Before studying in Germany, most international students take a German course in their own country or enrol in a language program when they arrive. Some choose to study at English universities in Berlin because of the global atmosphere and the wide availability of English-taught programs. Your classes are in English, and you will probably be with other international students who speak English.
However, as daily life begins to kick in, you’ll realize that you need a better understanding of the language to interact with regular citizens, work, and network.
In this guide, we’ll share some tips you can use to improve your German when you arrive in the country. Lass uns anfangen!
Start with Everyday Conversations
Even if you’ve just started your course, don’t wait till you’ve mastered grammar to start speaking German. In fact, the best way to improve is by jumping in. Even if you make mistakes, you are a new student of the language trying to improve your skills, and the effort is actually impressive.
So, begin with everyday conversations. Greet your neighbors with a casual Hallo or Guten Morgen. When you ask for coffee at your favorite café or you want to ask something at the supermarket, do it in German. These small moments may seem minor, but they are very useful as they help build your confidence and get you used to how German sounds outside the school. People in the country will also appreciate you for the effort, and even meet you halfway or help you where you get stuck.
Find Language Exchange Partners
One of the best ways to improve your German is to find someone who is perfect in it, but is just as eager to learn from you. Considering that the country primarily speaks German, there are always people looking to learn English.
These language exchange partnerships usually give people one of the most comfortable opportunities to learn a new language as there’s no pressure.
To find partners, you can use apps like Tandem, HelloTalk, and Speaky. You’ll quickly find German speakers looking to practice their English, and you can chat via text, voice messages, and even video calls.
You can also find partners through local university bulleting points or Sprachcafés, which are social language meetups that take place in cafés, bars, or student centers.
Practice Where You Live
If you live in student residence halls, a shared flat (WG), or with a host family, your home is one of the easiest places to practice German. It’s a low-pressure setting that allows you to practice your language with room for mistakes.
You can start by letting your flatmates know that you are trying to improve your German. They’ll be happy to help and correct you when you make mistakes. If you are around other students who are also trying to learn the language, you can set “German-only” hours a few times a week and have regular conversations.
Watch, Read, and Listen in German
You don’t have to sit down with a text book to learn German. One of the best ways to ensure it sticks is by learning in a relaxing situation, such as when watching shows, listening to podcasts, or reading simple news articles.
Find German material, especially about something you enjoy. For example, if there’s a show on Netflix you often watch to relax, switch it to German audio with English subtitles. You can also watch German vloggers on YouTube and listen to learning podcasts like “Slow German” and “Easy German.”
Use What You Learn, Every Day
The goal is to get to a point where you can speak German throughout the day, especially when you are working or at a social setting. So, the more you incorporate it into your daily routine, the faster you’ll reach that goal.
Start with what you already know, right where you are. You can begin with things like writing your shopping list in German and changing your phone’s language settings. If it’s a short email or message, do it in German, even if you’ll get assistance from Google Translate. Since these are things that you’ll often do or interact with, the language will start becoming a part of you, and you’ll improve without even realizing it.
