How To Learn German For Free
Today we want to take you by the hand and open the door for you that helps you learn German online for free. Learning a new language like German is exciting, and you will soon discover that there is an endless source of possibilities to gain knowledge from.
Maybe you’ve already learned the basics through one of those published courses or some online membership, but now you don’t want to use your credit anymore on learning German?
Or maybe you are on a budget and just decided that you don’t want to spend money on expensive tutors or courses to learn a language, but you are wondering how to learn the German language for free?
Well, in any case, we have good news for you. Read on – and from today on, you can skip all that searching and just go straight to learning German for free.
Remember: Be Your Own Teacher When Learning German!
To learn German or any other language for free, it’s inevitable to be disciplined enough to be your own teacher. You won’t become a fluent speaker just because you have free study tools available for you.
Make sure to set a schedule for yourself. Regularity and consistency are the most important factors in self-learning German or any other language. Unlike paid language classes, you won’t have a teacher that sets a schedule for you or makes you go to class and do the work.
No one will also be there to teach you – you will have to create your own personal course that will include all the skills necessary for you, such as reading or listening.
If you are not disciplined, you might start skipping days and putting off the learning process – and very soon think that you’re not good at German simply because you won’t see much progress.
So if you decide to learn German online by yourself, it might be a good exercise for self-determination and not just a way of learning a language for free.
We want to help you become your own German teacher – and so we prepared some materials for you. Now you don’t have to scroll through dozens of free German lessons or online materials. Instead, check our list and learn to speak German fluently for free.
Here’s A List Of The Top 5 Sources To Learn German Free:
1. FluentU
FluentU is your No.1 tool if you’re looking for an all-in-one interactive free German language learning platform.
It takes real-world videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.
Every video comes with interactive German subtitles. Click any word you don’t recognize to learn an instant definition, hear the native pronunciation, and see a memorable picture. FluentU will also suggest related videos that have the same word, so you understand how to use it in different contexts.
The videos provided are organized by genre and learning level, so it’s easy to find the ones that work best for you and stick to your personal speed of learning German.
FluentU takes real-world videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons that help you learn German for free.
Go ahead and explore the full FluentU video library and features for free with a FluentU trial.
2. Duolingo
Duolingo is probably the most popular and well-known of language learning apps, especially when we’re talking about learning German. The German language was one of the first courses released on the platform. It has undergone constant refinement and updating since then, which makes it one of the most in-depth offerings on this app, as well as one of the most useful German lessons online.
Use Duolingo regularly and check out the notes and comments on each exercise – and you’ll improve your German language skills in no time. Remember that constant practice is the only right way to learn German as well as any other language.
3. Lingvist
Lingvist is a simple, interactive course that teaches you German grammar and vocabulary through examples.
With the free version, you can learn new words daily (up to 3,000) and complete a daily language challenge. You’ll also get access to Lingvist’s community of language learners. It’s a great program to learn languages online and, for example, improve your basic German skills quickly.
4. Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle (DW) is funded by the German government and has a wide selection of German content. Browse their language courses by level from the homepage, or even take their placement test to figure out the best place for you to start.
One of their best audio courses is Deutsch — warum nicht? (German — why not?). It includes over 100 lessons of a lower intermediate level like an audiobook – and for many beginners, it was the perfect way to learn German (or at least to start learning and practice more).
5. ZDF Mediathek
ZDF is one of the oldest and most popular German TV networks that puts a ton of quality content up online for free.
Not all the content on ZDF is always available in every region, but you can find well-produced productions in almost every genre. This is a wonderful source of German media made for Germans but with the practical little aspect of having subtitles. This can make a huge difference and help you improve your reading and listening comprehension at the same time without taking paid German lessons.
Bonus Idea
We would also like to add one more interesting free page for you that combines not only lessons, videos, vocabulary, and german grammar but also teaches you a little bit about Germany itself. It’s called Deutsch Happen – in English “German bites,” and is completely free of charge and suitable both for beginners and advanced learners.
It includes information on history, culture, food, art, as well as some fun facts about Germany – basically the whole package. Thanks to it, you can not just learn German, but also really connect with the country and natives.
Check out Deutsch Happen (German bites) in Google or find out more here on their website: http://deutschhappen.com/.
German Language Learning Tips
Of course, just using online resources is not enough for you to learn German, master grammar, or start reading fluently. Whichever app or platform you choose, they can help you memorize some basic German words, understand basic grammar rules, and overall have fun. However, without regular practice and a good schedule, you might not be able to start speaking fluently or communicate with native speakers.
This is something that we will always repeat: practice makes perfect.
If you want to learn German online for free and move fast above the beginner level, simply using the exercises and grammar you find online is not enough. You need to implement a few helpful tips if you want to start speaking German fluently and form sentences easily. Here are some ideas that might help:
Create a Plan
When learning languages online, it’s essential to make sure that you don’t only focus on exercises and grammar rules. Create a plan and include all the necessary skills into it.
For example, one day, you can take a free course on German grammar; the other day – practice your speaking, the day after that – learn some new words; on the weekend watch a German movie or listen to some audio online, etc. You can also combine different apps and other sources to boost your progress.
Stay Consistent
When you’re a beginner, you need to practice much more regularly than intermediate or advanced learners. This will allow you to get all the important basic rules and vocabulary quickly – and thus learn German fast. The more consistent you are, the more effective the process will be.
However, when you learn German online – or any other language, to be true – it can be tempting to procrastinate. Find a way o motivate yourself to avoid delay and practice regularly.
There are different easy means you can use to get yourself to study more often. For example, you can download an app that helps you stay focused for a certain time and get breaks, or create a learning calendar; or reward yourself every time you learn a new topic.
Anything will work if it helps you study more.
Don’t Stick to Just One Way of Learning German
Yes, there are different means of learning German out there, and sticking to just one platform seems like the easiest way. However, no one means of studying offers you the possibility to learn all the necessary skills. So combine them.
Use apps to learn new words; visit websites like Deutsch Happen to learn more about Germany and its culture; communicate more with native speakers to boost your speaking skills and meet new people; and don’t hesitate to have some fun and watch French movies – it’s a great way to improve your pronunciation.
You Can Always Learn German Online If You Set Your Mind to It
Today, we have shared with you the list of helpful resources and tips that might be highly helpful if you want to learn German for free. Of course, there are more websites and tools on the world wide web that you can use to learn German online, like scrolling through Youtube or renting books in the library, but this list will definitely help you get started and motivate yourself on learning German.
And while many people might say that free online resources are not enough to learn German – for example, because they won’t teach you speaking skills – don’t trust that.
Remember that you can learn a language online and for free. You just have to set your mind to it, stay consistent, use different resources, so the process is effective – and have fun, of course.
And if you are completely sure that you can’t learn German online – just give it a try. You will be amazed by how easy it can be to learn, speak, and read if you’re a complete beginner.
