Best Ways to Learn German

You’ve decided you want to speak German (great idea!), so what’s the best way to learn German? There are so many language learning methods out there that choosing the right one for you is a huge challenge. Whether your goal is to get your dream job, settle into a German-speaking country or become an international student, we'll show you the best ways to learn German.

Read on to discover the best ways to learn German and how Busuu can help you achieve your goals.

Discover the best ways to learn German

Study German on your own schedule

Forget trying to find the optimal language learning method. Instead, you need one that fits into your busy life. Busuu’s bite-sized lessons and videos help you learn at your own pace and on your own schedule without a huge time commitment.

Learn German with friends around the world

Want to really master German? You need people to practice with. Busuu’s online community has millions of members. Get help and support from native German speakers, master German through the feedback you receive, and make friends along the way.

Get the German you need to achieve your goals

Get the German resources you need with Busuu Premium. Whether you’re learning German for business, education or travel, we’ve got you covered in our Complete German, German for Travel, Life in Germany, and German for Business courses.

What are the best ways to learn German?

Here are five of the best ways to improve your German skills. 

1) Use an app

The best way to learn German is the method you can stick to. One that makes it easy for you to be consistent. This is where apps shine – they’re the most convenient and accessible way to learn German. You can squeeze learning in between work shifts, taking the kids to the doctor and doing the grocery shopping. You’re busy, and a language learning app fits into your busy schedule.

If you’re ready to make real progress with German, check out the Busuu app. You can take your German study with you wherever you go. Busuu’s bite-sized German lessons and videos are perfect for busy language learners. They fit into your life so you can study at your own pace. You can make huge progress no matter how little time you have because Busuu makes it easy to build a study habit you can stick to.

2) Get plenty of input

Input (hearing or reading a language) is one of the most important factors when it comes to learning a language. Reading is a fantastic way of getting a lot of German input. You can approach this in two ways: extensive reading (reading a lot of simple and fun texts with a focus on meaning) and intensive reading (reading fewer, more complicated texts with a focus on language form). These are proven methods. Do both of these, and you’ll have everything covered.

Listening is another way to get lots of input. It’s usually more difficult than reading (especially if you listen to authentic, natural-speed German). But if you’re careful when choosing the content you listen to, you’ll learn a lot. Listen to simple, short content talking about a topic that interests you. And do it as much as possible. 

3) Get plenty of communication practice

Input on its own isn’t enough. You need output, too. So get out there and communicate. Practice your German speaking and writing skills. Having conversations with native German speakers and other language learners is the best way to learn conversational German. You’ll improve your skills while enjoying yourself. It’s a win-win situation.

Finding partners to practice with can be tricky. Luckily, the Busuu Community has over one million language learners and native speakers waiting to interact with you.

4) Get helpful feedback

Let’s not sugarcoat it – German is a difficult language. It has complicated grammar (we’re looking at you, noun cases!), three grammatical genders and their articles, and super long compound words (for example, nahrungsmittelunverträglichkeit means ‘food intolerance’).

When learning German, feedback from a native speaker is a massive help. Busuu makes it easy for you to get feedback on your German writing and speaking skills. Busuu’s huge online community is full of native German speakers who are happy to help with your grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

5) Access advanced language learning tools

Language learning technology is advanced. There are new ways for you to make progress that are convenient and efficient. Busuu’s algorithms help you memorize vocabulary and grammar. 

The Busuu app remembers what words you’ve studied and gets you to review them. It notes the words you remember well and the ones you struggle with. It uses this data to personalize your learning. The words you know well appear for review less frequently. But the words you can’t remember keep appearing in reviews until you’ve memorized them.

Why Busuu is the best place to learn German

Achieve your German goals

Busuu’s German courses help you achieve your goals, no matter what they are. You can study everything from general German to business and travel German. And for people moving to a German-speaking country, Busuu’s Life in Germany course will help you start your new life. 

Access the most advanced language learning tools

The biggest hurdles to learning German are complicated grammar, long compound words and unique sounds. Busuu uses advanced learning tools to personalize your learning experience so you can overcome any difficulties you face. Busuu’s spaced-repetition algorithm helps you memorize words and grammar. It reminds you to review language at the right time to stop you from forgetting. And it does all this automatically.

Join a thriving online community

What’s the point of learning German if you don’t practice it with real people? Busuu has a worldwide community of millions of language learners and native German speakers waiting to support and connect with you. Get feedback on your speaking, pronunciation and writing. You don’t need to learn German alone.

What are the benefits of learning German?

Learning German is a huge challenge. But it’s worth all the effort. Here are the top five benefits of mastering German.

1) Boost your career prospects

Germany is the biggest economy in Europe and a major player in the engineering, automotive and finance industries. There are countless opportunities for German speakers in (or working with people from) central Europe. So, master German, add your achievements to your CV, and maximize the opportunities you gain from mastering German.

2) Access low-cost but high-quality universities

Germany has fantastic and reasonably priced universities. So, if you want a high-level education without breaking the bank, Germany is one of the best options. Many public universities are free – even for international students. Studying in Germany is a much cheaper option than in many other countries. But you need German skills to be accepted into the courses. 

3) Keep your brain healthy

Learning a language is good for your brain health. This benefit isn’t specific to German. But it’s a big one. When you combine it with the other benefits on this list, you’ll see that learning German is a worthwhile challenge.

Learning a language improves memory, increases attention span and might prevent cognitive decline and dementia. So, keep your brain in good condition by learning German.

4) Travel around central Europe

Germany is an official language in five central European countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Lichtenstein. You’ll also find German speakers in Belgium and throughout the rest of Europe. It’s estimated that around 13% of European people speak German natively or as a second language. Wherever you go in Europe, you’ll find German speakers to communicate with.

5) Grow your European network

German is the most common language in Europe with around 100 million speakers. That’s a lot of people to meet, communicate with, learn from or work with. Whether you’re looking for friends or business contacts, learning German will help you network in Europe. 

Basic German phrases

To get your German journey off to a good start, here are 15 basic phrases for you to learn. 

15 German phrases you need to know