Growing Up Bilingual I Thought Learning German Would Be Easier

9 tips that helped me learn German. Accelerate your learning and get from a basic A1 level to C1 with these helpful study tips.

Here’s What Finally Worked

I should start by saying that my mother tongue(s) are both Spanish and English. I was born in the US. And as a first generation American, my parents made quite an effort for me to learn their native tongue. This included reading and writing, which I did not appreciate at the time, but came in handy when I later moved to Spain.

So growing up bilingual, I assumed I’d have it easy when picking up another language. And it did help when learning Brazilian Portuguese, although I ended up with more of a Portuñol (a glorious mix of Portuguese and Spanish) than anything else.

Several moves later, with Portuguese a faint memory, I was faced with a new relocation to a beautiful, history-rich city: Munich. And with it came the language.

German! I mean absolutely no offense, but it is neither easy on the ear nor does it roll easily off the tongue. At least not for me.

I thought I’d pick it up soon enough, even though I didn’t need it for work. Big mistake. German is a language that demands total immersion and a lot of practice — there are no shortcuts, and your bilingual superpowers will only get you so far.

When I was finally serious about learning German, here are the tips & tricks that helped me eventually get from A1 to B2.

9 Tips That Helped Me Learn German

1. Enroll in a class

Just sign up for a beginners class, usually called Deutsch A1.1. The Volkshochschule is a great option for learning German. It is inexpensive and many of the teachers are really helpful. You can also form study groups with fellow students. The group atmosphere can be motivating. I tried private lessons, but they did not help. I like the feeling of being back-in-school and getting input from classmates.

2. Learn the Grammar

Lazy me — I initially decided I only needed the essentials: ordering food, making an appointment, greeting my neighbors. And yes, those things matter. But believe me: you need structure to get past the basics in German. Especially:

• The difference between the formal “Sie” and the informal “Du”. Most people outside close friends or children should be addressed formally.
• Nouns always come with their gender (der, die, das) — learn the article alongside every new noun, not after.
• Learn the Plurals of each Noun.
• Where verbs sit in a sentence — it’s different from English, and it matters.
• Matching verbs with the right preposition. Like in English, there’s often no logical rule — it just is.

3. Also – Forget The Grammar

Yes, Yes! I know! I just said to learn the Grammar. But here’s the thing: do not lose your nerve. Focus too hard on German grammar and you might give up before you ever open your mouth. Your goal is to be understood, to connect with people, to learn about culture through language. Don’t let the rules and exceptions ruin your progress. Embrace the mess — fluency lives on the other side of it.

4. Just Talk

Throw shyness and shame out the window! Put those German words you’ve just learned out into the wind for all to hear. Use them! Who cares if they come out all goofy! Most of the time, the first time you say a phrase, it will come out wrong. But you’ll know it, and the second time, it’ll come out better.

5. Start Reading

Set aside the textbook occasionally and find things you actually want to read. Magazines like Deutsche Perfekt have easy, medium and advanced articles built around current events. They are structured for learning the language. Easy Readers are condensed versions of well known books in easy to learn German. They are labeled from A1 to B2, so you can read at your level. And don’t overlook children’s books — they’re unexpectedly satisfying once you’re deep enough in to understand them.

Your local Stadtbibliothek (public library) will have all of these.

6. Listen To It

Get your ears used to the sound of German from the very beginning. Listen to the radio on your morning commute, even if all you understand is “Wetter”. The News in Slow German podcast is still one of the best — subscribe and listen more than once. You’ll start picking up words, then phrases, then full sentences without realizing it. Watch your favorite series in German with subtitles. Deutsche Welle also offers a free German learning app and podcast structured to CEFR levels (A1–C1), which is excellent for self-directed learners who want something more substantial.

7. Find a Tandem Partner

A tandem partner is someone who wants to exchange a language with you. I traded English with my neighbor — over coffee and cake we practiced German and English and had a few laughs along the way. The key is finding someone who is as committed to the arrangement as you are, otherwise the meetings drift and stop.

If you can’t find someone in person, apps like Tandem connect you with native speakers online who are learning your language. It’s the same exchange principle, just digital.

8. Use the Apps — But Choose Wisely

Back in 2021, the app landscape was simpler. Since then, it’s exploded. Here’s an honest breakdown of what’s worth your time in 2025:

For beginners (free): Duolingo is still the most accessible entry point. It’s gamified, habit-forming, and genuinely good for vocabulary and basic sentence structure — though it won’t take you to fluency on its own.

For structured learning: Babbel is the “serious” alternative. Lessons are 10–15 minutes, grammar is taught in context, and it’s designed for real conversations. It’ll comfortably get you to intermediate (B1) level.

For vocabulary (free + paid): Memrise still uses spaced repetition to build vocabulary effectively, with video clips of native speakers for that authentic ear training.

For dictionaries: LEO Dictionary remains one of the best German-English dictionaries available. DeepL has also become many expats’ first port of call for longer text translation, offering a step up in accuracy over Google Translate.

9. Use AI for Conversation Practice (This Is the New Game-Changer)

This tip didn’t exist when I first wrote this post, and it’s now probably the most exciting development in language learning of the last few years. AI conversation tools let you practice speaking German in a pressure-free environment, get instant corrections, and build confidence before taking on a real human.

One important caveat: AI tools are a supplement, not a replacement for human interaction. They’re brilliant for building confidence and habit, but real fluency still comes from real people.

One More Thing

If you’re learning German now as an expat, you have one resource that no app can replicate: the city around you. Every shop sign, every menu, every overheard conversation on the U-Bahn is a lesson. Lean into it. The embarrassing moments are the ones you’ll tell the best stories about later.

I hope these tips help…

So you can go from feeling like this

to this… in no time

Further Reading

Fairy Tales You Never Knew Were German Originals

10 podcasts you should be listening to if you are an expat in Germany

10 Popular German Superstitions

Recommended Walking Tour – Old Town Munich