Why are you here?
Learning a language is overwhelming.
You work super hard that first half hour in August or September to memorize that set of 30 odd vocabulary words and phrases, and by the end you feel practically conversational, what with the ability to introduce yourself, give your age, and even *gasp* add that you live somewhere.
After the third or fourth time of doing this (or even just the first), the amount left to learn can seem impossible: so many words to keep track of. Not to mention all the stupid grammar rules. Hard enough to learn those in English.
I feel your pain.
Or rather, I have felt and overcome. I have faith that you can do the same, so that someday you will be able to hear a German announcement on the intercom at an international airport, read a map in Berlin, or greet a foreigner with the welcome of a familiar tongue.
Learning German from a German Student’s Perspective is going to do its best to sympathize with you every step of the way. Vocab is hard enough, so it would be nice if grammar could be made as easy as possible. These methods worked for me, and I hope they work for you, too.
Viel Glück!
To start you off...
This site mostly revolves around grammar topics your first year or two of German. But there are also many other resources hidden in this site for you to benefit from.
- In a very non-German speaking country like the US, I’ll help show you ways to actually use and benefit (even *gasp* practice) your newfound skills. These are spread throughout the lessons, or summarized here.
- After years of internet combing, I have developed a variety of suggestions for translating. This is a gem, so definitely check it out: translation and dictionary guide.
- A variety of notes were inserted as they arise in examples and such. Depending on your level, these may be of use to you, so feel free to ignore them or take note of them accordingly (no pun intended).
- A handy page of vocabulary approaches to take on that daunting subject.
- Then, of course, grammar help! I always made the most sense of things by working off something I already understood, so the biggest difference you’re going to see between this site and the ten billion others is that I explain everything in terms of English first, so that you may actually understand what in the world is going on in German.
This site isn’t meant to just teach you German flat out. It’s meant as an assistant to help you with grammar and such in your class. But no, it’s not the place to go to learn what “ich” plus “gehe” means, or to memorize a long list of vocabulary for a test.
Choose a topic from the sidebar to get started!
Or find out more about this site.