as fun as they might be, require your undivided attention. Who has time for that? These German podcasts are about to become you new best friends. Featuring animated, knowledgeable and enthusiastic hosts, podcasts are surprisingly powerful as learning tools and sources of entertainment. Why You Have to Try German Podcasts They’re perfectly suited to a busy lifestyle. Podcasts are a wonderful on-the-go solution to language learning. They teach you to listen well. Without any accompanying visual cues or subtitles, you’ll be forced to pay attention to vocabulary and pronunciation more closely than ever – especially if the bulk of the podcast is in German. They stay fresh and current. New podcast installments are frequently updated, meaning you’ll always have something new to learn! 11 Awesome German Podcasts to Accelerate Your Language Learning