I started out at point zero learning German. I was a "newbie" beginner in the German language and at some point along the way I noticed that I could speak and read some German. When I look back I can see what I did right and did wrong. The day, six years ago, I bought a German-only dictionary and stopped using my English-German dictionary was the day my knowledge of German skyrocketed. For a while, I would have to constantly have that dictionary with me to be able to complete a story or newspaper article in German (The dictionary really got worn out). Now I just look at the dictionary on the shelf collecting dust. Of course I still use it occasionally, but I don't need it to read through a German newspaper or book. When I'm finished reading something, then I may look up a word or two.

Using a German-only dictionary is one of many tricks to learning German - but that is for more advanced German linguists. If you are starting out in German, then its important to just get the feel for the language and how to speak German. Find some German text and read a few paragraphs or pages out loud, preferably to your teacher, or someone else who knows German. It doesn't matter if you understand the words, this practice will just help you get used to feeling and hearing the language.

Learning to speak German works like osmosis. When you learn German each and every day the German will start to sink in. So, try not to miss a day. Another great trick is just to get English out of your mind. When you learn nouns and verbs don't start thinking "Hmmm, what does this mean in English". Let English be English and German be German. There are some things I say in German which I don't even know how to say in English.

So when learning to speak German, think like a German and don't be in a rush to learn it all too quickly. I hope these inside tips and tricks to learning German will give you a little boost to your German language skills. These tricks come from my real experience and helped me discover that learning German did not have to be a difficult undertaking.

The best part about learning German is that the process can be a fun and adventurous experience. When you are learning German you can experience a very wonderful and rich culture and you'll realize that this culture has had a strong influence on a large part of the world. Many of the children's fairy tales we grew up with have German origins. Classical music composers such as Mozart, Wagner and Bach were German. Of course, I don't have to mention the German auto industry or German food, wines and beer. Now with the age of the internet, learning German is not reduced to sitting in a stale classroom. Internet courses, such as www.Quick-Basic-German.info make learning German quick, fun and easy. Then, once you have nailed down the basics of German, I recommend you do what I did and go spend a few weeks or months in a German-speaking country and start enjoying all the richness and beauty of everything German. Herzlichen Glückwunsch beim Deutschlernen!