German learning roadmap
Welcome to our overview of learning German. Here we’ll give you an overall picture of what to expect on the road to fluency in German. The purpose of this page is to provide a bird’s eye view of the path since it can be confusing (even demoralising) to do exercises without knowing where its taking us. We have more detailed and actionable guides at each level of proficiency linked wherever you want to dive in further. Do also visit our learning efficiently page which covers a number of tactics that apply to language learning in general. This guide an essential complement to these German specific guides.
The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) divides language proficiency into 6 levels. Since this is the most popular framework, we’ll adopt the same terminology. If you intend to take any certification exams, they will almost certainly also be using these same levels. These are:
- A1 (Beginner): You can use simple phrases and introduce yourself
- A2 (Elementary): You can handle routine interactions like shopping and giving directions
- B1 (Intermediate): You can engage in everyday conversations on common topics
- B2 (Upper Intermediate): You can discuss complex topics and communicate confidently in professional settings
- C1 (Advanced): You can express yourself fluently with minimal searching for words
- C2 (Mastery): You have near-native proficiency
Let’s explore what to expect at each level and what to focus on:
A1 Level
What You’ll Develop
- The ability to understand and use basic German sounds and sentence patterns
- Core conversational skills for introducing yourself and basic interactions
- Recognition and use of essential everyday vocabulary
- Foundation in German grammar through practical usage
Key Focus Areas
- Master German pronunciation, especially umlauts (ä, ö, ü) and the ß
- Learn core vocabulary (around 500 words) focusing on everyday situations
- Understand basic sentence structure, particularly the verb-second rule
- Start with nominative and accusative cases, learning nouns with their articles
A2 Level
What You’ll Develop
- The ability to describe your daily life, hobbies, and immediate environment
- Skills to handle common situations while shopping or traveling
- Confidence in using past tense to tell simple stories
- Understanding of how German builds more complex sentences
Key Focus Areas
- Expand vocabulary to about 1,300 words, focusing on daily activities
- Master the perfect tense (Perfekt) for talking about past events
- Learn to use modal verbs and the dative case
- Handle basic conversations about your daily life
B1 Level
What You’ll Develop
- The ability to express opinions and discuss familiar topics in detail
- Skills to handle most situations while traveling in German-speaking countries
- Understanding of native speakers in everyday situations
- Capability to explain your viewpoints and plans
Key Focus Areas
- Build vocabulary to about 2,000 words, including abstract concepts
- Master relative clauses and complex sentence structures
- Learn to express opinions and tell stories
- Understand passive voice and subjunctive mood
B2 Level
What You’ll Develop
- The ability to discuss complex topics with native speakers
- Natural understanding of TV shows, movies, and news programs
- Professional language skills for work environments
- Comfort with different regional accents and expressions
Key Focus Areas
- Master nuanced expressions and idiomatic language
- Handle complex grammar in extended discussions
- Learn academic and professional vocabulary
- Develop comfort with different regional accents and dialects
C1 Level
What You’ll Develop
- The ability to express yourself fluently and spontaneously
- Understanding of implied meanings and cultural references
- Professional and academic language mastery
- Natural use of idiomatic expressions
Key Focus Areas
- Perfect writing style in various formats
- Master subtle grammatical distinctions
- Handle complex academic language
- Use colloquialisms naturally
C2 Level
What You’ll Develop
- Near-native ability to understand and express subtle meanings
- Mastery of cultural and historical references
- Complete comfort with all dialects and registers
- Professional and academic expertise in German
Key Focus Areas
- Master cultural references and subtext
- Handle all dialects and regional expressions
- Perfect academic and professional discourse
- Achieve near-native fluency
Each level builds on the previous one, so it’s important to master the fundamentals before moving forward. Click through to the detailed guides for specific learning strategies and resources for each level.