Want to learn German with Youtube?
There are many ways to learn German. But with so many options out there, which one should you pick?
Youtube has been around for a while now, and since its launch, people have been posting videos in all kinds of languages, which makes it perfect for any language learner.
Why learn German with Youtube
It’s free
Language learning is great and all, but nobody wants to spend a lot of money.
Thankfully, Youtube is still free to access for everyone, even if you do have to watch the occasional ad and close that free trial pop-up.
Pick up what you like
One of the best things about Youtube as a platform is that the amount of content on there is limitless. You can find pretty much any language and every genre on there.
Vloggers, make-up tutorials, animation, drawing tutorials, fashion advice, travel videos, true crime stories, movie analysis, gaming streams and even specified language learning channels.
Whatever it is you are into, you can find it on Youtube and you can find it in your target language.
Real speech
Instead of carefully written language learning podcasts or scripted movies, many Youtube channels are a great representation of what native people sound like when they speak freely or interact with each other. This can be daunting at first, but it is great practice and with the visuals accompanying the sound, it can be a great way to get your language skills to the next level.
Closed captions and playback speed
Some channels offer closed captions with their videos, which makes it a perfect way to practice both your speech and reading skills. It can also help if you aren’t sure what they just said.
Beyond that, you can adjust the playback speed to match your level. Start out slower, and slowly work your way up to real-time speech, or even faster to train your ears.
Cultural immersion
The internet has made worlds that were previously hard to get into easily accessible.
Where you used to have to live in the country of your target language in order to get a peek into the daily lives of native speakers, you can now find thousands of vloggers capturing and explaining their every move on camera.
This makes it a brilliant way to immerse yourself into the culture of your target language. Not only that, but following popular Youtubers might give you something to talk about with native speakers when you do meet them.
It’s fun
One of the most underrated language learning strategies is to make something fun! So many people think learning a language is all about late nights grammar studies and vocab drills.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Language learning works best if you are actually enjoying it. This will make it easier to be consistent and get daily practice. The more you engage with your target language, the more likely you are to succeed in reaching fluency.
There are many people out there today who speak English because beyond their classroom, they interact with it on a daily basis through various sources like Youtube.
They may have had classes in school, but they wouldn’t actually speak it had it not been for the daily practice and interaction with the language.
The best part being, all these interactions didn’t feel like studying but instead felt like entertainment.
How to learn a language with Youtube
Okay, so we’ve gone over the why, now let’s talk about the how.
Beyond the standard “watch videos and learn”, here are a few strategies that might help your language learning process.
1. Let your algorithm know
Find things you like and subscribe to as many channels as you can. This way, you’re Youtube algorithm will notice your new interest and recommend more videos in your target language.
If you choose to receive notifications, you will also receive little reminders to practice when an interesting video comes along.
2. Improve your pronunciation
Use the videos to try and talk along and improve your pronunciation. In vlog like videos, you can often get a good look at how people move their mouths, and try and imitate those movements.
Often we are very used to pronouncing letters a certain way, but the way a “b” or “l” is pronounced in another language might be slightly different. Pay attention, and see what you can learn.
3. Don’t forget the comments
Look at the comments, leave a comment yourself. If you see something you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to leave a comment saying “hey, I am a language learner, could someone explain this to me?” or ask a native speaker what it means.
4. Share your own progress
Why not start your own channel to track your progress? You can join polyglot challenges and ask people for advice on how to improve.
5. Daily practice
If you check in on Youtube every day and make sure to watch at least one video, you can build a solid habit of language practice without feeling like you are putting in a lot of effort. Once a video is clicked, all you have to do is keep watching.
Even though you might miss stuff in the beginning, keeping up a habit like this is definitely going to show results in the long run.
6. Expand the learning
Many Youtube channels have other social media accounts as well. Look in the description and see where else you can add their content to your daily routine.
Maybe there are fan groups you can join, newsletters you can subscribe to, or even podcasts related to your favorite channels. See Youtube as a gateway to the culture of the language you are studying, and try to interact with it accordingly.
15 Channels to follow if you are learning German
1. Learn German with Herr Antrim
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Category: Language Learning
Herr Antrim, a German teacher, has been teaching for over a decade. His fun videos are categorized according to difficulty level, so you can start with your pronunciation with Level A1 then move on to Level A2 for scripted dialogues. Advanced learners can join the live online Master Classes that cover topics such as the genitive case.
2. Easy Online German
Level: Beginner
Category: Language Learning
Easy Online German is a great resource to learn German with Youtube. This is suitable for students looking for a formal lesson style with a native speaker. The host records the episodes from home and occasionally adds in some cartoons and other fun videos, like a song to help you memorize German numbers.
3. GermanPod101
Level: Beginner
Category: Language Learning
GermanPod101 has several playlists to choose from, like the Introduction to German playlist that covers German grammar, pronunciation, and writing. There are also videos such as “Top 10 Phrases your Parents Always Say” or “Top 10 Phrases You’ll Need For A Date”. They have very well produced videos that include helpful on-screen text so you can follow along.
4. Learn German Through Music
Level: Beginner
Category: Kids
This is a good way for your kids to learn German with Youtube as it offers very basic material that’s suitable for children or beginners. Your kids will enjoy some catchy songs to help them remember German numbers, the alphabet, the months of the year, and some verb conjugations.
5. Easy German
Level: Intermediate
Category: Culture & Lifestyle
Easy German is an awesome channel to learn German with Youtube for its casual “man-on-the-street” interviews. In every video, the hosts converse with people about fun or unusual topics such as “How Did You Find Your Profession” or “What Germans Think of Rammstein.” This is great for learning German slang. Each video offers subtitles in English and German, making them easier to follow along with.
6. Don’t Trust The Rabbit
Level: Intermediate
Category: Language Learning
Don’t Trust the Rabbit is hosted by Trixie and is great for students who want to learn about the different German accents. They may not have formal lessons, but Trixie breaks down the differences between dialects in different regions, such as Standard German vs. the Saxon dialect and explains why they are different.
7. Deutschmitjulia
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Category: Education & Business
Deutsch Mit Julia has videos with short dialogues between multiple characters, with transcripts and vocabulary available on their website. There’s also a section on “Business German,” which is great for students who plan to live and work in Germany and want to learn the relevant business lingo.
8. TedX Talks
Level: Advanced
Category: Philosophy, Social Issues, Political, Business
To learn German with Youtube, TedX talks from Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking cities would be great to practice your listening skills. See how much you can follow without looking at the description of the event beforehand.
9. Learn German Fast
Level: Intermediate
Category: Language Learning
Learn German Fast is hosted by Bilal Usman. He has produced videos on dozens of different conversation topics. Even if there’s no on-screen host, it’s still very helpful for practicing some scenarios you might encounter in Germany, such as opening a bank account or sending mail.
10. The Goethe-Institut
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Category: Culture
The Goethe-Institut is a cultural organization in Germany that produces very useful material for language students like, the “Typisch?!” web series, that follows a job-seeker from Spain interviewing at a German company. Iy you are planning to visit Germany for work or business, this is for you!
11. Authentic German Learning
Level: Advanced
Category: Lifestyle & Personal Development
Authentic German Learning is a great video series for those who want to learn German with Youtube if they want to improve their listening skills. There are no English translations at all, so a good grasp of grammar and vocabulary is important before going into it. The host, Mark, “vlogs” about his experiences and personal development.
12. Deutsch Mit Marija
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Category: Language Learning
Marija, is from Latvia and now lives in Germany. This channel is perfect for someone who wants to learn German from a true polyglot as Marija speaks several languages.
13. Learn German With Anja
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Category: Travel & Lifestyle
Learn German with Youtube with a native German speaker that offers FREE introductory courses as well as intermediate vlogs featuring “real life” German. This channel is a good series to watch if you’re not into the traditional language teaching and just want to learn through going on an adventure with a German friend while learning the language along the way.
14. Girls4Teaching
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Category: Culture
Girls 4 Teaching is a YouTube channel, hosted by Eva, that offers lessons on grammar, pronunciation, and culture. It’s suitable for beginners, but some of the advanced lessons are only in German. There are tons of colorful graphics and images to keep you focused and engaged.
15. Free German Lessons
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Category: Language Learning
This free series has several playlists suitable for students from level A1 – C2. It gives a good resource to refresh your memory on specific parts of speech, with creative drawings and graphics used to supplement the material.