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German for Beginners - 9 Fun Ways to Learn German for Free!
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By Steve Galvin Learning to speak a language is fun and exciting, and it can open your world to many new opportunities and adventures! It can also be challenging, tiring, and expensive. The good news is that it doesn't have to be! Whether you are a complete beginner to learning German, or a long-time student, there are many great ways you can spice up your study to make it much more interesting and enjoyable. Try out these nine fun and free ways of learning German. #1-Join an Online Language Community An online language community is basically a social website where you can go to learn languages. You post a profile that shows your native language plus the language you want to learn. Then you can search for someone who speaks the language you want to learn, and see if they are interested in chatting with you. In return, you can help them to learn your language. There are many language communities out there, so look for one that is popular and free. Some of them even have free "classrooms" where you can participate in a lesson over the Internet. #2-Setup a Language Swap Another way to set up a language swap is face-to-face in your own town or city. A language swap is where you meet with someone who speaks the language that you want to learn. They help you to learn that language and in return, you help them to learn your language. Usually, you can find advertisements for people interested in language swaps in free online classifieds. You could also post an advertisement at your local university, since there are usually many foreign students there. #3-Read a German Newspaper Online Why not keep up with the news in German? There are many German news sites online that you can use. This is a great way to learn vocabulary in areas that are of particular interest to you, since you can choose to read about sports, politics, and so forth. Usually, the websites have photos too, which makes it much easier for you to get the gist of what is happening. #4-Subscribe to a German Website of Interest to You While we're on the topic of German websites, see if you can find one about a particular topic you are passionate about. For example, you might have a hobby, or follow a particular sport. There are sure to be many German websites covering these topics. Search for the German word(s) that best describe this topic and see what you can find! If you can find a site that has a free newsletter or RSS feed, you can also subscribe to these sites so that you get regular content sent to you in your email. If you can't think of any ideas, try subscribing to a daily German horoscope. You'll receive a short German text to read and translate every single day. It won't take much of your time, and it will really help you to get regular practice. #5-Watch German Cartoons and TV programs Online There are many websites where you can watch foreign language films and television programs. You may also have such an option on your local television network. Either way, you should be able to find a number of options for watching German language programs. This is a really great way to practice, since you get to hear real German spoken the way it is in real life. At first, you may find it hard to keep up with the speed of conversations, but you'll get used to this eventually. #6-Borrow German Books from Your Local Library This is an easy one, and most people should find that their local library has a small section of foreign-language materials. This can range from reference materials, such as dictionaries and text books, through to magazines and novels. It's a great way to get access to a variety of different reading materials for free. #7-Watch German Videos and Podcasts Online With the rise in popularity of video sites like YouTube, there is no shortage of German language material to watch online. You will be able to find German language lessons and podcasts, plus general videos posted by German speakers. It's also a great place to watch videos about Germany and get a feel for the country and its people. #8-Take a Free Trial of Professional Language Programs Most of the professional language programs that you can buy for home study also offer a free trial. With the newer programs available in MP3 format, this can be as simple as entering your email address into an online form, and receiving the free lessons in your email. It's a great way to practice, and it's also a great way to test out a potential language program before paying for it. #9-Take Free Lessons Online There are also loads of free German lessons available online on every topic imaginable, from grammar through to vocabulary and pronunciation. You can access the lessons again and again, whenever you need them. There really is no shortage of resources available to help you. Well, I'm sure there are loads more ways in which you can practice your German! Try these out and see what works best for you. Have fun and enjoy speaking German! About the Author: Steve Galvin is a language teacher and owner of the leading German site Easy German Language, which is packed with free resources for anyone wanting to speak German the fun, fast, and easy way. Get off to the right start with our free German lessons for beginners! Article Source: A Language Guide - http://www.a-language-guide.com |
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