Tristan Dunn '23: Tips for Learning German in a Compressed Semester

Learning a foreign language is stressful during a normal semester, but with three fewer weeks, this semester is ultra-stressful. As a TA for a German 101 class and a learner of German for over 6 years, I hopefully have some tips that will help you pass your foreign language courses and learn the language this semester. 

1: Repetition 

Repetition is one of the most important steps in learning any language. In high school, I wrote down the verb conjugations for my quiz at least twenty to thirty times. This is something I found easier to do directly after the class is over, so you help the material stick in your brain after the first introduction of the topic. Quizlet is another great way to help encourage learning. This app is flashcards on steroids. You can search for terms relating to each chapter in your textbook too. It is likely that someone before you has made a Quizlet for your topic before you because the textbooks are not just used by your school. 

2: Sleep 

Sleep is essential to success. I understand it is hard to find time to find a normal sleep schedule for university students, but finding that time to relax and recharge for the next day is the best way to prepare for class. I can attest to this. The difference between going to class with zero sleep and going to class fully rested is drastic. It is okay to miss class sometimes. Watch the recordings of the class if you can instead, or ask the professor if they can record the class. 

I struggled with my sleep schedule this semester, so here are some tips I learned so far that could help you. Try listening to ASMR. ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response. It is those videos on YouTube of people whispering and soft sounds. It can help you relax before bedtime. For German learners, I recommend “A Random Guy ASMR” on YouTube. He has some videos in German and that could encourage you to dream in German or to think about it more. I also learned to avoid melatonin. I am not a doctor, but melatonin caused me to have very vivid and bizarre dreams. Be aware of any of the side effects caused by sleeping medication. 

3: Reach out for help 

Contacting your professor or TA is so important during this semester. Give the educators a chance to get to know you. This can help later with recommendations for scholarships and programs, but this is most important for reaching out for help later in the semester. If you stay in contact with the professor, then they might be more willing to give you extensions and other help. The educators also enjoy meeting the students and helping them. Professors are professors for a reason. They are there to help you learn. You can also contact your TAs. They can meet with you over zoom and discuss material for the class. This can also be extra conversation practice for the language. 

Reaching out for extensions is also very important, besides just keeping in touch with the professor. It is okay to take a mental health day and ignore work. Asking professors for extensions was one of the best things I ever did. Professors care about you and your mental health. Anxiety and other things are impacting students greatly this semester, so don’t feel bad asking the professor if it is okay to keep your camera off on Zoom for the day. I deal with dysphoria often and it is challenging to stare at yourself the entire class period. There is also an option on Zoom to hide your view of yourself. 

4: Music and podcasts 

Music was one of the most helpful tools when I began learning German. Find a song in your target language and focus on a few lines of the song. Memorizing this portion of the song can help you learn the grammar structure, the vocabulary, and more. „Leb’ deine Träume” from Luxuslärm is a song that helped me learn the command form and some figurative language. Podcasts are also helpful. Listening to the news spoken slowly is another way to engage with the target language more.

 If you are not at the level or comfortable to listen to podcasts or music, then you can find titles of songs and write a few sentences in the target language about the subject. This can help you practice writing and responding in the moment. 

5: Language learning apps

Duolingo, a language learning app, has helped me practice German and learn French. I have found that the structure of the app lines up with the curriculum of the foreign language classes at William & Mary. For French, I had to move quickly and work a lot with the app to keep up with the class, but it was helpful for studying more for quizzes and exams. Duolingo offers leaderboards too, so the aspect of competition encourages you to study and work more with the language. This app also allows you to take a quiz at the beginning to see your mastery of the target language, so you do not have to waste time working through material you already know. 

6: Immersion 

Surround yourself with the language. Change your phone into the target language. This helps you learn terms, especially for technology. You will learn how to print something, how to post on Instagram, how to share a link, and more in the target language. Cover your room with sticky notes. Label every object in your room. Try to think in the target language as often as possible. Doing as much as you can to immerse yourself in the language is important in learning the language. 

7: Move around 

When I first started German I used hand motions to help me learn the vocabulary and the grammar. This really helped with learning the difference in the application of prepositions. Each time you use a preposition, make the motion, for example, every time I would use Umgebung (surrounding area) I would make a circular motion. 

Hopefully these seven tips are helpful for the remainder of the semester. I know it can be hard to learn a new language, so there is no shame in having difficulties along the way. Feel free to reach out for any more suggestions or help!