Learning German doesn't have to take years. With the right plan and tools, you can reach conversational level (B1) in about 6 months of focused daily practice. Here's the exact roadmap.
Month 1: Foundation (A1.1)
- Learn 300 most common words with SRS flashcards
- Master basic pronunciation (ch, sch, ü, ö, ä, ß)
- Learn present tense conjugation of 10 core verbs
- Practice: "Ich bin...", "Ich habe...", "Ich möchte..."
- Daily: 20 min flashcards + 10 min pronunciation
Month 2: Building Blocks (A1.2)
- Expand to 600 words, focus on everyday categories
- Learn der/die/das patterns (suffix rules)
- Master Akkusativ case (den, die, das)
- Start basic sentence structure: Subject + Verb + Object
- Daily: 20 min flashcards + 15 min grammar exercises
Month 3: Real Conversations (A2.1)
- Reach 800 words — you now understand 80% of spoken German
- Learn Dativ case and personal pronouns
- Start watching German YouTube with subtitles
- Practice: order food, ask for directions, introduce yourself
- Daily: 15 min flashcards + 15 min listening + 10 min speaking
Month 4-5: Expansion (A2.2 → B1.1)
- Reach 1000+ words — most everyday topics covered
- Learn Perfekt (past tense): ich habe gemacht, ich bin gegangen
- Start reading simple German news (nachrichtenleicht.de)
- Find a language exchange partner (Tandem app)
- Daily: 30 min total (review + new content + production)
Month 6: Consolidation (B1)
- Review and reinforce all learned material
- Watch German shows without subtitles
- Write short paragraphs about daily topics
- Practice phone conversations
- Take a practice B1 exam to measure progress
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TheLernen covers Month 1-4 perfectly: 1000+ words with SRS, conjugation trainer, grammar cheat sheet, and progress tracking — all free.
Try it yourself — free
1000 most important words. AI explanations. Spaced repetition. Fast start.