Again without having to take grammar lessons or do the boring stuff.
Switch to the German course here: Deutsch auffrischen nach einer Pause
You may be thinking: I want to learn German again. This article will help you figure out where to start and how to do it the best way.
I’ll show you the best way to learn German again, beginning in order of importance and then explaining how each method works.
They are:
- TPRS lessons
- LingQ
- I’ll also discuss why some advice for learning German after a break might not work and give you the chance to try your best.
1. TPRS: The best way for you to learn German again
This is the best way to learn the German language A1 level:
- Naturally, improve your grammar
- Let’s read this in German
- Let’s listen to and speak German.
- However, there are many ways to check all of these boxes.
What makes TPRS different from other systems?
TPRS is more effective because you can always find a part B in every lesson where you can answer questions about what has been read (just like a simulated conversation).
This allows you to speak German immediately. Even if you make mistakes, you will be able to hear the correct answer after a brief pause.
After some repetitions, you will be able to learn new vocabulary and sentence structure. The more you speak and listen for corrections, the more fluent you will become.
You don’t have time to learn grammar and introductions if you are looking to improve your German.
You need a way to get started immediately so your brain can rewire and connect the fragments of German it once made.
This is what TPRS excels at and you can learn as much as 10 minutes per day.
These stories are funny and interesting and are told from different perspectives.
TPRS’s greatest advantage is its simplicity and friendliness.
Lessons begin with simple narrations, then they move on to introduce more complex cases and vocabulary.
This will ensure that you master German step by step, even if you’re learning it after a break.
Learn German without any cost by downloading the TPRS.
2. LingQ is a great tool for German relearning
This language learning platform is great for those who wish to improve their German skills or learn more vocabulary.
It checks all of the above requirements. But what sets it apart is that it teaches you more vocabulary than any other method.
LingQ users claim to have over 20000 German words, while other users on other platforms say they only know 12000 – 15000 words.
These figures were found on German learning forums. LingQ also has a rating of 4.0 stars on Google Play and an iOS rating of 4.5 stars.
LingQ also offers the advantage of being able to explore topics that interest you, so you’re not restricted to what is currently available.
Here’s a screenshot of an example LingQ lesson.
LingQ – Mini-Stories German
LingQ’s downside is its complexity. It can seem overwhelming at first, even though it is extremely effective.
The key takeaway is that all new words are colored in blue, and once you have chosen a meaning, they turn yellow. This cycle continues until you are proficient in them.
The stories can be told from different perspectives, just like the TPRS. If you find the narration too fast, you can use the buttons to select a different speed version.
However, it is important to not rely too heavily on slow narrations. Instead, you should start listening at normal speed soon enough to be able to understand native Germans’ everyday conversations.
You will be able to communicate with native speakers without having to speak fast.
You can use the TPRS to learn German fluently in the fastest manner. However, if you are looking to improve your German vocabulary and relearn it quickly, LingQ is a good option.
How podcasts and movies can’t help you learn German
These are the main reasons why I oppose it:
- You can’t speak back
- It’s impossible to see the story from another angle.
- You can’t read the words being spoken.
- What’s the point of subtitles if you don’t understand the meaning of a word?
Unless you absolutely need to, you can watch a movie with Google Translate in hand and pause whenever an unfamiliar word appears.
Both of the above methods have a written translation you can use to follow along and verify the meaning of each word.
The TPRS method is once again a winner because you can download PDFs and then read them before you lose. This will allow you to quickly learn all the meanings of the words, which will help you speak fluently no matter how long it takes.
