There are plenty of reasons to learn German. For example, did you know that German and English are both Germanic languages and that they have a lot in common? Some of these words will sound familiar to you – Hand, Museum, Telefon, Musik, Tourist, Haus, Maus, Finger, Glas… numerous words are pronounced the same or similarly in English and German, so learning vocabulary isn't as difficult as you might think. German is the official language in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Switzerland and there are around 130 million native German speakers worldwide. In addition, around 1.5 million people in 42 countries worldwide belong to a German-speaking minority. In the EU, German is the mother tongue of almost 20 per cent of its citizens and is therefore the most widely spoken first language in the EU. In addition, over 10 per cent of Europeans speak German as a foreign language. This puts German in second place after English among speakers in Europe. This also applies to German as a scientific language. So there are plenty of opportunities to use your German language skills and chat with millions of German speakers around the world.
Learning languages is fun, it trains your memory and looks good on your CV. Would you like to start from scratch from the comfort of your computer or mobile phone or brush up on your German? The following web links offer ideas on how to learn German easily and free of charge.
Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Institut is the leading organisation for promoting knowledge of German language and culture. The opportunities for learning at the Goethe-Institut are versatile and advanced. On the website Practise German free of charge you will find interesting articles and resources for every language level – you can improve your German language skills with the help of Deutschtrainer apps, online games, video sequences, podcasts and many other exercises. Register for free at Deutsch für dich where you will find a wide range of German exercises, learning games for beginners and advanced learners and you can exchange ideas with other learners of German via chat or messages and practice together. Perhaps you'd rather learn German via TikTok and Instagram? The host, Alexander, gives you tips, tricks and explanations in short videos in a humorous way. On the YouTube channel 24h Deutsch, Ida takes you on a journey through a typical day in Germany and explains grammar, vocabulary and special features of German language and culture. Books, newspapers and films are great resources for learning German, in the digital library Onleihe you can borrow German-language e-books, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers and films for free.
deutsch.info
This free online platform is addressed to motivated German learners who would like to improve their language skills. You can choose your courses depending on the language level and topic. In addition to grammar, games and audiovisual materials, you will also receive practical information about living and working in Germany and Austria.
Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle (DW) is the international broadcaster of the Federal Republic of Germany. Here you will find a wide range of activities to improve your German skills. You can find slowly spoken news, online German courses, listening tasks, videos, podcasts and much more. Deutsche Welle can also be found on Instagram, TikTok and other social networks.
Zeit Sprachen
Journalism in combination with language training – the website Deutsch Perfekt provides you with a selection of texts, exercises and audio samples to expand your German language skills.
Coffee Break Languages
Would you like to learn German flexibly on the go? Then try the free podcasts from CoffeeBreak Languages. The topics are explained slowly and easily comprehensible depending on your language level in German and English.
Tandem
With this language learning app, you can talk to tandem partners from all over Germany and improve each other's language skills via text message, audio and video chat. Download the app and register for free. You can choose your tandem partner based on language, location and interests.
Memrise
Short videos and audio recordings by native speakers help you to build up your basic German vocabulary in this language learning app.
Duolingo
With Duolingo, you can practise your German spelling and listening comprehension in a playful way. You undergo different levels and collect experience points. Once you have completed all the exercises of one level, you can then move on to the next one.
