When I first moved to Germany, I didn\u2019t speak a single word of German. Needless to say, it was rough going for the first couple of weeks.<\/p>\n
Eventually, I made the decision to buckle down and learn the language<\/a>. I was shocked by how much progress<\/a> I was able to make in my first month, to the point where I was able to navigate my day-to-day life easily.<\/p>\n These are my seven tips on how to learn German in a month.<\/p>\n [fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Learning a language isn\u2019t an easy task, especially if you’re aiming to achieve a lot in just one month! From the beginning, recognize that learning German is going to take a lot of time<\/strong>, work<\/strong> and effort<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Be honest with yourself about how much of those three things you\u2019re willing to put in!<\/p>\n One thing that might help you stay on track is to plan out a basic learning schedule, that way you have a sense of direction and a means of monitoring your progress.<\/p>\n As you continue to learn, don\u2019t worry if you need to stray from your schedule! It\u2019s okay to move away from it as long as you feel like you\u2019re learning.<\/p>\n No matter what else you decide, a good rule of thumb is to try to learn at least 10-15 new German words every day<\/strong>. It might not sound like a lot, but pretty soon you\u2019ll have an impressive vocabulary to work with! By the end of one month, you could have a functional vocabulary of nearly 500 words.<\/p>\n As far as rules and grammar are concerned, German isn\u2019t exactly the easiest language to learn. If you have the available time and resources to dedicate this month, try to find an intensive German course in your area, such as through the Goethe Institut<\/a><\/strong>. These are typically expensive, but within a week, you\u2019ll have a much better idea of what to expect from German grammar and vocabulary.<\/p>\n Enrolling in a course has the added benefit of an instructor who will correct you whenever you make a mistake, and you can bounce questions off of them. Learning a new language is always a little nerve-wracking, and having someone there to guide you through the process might help you feel more at ease.<\/p>\n Intensive German courses typically last anywhere from three to four weeks, or roughly<\/strong>\u00a0eight hours per week<\/strong>. After finishing one month of an intensive German course, you might not be able to hold the most complex and detailed conversations, but you should be able\u00a0to navigate daily life in German with little to no problem.<\/p>\n When it comes to learning a language, nothing will ever replace being able to communicate with native speakers. In addition to an intensive language course, I had the benefit of living in Germany and the chance to practice every day. While living abroad, you’ll be totally surrounded by the German language at all times.<\/p>\n See if you can plan a Sprachreise<\/em>\u00a0(study abroad trip)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>in a German-speaking country, such as Austria, Switzerland or of course Germany, so that you can get a feel for the cadence and pronunciation of German. After all, what good is knowing a language if you can\u2019t actually communicate with people?<\/p>\n Being able to read and write in German is one thing, but being able to understand what people are saying is a different matter entirely!<\/p>\n It\u2019s also important to note that languages are so much more than words and phrases\u2014they also provide insight into the country\u2019s culture, which is something you can really only experience firsthand<\/a>. If you don’t know the language, you don’t know the culture\u2014and vice versa.<\/p>\n It might seem scary at first, but don\u2019t worry, even advanced speakers make mistakes! Most Germans will understand that you\u2019re still learning and will appreciate the fact that you\u2019re making an effort. Prepare yourself by\u00a0mastering a few key phrases<\/a> ahead of time to make your life a little easier.<\/p>\n Here are some good lines to get you started:<\/p>\n \u201cEntschuldigung, ich spreche nur ein bisschen Deutsche\u201d<\/em> (Sorry, I only speak a little German)<\/p>\n \u201cIch hei\u00dfe _____. Ich komme aus _____.\u201d<\/em> (My name is _____. I am from _____.)<\/p>\n In order to make the most of your month of rapid German learning, I recommend that you spend\u00a0the first two weeks preparing for the trip<\/a>, then the next two weeks actually in the country of your choice.<\/p>\n Regardless of how hard you study in the first two weeks, you’ll likely still find it\u00a0difficult to understand what people are saying at the beginning of your\u00a0Sprachreise<\/em>, but that’s\u00a0okay, the entire point of the trip is to train your ears. If you prepare well, you should start picking up the language in no time.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re learning a language, it helps to have someone to learn with. After all, language is a tool for communication, and speaking with someone else is more fun than talking to yourself!<\/p>\n See if any of your friends are also interested in learning German, check local colleges and universities, or post an ad online. There are tons of online services, such as italki<\/a><\/strong>, that will connect you to language learners from all over the world.<\/p>\n1. Commit to Learning the Language<\/h2>\n
2. Enroll in an Intensive German Course<\/h2>\n
3. Total German Immersion<\/h2>\n
4. Find a German Speaking Partner<\/h2>\n