Learning German language by yourself

You can improve your German skill with learning by yourself.

Actually, I am learning German by myself.
Now, I am learning German level A2-2.
I am planning to learn German level B1-1 by myself.

German language school

I have learned German at German language school as below.
So it was not from zero to start learning German by myself.

German level A1-1
School name : deutsch academy
Date : 8.2017
Price : 225euro

German level A1-2
School name : Volkshochschule
Date : 10.2017
Price : 195euro

German level A2-1
School name : Volkshochschule
Date : 3.2018
Price : 195euro

German level A2-2
School name : Volkshochschule
Date : 6.2018
Price : 195euro

German level B1-1
School name : Volkshochschule
Date : 8.2018
Price : 195euro

Type : Integration course
How long : around 4 hours a day, 5 days a week
1 level : 3-4 weeks
German textbooks at my class: Schritte plus NEU, Menschen

I think Volkshochschule is the most reasonable German language school in Berlin, Germany.
That’s why I took those courses but there are around 20 people in one class.
I felt that’s too many people.

I had some break between the course and next course.
So it was not effective way to learn German.
I could not focus sometimes because had to work and got tired.

If you have a chance to go to German language school,
you better take courses constantly.
Many people of my class were taking courses constantly to B1-2 and took B1 exam.

I have been never opened the textbooks I used at school for 2 years at home.
So I sold them by ebay.

I liked member of A1-2 German class.
It was interesting that people came from different countries.
There are some Brazilian like 4 or 5 people in my class.

Some are from Morocco, Spain, South Africa, Iran, Russia, France, Colombia and more.
It depends on the area but there might be many refugees at Volkshochschule.
To meet a lot of people and leran German together is nice.

How I learn German language at home by myself

1.Prepare German textbooks
I am using the textbooks I borrowed from my friend
and books my boyfriend’s mom gave me as gifts.

German textbooks : Lagune (Hueber), Daf leicht (Klett), PLUSPUNKT DEUTSCH (Cornelsen)

2.Work out exercises
1-2 hours a day would be nice if possible.

The point of learning German is to keep learning without stress.

Motivation of learning German

To have a realistic goal is important.

My first goal I was planning was to pass B1 exam.
But now, to get used to daily German conversation is my purpose to learn German.
Although I would like to take B1 exam in 2021.

My boyfriend and around him is German.
They speak German so I am getting to feel that I would like to join their conversation naturally.

I am getting to be lazy to ask for translation in English every time.

When you mention nothing, that means you don’t exist there.
Not everybody care about you so much.
To learn German for me is not to get bored in German group situation.

Speaking German

I believe that to speak German daily can improve your German skill.

I think to find tandem partner and practice is also good.
Skype lesson is also fine today due to Covid-19.

I wanted to find a tandem partner if there is no Corona situation.

German, Japanese and English

Many German can speak English but
when they talk with German, they speak German, of course.

Some people in Germany are lazy or bully and they don’t want to speak English.
I have experienced at doctor and city hall.
If you are lucky, you can communicate in English with people in Germany
but it is high possibility that you have to speak only German.
Before you book a doctor, make sure that a doctor can speak English.

Also,there are some German who really can’t speak English.

Anyway, better learn German if you are in Germany.

Some German words are similar to English so
I guess it is easier for English people to improve German than native Japanese speakers.

Recommendation how to learn Japanese by yourself

I recommend to start learning Japanese from speaking.

Not difficult : Speaking Japanese, listening Japanese
Difficult : Reading and writing Japanese

There are 3 kinds of letters in Japanese.

-Hiragana(46 letters)
-Katakana(46 letters)
-Kanji(Endless)

In general, Japanese sentences consist of those 3 kinds of letters mixed.

To read and write Japanese (Kanji) are really difficult even for Japanese people sometimes.
I would say to start speaking Japanese is better.
To pronounce Japanese must be not so hard.

Total

-To learn German constantly is effective
-Make a realistic goal to learn German
-It is better to have German friends