Best Ways to Learn German

Throughout the whole Rocket German course, you’ll find a wide variety of dialogues on day-to-day topics including sport, literature, politics, culture, relationship, business and more. And almost all the scenarios are spoken in the same manner as you’d find on the streets in Germany. That's a rare feature not typically found in other services.

The first thing you start with your German course is the "Interactive Audio Course" that will give you the basics and build your confidence. The lessons last for around 20 minutes; not that long to start nodding off. Within a couple of interactive audio lessons, you'll already know how to order a coffee or tea. Actually, the audio part is very useful and it can quickly teach you the most essential German phrases you need to survive.

But when you're ready to become completely fluent, you should switch to a full grammar course called "Language and culture". It consists mostly of grammar and vocabulary, though some cultural insights included. The explanations are straightforward and it offers a bunch of tools for reinforcing your knowledge.

Take note that you can skip any lesson you wish. But each coin has two sides and those individuals that lack self-discipline may find this approach ineffective.

The great news is that Rocket German has no hidden monthly fees. It's a one-time purchase that gives you access to free updates for life. The Level 1 costs $99.95 and can take you from beginner to intermediate user with a good conversational level.

If you choose Levels 1 & 2, you'll be able to improve your knowledge to an advanced level with a very good conversational level. This bundle will cost you $249.90.

And if you'd like to fully prepare for living in Germany, the service offers you a pack of Levels 1, 2, & 3. It costs just $10 more than the previous option, making $259.90 in total. It gives you an opportunity to reach an advanced conversational level.

No matter what option you choose, you'll be able to get a 60-day money-back guarantee. This way, you can buy it and try it with no costs lost.

With a flexible learning program, a wide array of useful tools, and a 60-day money-back guarantee, Rocket German is an excellent value. It will suit both those who would like to become fully proficient in the German language and those who need a quick grasp of the basics.

Unlike traditional language classes, this online course allows you to customize it to your personal goals by doing an accent on reading, writing, listening, or speaking. The program will automatically create the lessons tailored specifically for you. This flexibility allows you to work on those areas that are the most difficult or essential for you. Alternatively, you can let the Rosetta software guide you through the whole course with no skipped lessons. This default method of learning will suit better for beginners.

Rosetta is also flexible in connectivity options. The learners can choose either an online or smartphone-based version. That means the studying content can be accessed online wherever you want. You can simply download the award-winning Rosetta mobile app and knock it out on the bus or train. Or you can select a quick 5-10 minute lesson while waiting in line. And owing to the unique feature "Seek and Speak", you can simply point at any object with your camera and get a translation. Isn't that amazing?

You won't need to pay for the app additionally. Both app and online program come with your subscription and sync automatically. Hence, you'll be able to switch between devices with no problems.

The subscription options are quite diverse as well. You can get a 3-month subscription for $11.99/month, 6-month subscription for $10.99/month, 12-month subscription for $9.99/month, and the 24-month subscription for $6.99/month. Actually, you use more and pay less.

All in all, Rosetta Stone is a wonderful product that can help you learn essential words and basic grammar (less effective at complex grammar concepts). But what it lacks in grammar base it more than makes up in pronunciation. Owing to the TruAccent® speech engine, you'll not only train your brain to recognize sounds but also train your tongue to reproduce them correctly.

After subscribing to the Babbel course, you'll find lessons grouped depending on their difficulty or topics. What we particularly liked is that there is a Business German section that teaches how to write formal e-mails, communicate with partners, or write professional CVs.

Since the lessons are grouped by different topics, you can choose what subject is the most interesting for you and expand your vocabulary in that specific area. Each topic is usually divided into three sections - two practical parts and a review lesson.

Another feature you may find useful for enhancing the material you've learned is the Review Manager. It catches words from the lessons you've already completed and offers you to review them one more time. And in order to motivate you to keep studying German, the course has a feature called Daily Challenge. It asks some questions from the learned material on a daily basis.

Since it's not a full course that can bring you to advanced level, the price is more than moderate when compared to other online services. 1-month subscription will cost you $12.95/month, the 3-month pack is available for $8.95/month, 6 months will cost you $7.5/month, and the best offering is 12 months for $6.95/month.

In summary, we would like to say that Babbel is a very appealing language learning tool for beginners. It's not expensive and includes engaging exercises for practicing German. It consists of interesting lessons that include culture information and teaches essential phrases and words. So, if you just want to get into the basics of the German language in the fastest way possible, Babbel is the stellar choice.

The course consists of a 5-tier system.

The 1st level assumes you know zero German and starts with the basics. You'll learn the language with essential vocabulary and grammar. Also, you'll try to reproduce correct pronunciation and accent.

The higher levels focus on pushing your conversational abilities. The 2nd level doubles your vocabulary, strengthens your grammar, and helps you practice your reading skills. The company promises that at this point you'll start communicating on-the-fly with a good accent.

The 3rd level will help you build on your pitch-perfect accent. You'll learn to speak naturally on many subjects. Reading practice will further expand your vocabulary.

The 4th level continues to increase your fluency. After completing this part, you'll be able to speak German at a dynamic pace with expanded vocabulary and more complex structures.

The last tier, the 5th level, allows you to master your speaking and reading skills. You'll speak and read almost like a native speaker.

Each level consists of 30-min lessons (16 learning hours in total). Most of them start with a brief dialogue in German and then are translated into English. The conversation is also divided into smaller parts to help learners absorb just everything they've heard.

The nice thing about Pimsleur is that it uses the Graduated Interval Recall method which shows certain German words or phrases consistently, not in a random manner. In the beginning, you're being asked to repeat the same phrases and only when you'll be able to recall them, new vocabulary will be introduced instead.

No matter what level you choose, each will cost you $150.00 (one-off purchase). But if you're going to learn German from A to Z, you can get all 5 levels for $575.00 and save quite a lot of money on purchasing separate tiers. If you're not sure whether the Pimsleur approach will suit you, you can try a free lesson at first.

To recap, Pimsleur really shines in developing conversational skills. It can be a great choice for audible German learners. It’s also a good option for travelers and businessmen who would like to learn useful phrases to get around in Germany.

If compared to a normal school, Lingoda online language school is much more flexible yet not less efficient. However, many people still attend "real" schools because they give some certificates that you can use to get work in Germany. With Ligoda, you won't need to sacrifice your comfort and time anymore.

The huge advantage of Lingoda is the fact that it issues CEFR certificates. That’s a certificate stating that you've completed a level of the European framework (from A1 up to C2). In other words, it's an accepted proof of your proficiency level and time spent on language learning.

Compared to language schools, Lingoda online classes offer insane value for money. The small group classes start at $9 per lesson (1-month subscription), which is twice cheaper. The service provides a lot of different plans at various price points and a number of classes included. Also, you can run a test private class at $0.99. It will give you an idea about the teachers and the learning format.

Overall, if you’re really serious about learning the German language but can't fit live classes in your schedule, Lingoda is what you need. It's an online school with native speakers and a flexible schedule. You'll be able to take lessons wherever you want 24/7. Great for working people with wonky schedules.