Stichwörter (Keywords):
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- Category: German learning methods
Are you intimidated by a new German book? You might be like one of my clients, who, after the comfort developed by having spent time working through the A1 materials, looked at the A2 book for the very first time and said, “But I can’t do that! It’s too advanced for me.” Except she had never worked on the materials in the A2 level before. So I reminded her, “Remember that you don't have to know anything until you've learned it and worked on it for a while.”
Focus on acquiring German language skills, not on ‘making the grade.’
Learning is nonlinear and also invisible. So how do you know you’ve learned, for example, dass + Nebensatz? You know you’ve learned it when you feel relatively comfortable executing it in conversation auf Deutsch. This is why we use self-assessment to make this visual. We don’t use grades here. Ever.
Because we have a formalized and rigid (and frankly quite out-of-date) school system, we are steeped in formalized education from the time we enter kindergarten, and for a lot of children, even before that. This create an immense amount of pressure because our educational system is based on performance.
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Read more: You don’t have to know German before you have learned it.
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- Category: German learning methods
In a high-quality A2 German class, you will find several hallmarks, one of them being a Nebensatz mit weil, another being an ever-increasing ability to say the same thing in (at least) two different ways in German. You should be able to give your opinions on more topics.
If you've completed the A1 level and/or have passed the A1 test, if you have a decent (60%) handle on the Akkusativ and Dativ prepositions, if you can use the Perfekt correctly at least 60% of the time, and if you can correct use (and identify) the adjective endings in the Nominativ, Akkusativ, and the Dativ 60% of the time, you're ready for the A2 level.
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- Category: German learning methods
Elf! Elf! Eleven! Elf!
11 Jahre GermanWithNicole.com! Diese Folge widme ich meiner Kundin Frau A., die seit achteinhalb Jahren bei mir Deutsch lernt und sie lernt sehr, sehr viel Deutsch. Hut ab, Frau A.!
This episode is dedicated to Frau A., my longest-standing client, at 8 and a half years and in that time she has learned an incredible amount of German. Hats off to you! Hut ab!
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- Category: German learning methods
I am Frau Warner and I am a B1 test proctor, which means I am qualified to give this exam with the Goethe-Institut.
The B1 class I teach, which meets on Monday evenings, just had their first of two practice tests, and they all did so very well! Ich bin sehr stolz auf sie! Ich bin sehr stolz auf sie! I'm very proud of them! Ich bin sehr stolz auf sie!
AUDIO
N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no longer exists, you can still hear all of the audios here on the blog. The audios are available on the blog posts published between August 1, 2021 and October 1, 2024. Viel Spaß beim Hören!
The next session runs April 24 – May 30th, and the session will include B1 topics the clients in this class have chosen. I have a couple of ideas, they're going to make their own requests, and in the first session we will make a plan together.
Here is the link to the class info page: https://www.germanwithnicole.com/b1-german-class-online
This June and July we will have a session which is focused on B1 test prep and a sample B1 test.
If you're listening to this episode and it's after summer 2023, please contact me via germanwithnicole.com to discuss your needs for B1 test prep!
Das ist genug für heute. Passen Sie gut auf sich auf!
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- Category: German learning methods
Learning how to use a German-English dictionary effectively is one of the single skills which can really help support you in your German learning adventure.
German learners frequently ask: Which German-English dictionary should I buy? Is it worth buying the big one? How do I know which dictionary will be right for me? Are the online German dictionaries better?
In this blog post/podcast episode, I'll guide you step-by-step through which dictionary you can/should use as a beginner through the elementary level, both physical books and online options, and you'll learn when you need to decide to use a German-German dictionary written specifically for learners.
We'll cover a variety, so you can decide which dictionary is best for you.
And we'll even cover a very specialized dictionary for those of you who need to learn Schwiezerdütsch (Swiss German). I use it with my clients in Switzerland and it has been invaluable thus far.
N.B. for my clients: This information is part of the "Handbuch" in the Client Portal.
Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links to various sites, which means that if you click through these links and purchase anything, you will anonymously support GermanWithNicole.com at the same time as you support the other business(es). (You'll see the words "Affiliate link" where there is such a link.) You can read more about it here. Danke!
INSERT AUDIO
N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no longer exists, you can still hear all of the audios here on the blog. The audios are available on the blog posts published between August 1, 2021 and October 1, 2024. Viel Spaß beim Hören!
German Dictionaries for A1-A2 Learners (Beginners - late Elementary Learners)
Physical Dictionaries
I've recommended these dictionaries to learners for years, basically since I began teaching German as a Foreign Language, and my students and clients have really enjoyed using them. They're a smaller size, have plenty of information, and will be a great investment for you for a long period of time.
Langenscheidt ISBN 978-1439141663
Affiliate links
Langenscheidt Standard Dictionary ISBN 978-3468980466
Affiliate links
Online/Digital Dictionaries
Collins English-German Dictionary
This is what I recommend people start with. The Collins English-German/German-English dictionary is easy to use, there are (usually) audios you can play to help you learn the word, and the main meaning of the words is available in red.
LEO [le:o] is the dictionary I've used for the past 20 years.
It's available as a website and as an app.
There are many meaning available, verb charts, and the forum often has helpful translations. (Still take them with a grain of salt.)
Dict.cc is very popular with translators, and often I can find idioms and expressions there that aren't listed elsewhere.
It's available as a website and as an app.
Langenscheidt online dictionary
The Free Dictionary - I use this dictionary frequently for idioms and new words in English. It has a great thesaurus.
German Dictionaries for B1 Learners (Intermediate-level learners) and up (B2, C1, C2)
Physical Dictionary
Basiswörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache ISBN 978-3-411-04154-1 Affiliate link
(Sorry, no photo available of this one.)
Full disclosure I received my copy of this book because I won it and I'm really happy about that, because it's a wonderful dictionary for intermediate-level learners. It contains 7000 words and all of the words required for the Goethe-Institut's B1 test.
There are also about 30 pages of pictures with items on them labeled with the vocabulary, for example kitchen items, what you'll find at the check-out at the grocery store, insects, pets, and more.
Online/Digital Dictionaries
"If you love to get lost down the wormhole of German on the internet, this is the place to go." ~Frau Warner
This is the "Digital Dictionary of the German Language" and it is stellar!
It can also be completely overwhelming, so feel free to "get in and get out" when you look something up there.
This is the official German dictionary and the one experts refer to. If a word has been officially recognized in German, it is in this dictionary.
Swiss-German Dictionary
Schweizerhochdeutsch Wörterbuch der Standardssprache in der deutschen Schweiz
ISBN 978-3-411-70417-0
You'll have to perform an internet search or go use that big jungle site to order this one. Or order it directly from a German-speaking country.
Bonus - Aussprache
If you haven't yet, listen to the end of this podcast episode for the correct pronunciation of these vocabulary words:
das Buch, die Bücher = the book, the books
das Wörterbuch, die Wörterbücher = the dictionary, the dictionaries
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