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GERMAN LANGUAGE

The best ways to improve your German for free

From tandem partnerships to German podcasts, there are many ways you can master the German language without spending a cent. 

Published: 19 April 2022 17:20 CEST
Dictionaries for German as a foreign language from Langenscheidt on a shelf in a book shop.
Dictionaries for German as a foreign language from Langenscheidt on a shelf in a book shop. These can also be checked out in any Berlin library. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Oliver Berg

The cost of German lessons or private tutoring can quickly mount up, so if you’re low on funds, you may think that your chances of mastering the language are limited. But there are plenty of ways to improve your language skills for free and even make friends along the way. 

Find a tandem partner

There’s nothing like conversing with a native speaker to help bring your language skills along, and finding a tandem partner is one great way to do this.

READ ALSO: 10 ways of speaking German you’ll only ever pick up on the street

A tandem partner wants to learn your native language, or the language you speak to a high level, in exchange for speaking the language you want to learn with you. 

Guests sit at lunchtime in restaurants and cafes in the Weinbergsweg in Berlin.

Guests sit at lunchtime in restaurants and cafes in the Weinbergsweg in Berlin. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Annette Riedl

A good tip when seeking a German tandem partner is to find someone whose skills with their target language are at a similar level to your German. That way, you’re less likely to stick to speaking English and, instead, to push yourself more in conversation. 

There are numerous websites which offer a search tool for tandem partners in your local area or from around the word. 

MyLanguageExchange is one such site which offers online meetings and has three million members worldwide looking for language exchange partners.

TandemPartners, meanwhile is a search engine that allows you to search for potential language partners in your local area and has over 300,000 members.

App-based portal Tandem can also be used to seek out Tandem partners both in your area and across the country. Simply set up a profile with a pic and some info about your language level and interests and you’re on your way to finding a partner for instant messaging, video calls and even in-person meet-ups. 

READ ALSO: Ask a German: Do you ever forget the gender of words?

These are just a few examples, but there are many more sites out there to be explored.

If you don’t have time to commit to a tandem partner, you can also find real-life conversation in a conversation group. The website Meetup lists dozens of such meetings up and down the country every week. The benefit of this for beginners is that many people who attend will be foreign language learners, which may make them slightly easier for you to understand (and slightly more understanding of any mistakes!). 

In almost every major German city, you can also find Sprachcafés – casual meetings for people who like to speak languages and get to know other cultures in an open and uncomplicated way.

They can take place anywhere in public spaces or in privately organized venues and can be found most easily via social media or with a search of “Sprachcafé” in your local region.

Make German friends (and speak to them in German)

For those who manage to find a good tandem partner, the language exchange can develop into a lifelong friendship. 

But if you don’t go down the tandem route, you should also try to broaden your social circle to include German native speakers. 

Though this sounds like an obvious one, it is worth noting as it will improve your language skills and help you integrate more into the country’s culture. 

Joining a sports club, a local choir or any local organisation that fits your interests can be a great way to make new friends. A search for clubs in your local area will usually uncover these kinds of organisations, though you can also use Meetup to find all kinds of social events too. 

Join a library and seek out books

There are over 6,000 public libraries in Germany so, chances are, there’s at least one in your neighbourhood.

Shelves full of books in Berlin's Central and Regional Library.

Shelves full of books in Berlin’s Central and Regional Library. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Annette Riedl

Though joining a library is not completely free, for just €10 a year (and less for students and benefits recipients) you can gain access to thousands of books and multimedia learning tools which otherwise can be quite expensive.

Most libraries offer a variety of text books for German language learners at every level and you can also find fiction books designed for German language learners. One good example is the Baumgarten & Momsen detective series, which is pitched at different skill levels (beginner to advanced) and has vocabulary listed at the end of each chapter.

We also recommend keeping an eye out on groups where people get rid of their old stuff such as the Free Your Stuff Berlin Facebook group, Ebay Kleinanzeigen or Craigslist. From time to time, you’ll find German language learners offering old textbooks that they no longer have any need for, or other books in German. 

Watch German TV

Watching German TV can help you learn the correct and natural pronunciation of words, improve your listening comprehension, and learn slang and expressions. 

READ ALSO: The best TV comedies to improve your German while making you laugh

If you already have a subscription to a major streaming service, you can find plenty of films and TV series in German that you can watch with English subtitles.

The ARD Mediathek news programmes on a tablet device.

The ARD Mediathek news programmes on a tablet device. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/ARD | ARD Mediathek

READ ALSO: Why you should watch German TV on a Sunday evening

If not, several major German media networks – including ARD, ZDF and Arte – have most of their programmes available to stream online, free of charge. There are hundreds of documentaries, news programmes and dramas which will keep you entertained, informed and help improve your language skills.

Online resources 

There are tonnes of language learning resources that you can find online for free. 

The Goethe Insitute, for example, offers the Deutschland. Kennen. Lernen. App which aids independent learning with step-by-step exercises and solutions. Other free apps with language learning programs include Babbel, Memrise and Duolingo.

There are also a few free German language podcasts which you can listen on-the-go to help boost your German skills. Easy German Podcast is a good example, as it includes discussions around news and social topics in simplified German. Lage der Nation (State of the Nation) has also been recommended as a good podcast for language learners and those who want to understand German politics on a more in-depth level, though you may struggle a little with the complicated vocabulary if you’re a beginner. 

There are countless YouTube videos that you can use to learn German too – including channels like Deutsch mit Marija and Hallo Deutschschule. Simply type in “Deutsch lernen” and your approximate level or the name of a topic you’d like to learn and see what comes up.

Listening to German music on music streaming services can also be a big help, and you may even find your next favourite artist! 

READ ALSO: How to overcome five of the biggest stumbling blocks when learning German

A spokesperson from the Goethe-Institut also recommended vocabulary cards for complete self-study. You can either find these in their online courses or through the Institute’s Vokalbetrainer app, but learners can also make these themselves.

Labelling blank index cards yourself, also has the advantage that you can only write down vocabulary that is relevant to you at the moment (e.g. vocabulary that you missed in the tandem conversation).

Volunteer

If you don’t feel confident enough yet with your German ability to enter the world of work, one way you can put your language skills into practice is to find a volunteering position. 

A homeless person receives warm soup at the cold bus of the Berlin City Mission.

A homeless person receives warm soup at the cold bus of the Berlin City Mission. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Jens Kalaene

If you want to volunteer in your local region, you can visit your local city hall and ask who you can speak to about volunteer options in your city. 

You can also check to see if your city has a volunteer exhibition where you can speak to organizations looking for volunteers. Several cities host an annual volunteer exhibition, including Berlin, München, and Nürnberg.

You can also just simply search “Freiwilliger” (volunteer) with the name of your local area.  

If you are not sure whether the position you are applying for requires strong German language skills you can always simply ask. Though in most cases, your German language level won’t be an issue. 

READ ALSO: Four common mistakes English speakers make when learning German

Vocabulary

city hall – (das) Rathaus

club – (der) Verein

volunteer – (der) Freiwilliger

volunteer exhibition – (die) Freiwilligenmesse

We’re aiming to help our readers improve their German by translating vocabulary from some of our news stories. Did you find this article useful? Let us know.

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GERMAN LANGUAGE

‘Umpf’: Six noises to help you sound like a German

You may think fancy vocab is the only way to impress your friends in German, but these quirky noises could actually be the key to sounding like a local.

Published: 24 April 2024 17:23 CEST
Updated: 28 April 2024 08:39 CEST
'Umpf': Six noises to help you sound like a German

For most German-language learners, it’s a familiar scenario: you kick off your language journey with textbooks and courses and eventually start to get comfortable with the tricky grammar and vocabulary.

But as soon as you start talking to a native speaker, you’ll probably hear several words you’ve never heard before – and even a few confusing noises that are hard to decipher.

These funny sounds – which are usually described as discourse markers by linguists – can be used to express anything from exhaustion to surprise, or even to check whether the person you’re talking to is listening.

If you want to sound like a native, it’s worth getting familiar with these quirky noises and trying to incorporate them in your everyday speech.

The good news is that they’re a lot more fun to use than the tricky words you learn in language schools.

What’s more, they’re an easy way to add some natural flair and personality to your German.

READ ALSO: What are the different levels in German and how do I reach them?

Tja

Hearing this word can be confusing for foreigners, because it may sound an awful lot like “ja”, or yes.

But rather than being an affirmative response to a question, ‘tja’ is often used ahead of a contradiction or as an expression of scepticism, similar to the English word “well”.

You may also hear “tja”, or even “ja”, simply used as filler words for the speaker to buy time to think about what they’re saying. For example, if a stranger asks you if the next train to Dresden leaves from Platform 3, you may respond with “Ja… nein”, if you aren’t quite sure of the answer.

Another key meaning of ‘tja’ is best summed by a meme that defines it as a the typical German response to the apocalypse, nuclear war, alien attack or having no bread in the house.

When something catastrophic has happened – like the apolocalypse or an empty bread shelf – it can be taken to mean either “I told you so” or “sh*t happens”, casting an ironic light over the gloomy situation.

Here’s how you pronounce it.

Hä

This is a word you won’t read in the German textbooks, but “hä” is a sure-fire way to sound more German in your conversations.

Much like the English “huh?”, you can use “hä?” to express surprise or incomprehension. If a friend from your German course tells you they actually enjoy learning German grammar, then a disbelieving “hä?” is probably an apt response.

In a more banal context, if you haven’t quite understood what somebody’s said, a gentle “hä?” could stand in for the more polite and formal, “wie bitte?”.

A word of warning, though: “hä?” is viewed as very informal and can even be construed as rude in certain situations, so be sure to only use it among people you’re very friendly and familiar with.

Here’s how you pronounce it.

READ ALSO: German word of the day – Hä?

Ne

Whether you’re a fan of German podcasts or have a few German friends who enjoy to speak at length about the world, you’ve probably come across ‘ne’ at some point or other.

It’s generally used at the end of sentences to check that the other person is listening and has understood, similar to the English “right?” or “you know?”.

For that reason, it often has a high inflection, as if you’re asking a question – though you don’t necessarily expect a response.

So next time you embark on a long rant in German, try interjecting a “ne?” or two. This can add variety to your tone and at the very least ensure the other person hasn’t fallen asleep halfway through.

Here’s how it’s pronounced.

Auwa

When a German child trips and falls over at the Spielplatz, the first thing they may shout is, “Auwaaaaa!” before calling on their parents to come and comfort them.

But it’s not just the little ones who use this noise to express pain in Germany – adults will also emit an occasional “auwa!” if they accidentally stub their toe.

A sad teddy bear with broken arm

A sad teddy bear with a broken arm. “Auwa” is the most German way to respond to a painful accident. Photo: Photo by Trym Nilsen on Unsplash

An alternative to “auwa” is the more English-style “auch!”, which is pronounced the same as “ouch!” but spelled differently. This can also be used to respond to a comment that stings a little, as a good-natured way of letting someone know your feelings were hurt.

Here’s how “auwa” is pronounced.

Puh

Though hearing this word may bring some toilet humour to mind, “puh” has less to do with bodily functions than you might expect.

It’s actually more similar to the English word “phew”, which is used to express tiredness or relief.

One scenario you might use “puh” is after running to the bus stop to catch the last bus home. Once you sprint through the doors and sink into your seat, you may let out an exhausted “puh!” to show your relief at having made it.

Before you forget the more childish connotations entirely though, it’s worth knowing you can also use “puh” when encountering something disgusting.

If it’s your turn to take out the Biomüll and the rotten vegetables are starting to emit a foul odour, you might say, “Puh! Es stinkt!” (Ew! It stinks!”), before hurrying to the bins as fast as you can. 

Here’s how it’s pronounced.

READ ALSO: 12 colourful German expressions that’ll add swagger to your language skills 

Uff / Umpf

If you’ve ever eaten an entire bowl of Käsespätzle, you probably know the sensation of feeling so full you’re about to burst.

For precisely this situation, you’ll need to know “umpf” or “uff”. Both of these words neatly sum up that feeling of being stuffed to the brim with food – but not necessarily in a bad way.

A bit like “oof!” in English, “uff” and “umpf” are ways of showing that you’re both sated and a little bit sleepy after a big meal. With Germany’s very hearty cuisine, they’re both expressions that you’ll need in your life fairly often.

Here’s how “uff” is pronounced.

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