German is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It’s also an important part of many people’s professional lives. Learning German can make you more valuable in the workplace and give you access to a rich cultural heritage.
You can find a great variety of free online lessons and apps for learning German. However, it’s always a good idea to use them in conjunction with in-person classes or other resources. This is because your brain learns best when you’re having fun and connecting new information.
If you’re a beginner, start by focusing on the basics. Learn the alphabet, practice pronunciation and work on some basic vocabulary. Don’t be intimidated by the number of letters in German—it’s actually easier than English to pronounce than you might think! Plus, a lot of words are similar to English words (for example, apple is Apfel and welcome is Willkommen).
Then move on to German grammar. You’ll need to know how to form sentences and ask questions in German, so you can have conversations with native speakers. You’ll also want to learn how to distinguish formal and informal speech and understand German culture, such as when you should use a formal greeting or whether it’s appropriate to tip your taxi driver.
You’ll be able to speak a lot more after you’ve learned these basic German lessons. Once you’ve got your basics down, you’ll be ready to tackle more advanced topics like conjugating verbs, discussing movies and music and understanding German culture.