Start here: your first step
Before you open a textbook, define success. For most beginners, it’s understanding easy conversations and introducing yourself in German. Commit to a tiny habit: 15–20 minutes a day, five days a week. Consistency beats marathon study sessions, especially when you learn online. Each block should have one clear step: watch, read, practice, or review.
Choose one main free course to avoid overwhelm. DW Deutsch’s Nicos Weg (A1–A2) is structured and friendly for English speakers. Pair it with a printable A1 grammar pdf and a spaced-repetition vocab deck. Put these in your calendar so the plan runs on autopilot.
- Set a weekly goal (e.g., finish 3 lessons).
- Study 15–20 minutes Monday to Friday.
- One main course + one grammar pdf.
- One vocab deck + 5-sentence writing practice.
- Weekly mini-test and reflection.
Pronunciation and spelling that stick
Good pronunciation makes listening easier and builds confidence. Start with the alphabet, umlauts (ä, ö, ü), ß, and the two ch sounds: ich [ç] and ach [x]. Notice that German r is softer in many regions. Listen to short audio online, then repeat out loud.
Record yourself for one minute a day and compare to a native clip. Read slow, then at natural speed. This step fixes errors early and prepares you for real conversations.
- Focus on vowel length: Beet vs. Bett.
- Practice ich/ach minimal pairs.
- Stress the first syllable often: Morgen, Schule.
- Shadow 1–2 short dialogues daily.
Essential grammar in small steps
You don’t need every rule—just the ones that unlock A1–A2. Learn present tense endings and key irregulars (sein, haben, gehen). Remember verb-second in statements and verb-first in yes/no questions. Time expressions can go first: Heute gehe ich ins Kino.
Next, meet the nominative and accusative cases. Articles change with role: der Mann sieht den Hund. Keep a compact case table in a pdf on your phone. Add separable-prefix verbs (aufstehen, anrufen): the prefix moves to the end.
- Word order: subject–verb–other; verb-second rule.
- Questions: Wo…, Was…, Wer… + verb-first.
- Articles you’ll use most: der/die/das, ein/eine.
- High-frequency connectors: und, aber, weil, denn.
Core vocabulary and phrases you’ll use daily
Build a compact phrase kit for daily life: greetings, numbers, time, directions, food, shopping, and small talk. Keep a printable pdf phrasebook on your phone and fridge, and review it for five minutes while you make coffee. The goal is instant recall, not perfect grammar.
- Guten Tag! / Hallo! – Good day / Hi
- Wie geht’s? – How are you?
- Ich heiße … – My name is …
- Ich komme aus … – I’m from …
- Ich hätte gern … – I’d like …
- Wo ist die U-Bahn? – Where is the subway?
Your free online course plan (4 weeks)
Here’s a ready-to-use plan you can follow. Adjust minutes as needed, but keep the order and step-by-step rhythm. The aim is steady progress, not perfection.
Use any solid A1 course you like (DW Nicos Weg works well), plus open exercises and pdfs from reputable sites. Add a language partner in week two to keep it real.
- Monday: 1 video lesson (10 min) + vocab deck (10 min).
- Tuesday: Pronunciation drill (10 min) + read a short dialogue (10 min).
- Wednesday: Grammar focus + 5-sentence writing (20 min).
- Thursday: Review with a quiz or worksheet pdf (15 min) + shadowing (5 min).
- Friday: Mini conversation online or voice-note exchange (15–20 min).
- Weekend: Light recap, culture clip, and plan next week (15 min).
FAQ
- What is the best free online German course for beginners?
- For a clear A1–A2 path, try DW Deutsch – Nicos Weg. Combine it with Goethe-Institut A1 exercises, a vocab deck, and a compact grammar pdf.
- How many minutes per day should I study to learn German?
- Aim for 15–30 minutes, five days a week. Use micro-sessions: 10 minutes video, 10 minutes practice, 5 minutes review.
- Can I learn German only with PDFs?
- PDFs are great for notes and offline review, but language is sound. Pair a pdf guide with audio, video, and speaking practice.
- What step-by-step order should a beginner follow?
- Pronunciation first, then core phrases, present tense and word order, basic cases (nom/acc), common verbs, and short conversations.
- How long does it take to reach A2 level?
- Expect 150–200 hours. With 20–30 minutes daily, that’s roughly 5–8 months. Weekly speaking and regular review speed things up.