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Original poster

Oh no, I've finished Duolingo!!

80 replies

SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 26/05/2024 20:48

I've been learning German for 2 years, largely through Duolingo. I've now 'completed' it and am just left revising! Gutted, I thought it would keep teaching me new things indefinitely! I feel a bit like that guy in the crowd of joggers following Forrest Gump who stands there and shouts 'Now what?!' as Forrest walks away.

Even 2 years later I can't actually speak German! I just recognise a bunch of words, but am still very shaky on actually stringing them together for myself. Can anyone recommend an app that's as fun and addictive as Duo but that actually really helps teach you to actively use the language?

OP posts:
Original poster
SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 27/05/2024 21:43

Meakpumsnethankwand · 26/05/2024 21:08

Michel Thomas. Er ist sehr gut!
Meine Bibliothek hat einen " Language Club" Hier konnen Sie Sprachen sprechen!

vielleicht konnen sie etwas ahnlich finden? I lerne Deutsch auch mit duolingo!

Vielen Dank! Die Bibliotheken in meiner Nähe eignen sich nicht zum Sprachenlernen. Ich habe noch nie von Michel Thomas gehört? Ich werde ihn jetzt Googeln!

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Original poster
SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 27/05/2024 21:43

Bonbon21 · 26/05/2024 21:13

Openlearn has German courses for all levels.. and they are FREE!!
Also listen to German radio.. lots of regional ones, start with kids radio.. helps with word order.. even just have them on in the background..

I've never heard of that but free is good!! Thank you so much for the recommendation!

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LifeofBrienne · 27/05/2024 21:45

Podcasts are good. I’ve used Coffee Break German to learn basic German from scratch, and brush up Spanish grammar. I’ve found for languages I know a bit better I prefer a format where the presenters just talk about interesting topics but slowly and clearly for intermediate speakers.

Original poster
SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 27/05/2024 21:46

Whatineed · 26/05/2024 21:13

Try this guy... You can sign up and receive a daily email with verb juggling etc, watch his YouTube videos, or pay for his course and try to attain some qualifications through Telc or Goethe.

Duolingo is a useful supplement but never teaches you about sentence structures or the many rules of a language.

www.herrprofessor.com/en/howd-you-say-in-german-i-want-to-experience-something-new-2024/

Sounds good, thank you! I'm looking for something new to listen to when commuting, so this guy's podcasts will be good for that!

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Original poster
SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 27/05/2024 21:48

ShrubRose · 26/05/2024 21:13

Have you considered an online (or in-person) Meet-Up group?

Edited

I'm too shy to meet up, but I'd maybe be up for an online thing. I don't want people to think I'm stupid though! It's also tricky because I can't afford private lessons, and I don't feel I can offer English lessons in return as German people seem pretty darned fluent already from what I've heard!

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Aurle · 27/05/2024 21:49

I’d do the dw courses they’re very good, also get a decent textbook, Reddit German wiki has an amazing list of all sorts of resources https://www.reddit.com/r/German/s/pSA4xmn6rY Duo is fun to get in the routine and review vocab but it can be a bit rubbish for really getting into learning a language.

MrsBobtonTrent · 27/05/2024 21:52

Definitely do the duolingo English course for German speakers. Oak Academy is free and good for grammar.

Try reading (or listening) to a book you know well in German. (Harry Potter is my go to).

But the best thing of all is to find a way to “actively” use German instead of “passively” consuming . So writing or speaking. Keep a diary. Find an email penfriend. Join a zoom language group if there are none locally, but you would be surprised what is out there if you Google your area - particularly for German/French/Spanish.

WhatDoIDoPeople · 27/05/2024 21:52

I’ve done lifelong learning courses for the past three years with the local university - not ridiculously expensive only a couple of hundred pound for a year’s tuition. Would definitely recommend.

LifeofBrienne · 27/05/2024 21:52

Oh and songs as well for language learning! I don’t know any modern songs in German, come to think of it. There’s some gorgeous classical stuff though. Brahms’ German Requiem just for starters. Not conversational vocabulary but it’s nice to immerse yourself.

ChaoticCrumble · 27/05/2024 21:55

I've just bought Der Great Gatsby which starts off in English then slowly ends up in mostly German. Haven't read it yet but it sounded fun!

I'm at a much earlier stage than you but one of my goals with German is to be able to read some kids books called the Three Investigators (obviously not in german!). I was a huge fan when I was a child but although they were American, they really took off in Germany, to the point that now there are versions of the books for little kids as well as new books I never would've read. You could try some of them!

The TV show Dark is supposed to be great - you could watch with English subtitles but try to listen along.

ChaoticCrumble · 27/05/2024 21:55

(forgot to say Der Great Gatsby is a book on Amazon, a translation of sorts of the original)

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 27/05/2024 21:58

And watch some Netflix/Channel 4 shows in German with English subtitles. Really get stuck in, and then if you find one you love rewatch it in German with German subtitles.

Original poster
SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 27/05/2024 22:03

@LadyGreySpillsTheTea Danke schön, du bist sehr nett! Ich habe früher 'Easy German' versucht. Ich glaube, es war zu früh auf meiner Deutschlernreise und ich war demoralisiert. Ich werde mir das forum und Deutsch Welle jetzt anschauen.

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Original poster
SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 27/05/2024 22:10

ZiriForGood · 27/05/2024 19:35

I was learning German at school for six years and I have never felt like I have actually learnt it. And I have the advantages of my first language using noun declension and sharing a lot of german phrases.

Decades later I am still able to express some things (my rendition of "sorry I don't speak much German" is deceptively good), understand some texts, but I have never crossed the line to being an active user. And, I'll never cross it without making the big step of getting some purpose, some specific way of using the language which will drive the rest.

Why do you learn it? Do you have some specific intention? What would be the achievement you would like to celebrate on day?

When I was learning English, the big step for me was taking a 2 weeks language school on the UK and realising I actually could use English enough to get around, including arguing with a ww2 museum volunteer in Devon about my country's history)

I was actually born in Darmstadt but we moved to England when I was a baby. My parents never taught me German (I'm still salty about that - it would have been a real boon to grow up bilingual) and I'd just like to 'reconnect' with that part of me. We had all the traditions growing up and it's a big part of who I 'am'. I'd love to be able to hold my own in basic tourists conversations (I went to Bavaria on holiday last year and didn't get much beyond 'Ich spreche kein Deutsch!') and maybe even work out there for a bit at some point.

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Original poster
SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 27/05/2024 22:11

PartyPartyYeah · 27/05/2024 19:46

Do it again but switch it to German being your native language and you're learning English.

That's a good idea!! Will it let me keep my streak, and switch back if I want to?

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Meakpumsnethankwand · 27/05/2024 22:14

Pp mentioned dark on netflix...I loved that!!

MrsBobtonTrent · 27/05/2024 22:16

SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 27/05/2024 22:11

That's a good idea!! Will it let me keep my streak, and switch back if I want to?

Show quote history

Yes. You just add it as a second language. Won’t affect your streak at all. I have several on the go.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 27/05/2024 22:17

OneLemonOrca · 26/05/2024 21:12

Learning another language is a waste of time

🙄

Motherhubbardscupboard · 27/05/2024 22:36

I'd recommend watching a German TV series with German (not English) subtitles. I've done this in the language I'm learning because I'm good enough to read and understand the subtitles but not to pick everything up solely from listening. Although I've found I am good enough to spot when the subtitles are not actually a direct translation of what is being said, more of a paraphrase!
I also agree with a PP's suggestion of reading Harry Potter, the translations are good and the vocabulary is repetitive.

Flyhigher · 28/05/2024 19:39

Ich habe keine idea

TheSquareMile · 28/05/2024 22:42

@SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter

Some of CityLit's German classes are held online. There is bound to be one at your level.

https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/languages/european/german/online

The book Willkommen! might suit you - Foyles has a big selection of language books and staff who can advise you on the best one to buy.

https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/willkommen-1-third-edition-german-beginners-course/heiner-schenke/9781473672659

Cornishmumofone · 28/05/2024 22:44

@SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter My linguist friends recommended Memrise to me. It seems quite good.

NashvilleQueen · 28/05/2024 22:52

Someone told me Duolingo teaches you to read and understand spoken words but not really to speak it. The exercises tend only to drive certain skills.

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