Learning German on your own?
Every app promises fast results. These guides set out what each level actually demands, which tools are worth your time, and where they fall short. German only, for now.
Start with German
- German learning roadmap
What actually changes at each CEFR level from A1 to C2, and a rough sense of how long the whole path takes.
- A1 Guide
What A1 German actually covers, and what's genuinely hard about it for English speakers.
- A2 Guide
What actually changes at A2: dative case, modal verbs, past tense, and where most learners slow down.
- B1 Guide
What changes at B1 German, why self-study learners tend to stall here, and what to work on.
- B2 Guide
What actually changes at B2: Konjunktiv I, nominalisation, and the shift between spoken and written register.
- Recommended Resources
German learning resources by category and level, with the trade-offs of each
- German Study Plan for Busy People
A day-by-day German study plan built around a commute, chores, and family time, not a spare hour that doesn't exist.
Tool reviews
- DW Nicos Weg review
What German learners on r/German and elsewhere report about Deutsche Welle's free Nicos Weg course, and how they actually use it.
- Pimsleur German review
What learners report about Pimsleur for German: unusually good pronunciation, thin vocabulary, and a clear ceiling.