Resources for learning German

To say that learning German is a challenge would be an understatement. Beginners, who are learning German language would find Mark Twain’s essay on the matter quite amusing and accurate, as did I.

A good thing though, is that there are a number of resources available on the internet which help a great deal. From grammar and pronunciation to vocabulary and colloquial expressions, you can find many good resources.

For my own reference, and also for reason that I can easily share with others should they ask, I have compiled the following list of resources which I have found immensely helpful (and entertaining).

1. Duolingo – A go-to site for any language learner.
2. YourDailyGerman blog. The series of blog posts discusses the subtle issues with word choices as well. There are many examples which serve to enhance vocabulary as well. An example I particularly liked was this post on German grammatical cases.
3. Another great resource is NThuleen.com. It has got plenty of examples and also includes worksheets. For example, see this page dealing with German cases (Yes, I had trouble with cases)
4. GrimmGrammar – A website by University of Texas at Austin’s Centre for Open Educational Resources and Language Learning (COERLL). Along with the excellent lessons, the site also provides extensive audio clips by native and “near-native” speakers. I wouldn’t consider this a site for beginners though, it would benefit a learner who is already familiar with some grammar and has a good-ish vocabulary. That said, you should definitely try this if you have had some practice with the basics.
5. DW.de Harry – gefangen in der Zeit is a series of videos attempting to teach basic German in a fun and engaging way. These videos are also available on DW’s Harry site as well. The site also provides short quizzes and exercises after each video and saves the progress of the learner. I have watched 12 videos, they were quite good.
6. Mein Weg nach Deutschland is a video series by Goethe Institute. I felt it focus more on conversational skills than grammar. I have watched a few videos and found them quite informative and interesting. You can quickly pick us some phrases and vocal pertaining to a particular situation this way.
7. A For Dummies German Cases cheat sheet. I find this one quite handy, to the point and short.

That’s it for now. auf Wiedersehen! (Good bye)