How long does it take to learn German? According to the U.S. Foreign Service Institute (FSI), you’ll need about 750 hours of study to become fluent in the German language. This means that if you study 10-15 hours per week, you’ll be able to speak fluently like a pro in just a year!
Learning a new language is a difficult task for most people, but the good news is that you can speed up your progress by using simple techniques and strategies.
The German language is one of the most widely spoken languages in Europe. Today, over 200 million people around the world speak German. In addition to being a beautiful language, it also has some unique characteristics.
Learning any foreign language takes time and patience. However, if you know how to use the proper methods and tools, learning German will become more accessible.
Also, you can check out: How long does it take to learn Chinese in 2023
Methods or Ways Of Learning German
Techniques and methods are often more important than time put in. A high-level way to think about it is, working smart versus working hard. You need both to succeed. But simply working hard for the sake of working hard isn’t going to get you anywhere without the proper method.
Learn from native speakers
Learning a foreign language means that you will have to immerse yourself in the culture of another country. You need to be able to communicate with native speakers.
The best way to do this is through immersion programs where you live among other Germans. Such programs exist all over Germany.
Finding The Right Teacher Or Tutor
Finding the right teacher may be difficult at first. Everyone has their unique learning style, teaching style, and personality.
Take the time to explore all your options and find a course of action that motivates you to learn German the most.
Depending on the opportunities for language immersion available in your area, you might be able to join a German retreat or participate in an online German-speaking group.
The main idea is for you to communicate in German as much as possible.
If you’re not making any progress with one teacher or methodology, try switching to another to see if that works better for you.
Combining different techniques and resources provides a successful strategy for learning a foreign language quickly and effectively.
If you practice regularly but lack a teacher to point out any mistakes you’ve made, you’ll likely not be able to maximize your learning.
If you want to learn German quickly, you should combine studying with a tutor or a learner who speaks the language with you.
Learning Method
Techniques and methods are better for learning than the time you spend doing them.
The best way to improve your communication skill is by speaking to a German native speaker. That’s why LingoDada’s online German classes are so practical.
Online language learning classrooms with native speakers are beneficial for practicing pronunciation. You can practice your reading comprehension and listening skill when you’re more familiar with the language.
Learning Schedule
Learning a new skill takes time and practice. Both require a lot of time and commitment in the longer term. According to pure math, if you dedicate 10 hours of language learning each week, you’ll learn German faster than someone reading at a pace of 30 min per day.
Repetition is just as important as mileage, but you can’t artificially produce mileage. Make language learning a priority and devote time each week to brushing up on your skills, no matter how fluent you already are.
Seriousness
Do you want to learn German? If you aren’t, you’re going to have difficulty pushing past the complex parts of learning languages. As with any skill, you’ll eventually reach a point where you can no longer learn new words every day. Can you get through it?
Learning disabilities can affect your ability to learn a new language. If you have ADHD or dyslexia, you may need to spend twice as long to learn a language, but don’t be discouraged. You can still learn a new skill, but it will take longer than your peers.
Proficiency Level
It’s practically impossible to become fluent in a language, especially as complicated as German. Germanic languages are known for their use of words to describe specific emotions. Wanderlust, for instance, means “a strong desire for travel.”
To understand the level at which you’re striving, ask yourself, “Why do I want to learn German?” Do you want to travel? To get a job here? or translate books from German to English?
Each of these examples is a good reason to learn German, but each requires a different proficiency level. Learning more German opens up more opportunities for you.
Exams you can take at GLS in Berlin.
The GLS German Language School is an official testing center for telc Deutsch certificates and TestDaF.
Free Apps To Learn The German Language
Technology has made things easier for you. Use it effectively. There are many free online applications available on the internet that can help you improve your language skills.
You can access them online, and it takes just a few minutes to get them on your device. Here are some of the best applications for you to consider:
Anki
It’s a tool designed to help you learn new words by using flashcards. You can create your flashcards using text, images, or sound files, or you can download pre-made ones.
Memrise
You can learn and socialize simultaneously with Memrise. You can compete with them in German. This app also offers additional programs, so once you’re done with German, you can switch subjects.
WordPic
This app will help improve your vocabulary by showing you pictures and helping you practice your pronunciation.
Babbel–
You’ll be asked questions with multiple choice answers. The app reads questions out loud so you can practice pronunciation.
DeutscheAcademie
This app is dedicated to practicing. You get access to lots of materials that can help improve your level of German.
Wie Geht’s
An app that covers a wide range of topics. It focuses on vocabulary. You can use it with or without an internet connection.
Duolingo
Duolingo is an app for learning languages. It’s an online course where you get to create your profile and set your personal goals.
Factors That Influence How Long It Takes To Learn German
Your mindset matters
A recent study from the College of Foreign Language Learning at Wuling Mountain Area, China, found that students who enter foreign language classes positively tend to learn better than those who don’t.
Students who believe they can learn new languages better than others display mastery responses to difficult situations when learning English as a second language. Those who think they can’t learn languages well show helpless responses to these challenges.
Note this? Your mindset matters.
Your interest
Students at Michigan State University were surveyed for a study looking into factors that influence proficiency attainment in their college language programs.
Students who took the course for professional reasons, those who had studied abroad, and those who had declared a major showed an improvement in their proficiency.
On the one hand, students who indicated they were taking a foreign language course for a specific reason (such as completing a requirement) had a lower average proficiency than those who weren’t.
However, these findings suggest that the importance of students’ interests cannot be underestimated: to learn more quickly and effectively, you must have an intrinsic driving force.
Motivation, self-esteem, and anxiety level
Other factors influencing foreign language acquisition include age, intelligence, aptitude, cognitive style, and personality. Researchers recently discovered that “affective” factors such as motivation, self-esteem, and anxiety could affect your language learning ability.
For example, anxious people are more likely to feel they’re not good enough at something, worry about being judged negatively by others, and be afraid of making mistakes.
A team from the Universitat de Transilvania in Romania suggests the following:
Students’ motivation for learning a foreign language must be raised for them to obtain good results. Changing attitude is a difficult and lengthy process, so it is best to form a positive attitude toward foreign languages as soon as possible.
Situational factors, such as the school environment and contextual factors, may affect students’ anxiety levels, so teachers should provide an engaging and secure environment.
Pronunciation and accentedness
Researchers at Iowa State University found in a study of correct pronunciation among Level 2 Spanish learners that motivation correlated with precision, and those native-fluent listeners judged learners
who put greater effort into correct pronunciation as more understandable than those who did not.
They write: ‘Effort was significantly associated with an accent, suggesting that effort may have played a more important role in shaping learners’ pronunciation over time.’
This suggests that although general communication abilities might come naturally with practice, your accent will improve faster if you focus your attention on it from the beginning.
However, these results should be taken with some caution, as other language learning techniques place less emphasis on correct pronunciation for students to reach general proficiency faster.
Benefit Of Learning German
Learning another language can be challenging. But there are many benefits to doing so. Here are some reasons why learning German could benefit you.
1. It helps you communicate with people around the world
2. You can travel easily.
3. You can work anywhere.
4. You can live anywhere.
5. You can learn new skills.
Conclusion
In conclusion, learning a new language isn’t always easy, but if you follow these steps, you should have no problem mastering German in no time. All you need is dedication, patience, and practice.
FAQS
Is learning to speak German hard?
Learning German isn’t that difficult. Learning any language takes effort and commitment. It’s similar to the German language.
Motivation and hard work are all it takes to achieve your goals. If you’re feeling confused about where to start when learning German, we’ve put together some tips in our article that will help you get started quickly. Let’s be honest. Chinese people will find it harder to learn German than an English native speaker.
This is because the English language is part of the Germanic languages, a family of Indo-European languages that share many similarities with other Germanic languages like English or Dutch.
Can one speak German with online courses?
You can assume that you can understand German at a basic level (B1). You can certainly achieve this level using German online courses. If you learn German with us, you’ll be able to speak good German within one and a half to 2 years.
However, if levels A1 or A2 have already been reached, levels B1 or B2 can be reached within about half a year once every two weeks or three times per week.
How much time do you have to learn German?
Learning any new skill requires two major things: mileage and repetition.
Both take time and commitment over the longer term. Two people who have the same capabilities and use the same learning method will achieve the same results.
If you spend 10 hours a week for one year, you’ll likely be further ahead than someone who spends 1 hour a week for three months. It’s pure math.
It’s just as important because binge learning rarely works over the long term. Learning a new language requires time for our brains to make neural connections around that language.
So ask yourself, “How much time am I willing to spend?
What Makes German Difficult To Learn
There are many reasons why the language learning process might not go as fast as you’d like. Some common hurdles include:
Complex grammar concepts can be hard to understand.
Lack of exposure or practice
Working with the wrong instructor or tutor
Using inefficient methods
