Build your A1 plan in minutes a day
Start small and consistent. Aim for 20–30 minutes on weekdays and a longer session on the weekend. A1 covers greetings, basic questions, numbers, time, and everyday needs. Plan your week so each study block has one clear goal—one step per session—like “learn the days of the week” or “practice word order in questions.”
Expect roughly 60–90 hours to reach A1. Use mostly free tools at first, then add a short online course if you want structure. Keep everything simple and repeatable. Track what you cover so you don’t guess next time—your future self will thank you.
- Mon–Fri: 25 minutes (vocab + a tiny grammar point).
- Weekend: 60 minutes (speaking practice + review).
- Every session: 5-minute recap from yesterday.
- Every 2 weeks: mini-quiz and update your plan.
Core grammar and vocab for beginners
Focus on high-frequency language first. Learn present tense verbs (sein, haben, regular verbs), basic word order (verb-second in statements, verb-first in questions), yes/no and W-questions, articles (der, die, das), and Nominative vs. Accusative for simple sentences. Keep examples short and reusable.
Build a practical vocabulary set: greetings, numbers, time, food, family, daily routines, directions, and shopping. Keep a compact pdf checklist of themes and tick them off as you master them. Recycle words in short phrases, not just isolated lists.
- Must-know verbs: sein, haben, mögen, möchten, können.
- Sentence frames: Ich möchte…, Ich brauche…, Wo ist…?
- Mini-topics: times, dates, prices, transport, cafe phrases.
- Tiny drills: swap subjects, change verbs, invert questions.
Listening and speaking practice (even when studying alone)
Use slow audio for clarity, then normal speed. Shadow—listen to a short clip and repeat out loud with the speaker. Record yourself for one minute and compare. Even if you’re shy, narrate your day in german: Ich trinke Kaffee. Ich gehe zur Arbeit. This builds fluency fast.
Add live practice when possible: a free language exchange online, a tutor once a week, or the speaking component of a structured course. Keep it low pressure—prepare three questions and three answers before you meet, and reuse them in different contexts.
- Shadow 5 minutes daily with slow podcasts or YouTube.
- One-minute voice notes: describe a photo or your breakfast.
- Use sentence banks: practice 10 lines, change one word.
- Weekly: 15-minute online chat or tutor session.
Reading, writing, and the best free resources
Read short, graded texts: menus, timetables, mini-stories. Keep a notebook of sentences you actually use. For writing, do micro-tasks: a 40-word intro, a simple email, or a postcard. Repeat the same structure with new words—this is the quickest step to usable output.
Gather a small toolkit: a dictionary with example sentences, printable pdf worksheets for A1 topics, spaced-repetition flashcards, and a progress tracker. If you like guidance, add an online A1 course with clear modules and quizzes. Every two weeks, take a free A1 check to confirm gaps.
- Graded readers and short dialogues for A1.
- A1 pdf packs: vocabulary sheets, verb tables, cloze tasks.
- Flashcards (SRS): 10–15 new cards per day, max.
- Biweekly: free online A1 test to spot weak areas.
FAQ
- How many minutes per day should I study to reach A1?
- Aim for 25 minutes on weekdays and 60 minutes on the weekend. That pace gets most beginners to A1 in 8–12 weeks, depending on consistency.
- Can I learn German A1 for free?
- Yes. Combine free online videos, slow audio, A1 pdf worksheets, and a language exchange. Add a short paid course only if you want structure.
- What’s the best online course for beginners?
- Choose a course with short lessons, clear A1 goals, speaking tasks, and frequent quizzes. Try a free trial first to test pace, voice, and exercises.
- Do I need grammar before I start speaking?
- Learn a tiny grammar piece, then speak immediately using fixed phrases. Balance both: 10 minutes grammar, 10 minutes speaking or shadowing.
- Where can I find A1 pdf materials?
- Search for A1 topic packs (greetings, time, shopping), verb tables, and cloze exercises. Many publishers and teachers share free printable PDFs online.