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Guten Tag, (Good day!)

Continuing with our series of linguistic tips (just as we did with the English, Spanish, and Chinese languages), it is time for exploring the beautiful native tongue of the Germans –also used in Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein–. No surprise, as the European powerhouse is located in the middle of the Old Continent and it limits with nine other European countries.

The German language has thousands of years of history behind, as Deutschland has always prevailed as one of the most influential and powerful nations in the world. Just last year, the Bavarian country achieved a nominal GDP of 3.68 trillion USD and a GDP (PPP) of 4.17 trillion USD, according to Investopedia. But their power has been there for many years. The current territory of Germany was already a powerhouse since the 9th century under the name of The Kingdom of Germany –which was born from the Kingdom of the East Franks–, that later became part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Moreover, Germany has imported many cultural traditions that many people practice without even knowing it:

-The Christmas tree (Tannenbaum).

-The refreshing Oktober fest.

-The love for bread, sausages (actually, pork in all presentations) and handcrafted food overall.

-Gutenberg's printing technique.

Whether you are planning to visit Germany as a tourist or with business purposes, there are some tips that will reduce the spending on boring German classes, which are usually crowded with too many students, just as they will help you to diversify your brain and think in German as if you were a native speaker:

1) Read the best German books

"Die Blechtrommel" (The Tin Drum) by Günter Grass, "Der Tod in Venedig" (Death in Venice) by Thomas Mann, "Das Parfum" (Perfume) by Patrick Süskind (1985), and "Die Verwandlung" (Metamorphosis) by Franz Kafka are some of the best German books ever created.

However, for starters, the best option is to have a friendly first impression of the language. That is why some of the best options include books like "Easy German Grammar Stories", just as children's tales like "Hänsel und Gretel", "Der Kleine Prinz", "Emil and the Detectives", "Color & Learn Easy German Phrases for Kids", and "Rapunzel". In the end, their lexicon can be considered as the foundation of future lessons, plus their reading time is short and they are affordable.

The use of a dictionary is a must. In the first phase, the student should train with Computer Assisted Tools –like Google Translator or Matecat– and create a list of the most used vocabulary in a day in order to incorporate the German translation of practical words and phrases as a daily habit. Afterward, with lots of practice, the dependence over a bilingual dictionary should be eliminated and substituted with a German-German dictionary.

2) Listen and practice

You know what they say: "Übung macht den Meister" (practice makes perfection)… when you're learning this complex language, it is not the exception.

The German language offers the best teachers, and they can be rappers, rockstars, or pop stars! Any German student should listen from industrial metal/punk/rock bands like Rammstein, Wizo, Tic Tac Toe, Ton Steine Scherben, and Subway to Sally. Other popular options include bands like Die Fantastischen Vier (hip hop), the pop stars Sarah Connor and Nena, as well as R&B German artists like Xavier Naidoo.

These mentioned bands and singers represent different types of exposure to the German language in a relaxing and effective way. The only effort that the student has to do is to actively listen to them: their pronunciation, choice of words, and other oral aspects.

Some honorable mentions, despite the fact that their masterpieces don't include lyrics, are the pioneers of the Bach family, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Robert Schumann.

3) Watch German movies

Some audiovisual productions such as "Die Blechtrommel" (The Tin Drum), "Das Leben der Anderen" (The Lives of Others), "Nirgendwo in Afrika"(Nowhere in Africa), "Toni Erdmann", and "Never Look Away" (Werk ohne Autor), who have set an inflexion point on German cinema and are worth watching hits while mastering this beautiful language.

4) Online courses

Finally, the secret of many students that have mastered the language is the cost-effective e-learning. For instance, Wagner Consulting LLC is a brand expert on online tailor-made courses so even the most exigent students can learn Chinese, as well as English, Spanish, German, and Russian, from the best native-speaker level teachers. Students can also master Business Communication styles, perfect their vocabulary at the online Speaking Club or attend to pre-intermediate lessons.

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If you wish to receive a detailed offer on or consultation on Language Learning solutions provided by Wagner Consulting, then please feel free to contact our Sales Team, who will gladly assist you.

Training & Education Division at Wagner Consulting

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