How to Learn German by Immersion

Buy learning material - Buy an English to German dictionary and a basic German grammar guide., Have the desire - Most native German speakers feel inclined to speak English when they hear Americans struggling with German., Learn the alphabet - There...

28 Steps 2 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Buy learning material - Buy an English to German dictionary and a basic German grammar guide.

Study these materials as often as possible.

Step 2: Have the desire - Most native German speakers feel inclined to speak English when they hear Americans struggling with German.

You need to show your diligence by telling them to speak slowly and in German.

In German you would say, "Bitte langsam und auf Deutsch sprechen".

This will show that you are determined to learn, even if the process is slow. , If you understand how to pronounce the alphabet you can start sounding out words that you read. , The two most common verbs are sein (to be) and haben (to have).

Verbs are essential in sentence construction, they give what you say meaning. ,, You also need to know how to conjugate verbs.

You don't need to fear, we do this as well in English, for example, I am; he is; you are.

If you don't conjugate correctly it would be like saying, I are. , Learn to ask where the restroom is (Wo ist die Toilette?).

Learn how to tell people your name (Ich heisse...), where you come from (Ich komme aus...), and how old you are (Ich bin...

Jahre alt). , In English we say, if someone's pants zipper were down, we would say, X.Y.Z.

However, in German they would say, Ein Licht brennt im Keller (A light is burning in the basement.). ,, The more your mouth gets used to forming words, the better your German accent will become. , After you've butchered it, because you will in the beginning ask for help! When you learn a grammar rule, start applying it.

Learning the rules one at a time and using them will be easier than feeling obligated to say it right the first time, because if you wait to know it perfectly you'll never say anything. ,,,,,

Step 3: Learn the alphabet - There are thirty letters in the German alphabet

Step 4: only five of which are pronounced the same as their English counterparts.

Step 5: Learn the most commonly used verbs - Learn a group of the most basic and commonly used verbs.

Step 6: Learn the German Pronouns - Pronouns help those you are speaking with understand who and what you are referring to.

Step 7: Learn basic grammar skills - You need to understand word order in the sentence structure

Step 8: for example

Step 9: in most cases the subject is always first and the verb takes the second position.

Step 10: Learn useful phrases - Learning commonly used phrases will help you hold basic conversations and help you in a time of need.

Step 11: Understand Idioms - Realize that Germans do not always express things the same way Americans do in English.

Step 12: Add new words to your vocabulary every day - Add a new verb

Step 13: and adjective to your list of words you are learning every day and try to incorporate them into a conversation with someone during that day.

Step 14: Practice - Practice saying the alphabet

Step 15: counting

Step 16: and saying words out loud.

Step 17: Speak the Language - Even if you forget to conjugate the verb or mess up the sentence structure

Step 18: say it anyway.

Step 19: Listen and ask questions - Take advantage of being in a native speaking country

Step 20: when you hear something you don't understand ask them to explain it!

Step 21: Realize your ability to understand will increase faster than your ability to speak - You'll be thrilled when you get to the point of understanding what people are asking or telling you

Step 22: but you'll become frustrated when you can't answer with the complexity that you are accustomed to in English.

Step 23: Be patient with yourself.

Step 24: Read everything you can - Billboards

Step 25: magazines

Step 26: store signs

Step 27: and even menus can help you understand how Germans express themselves.

Step 28: Never Give up - You have spent your entire life working on understanding your native language; German won't come to you unless you make the effort.

Detailed Guide