How to start speaking German: a practical way in for adults
Is German hard? Articles, long words, verbs at the end... Here is how to start learning German by speaking it instead of memorising it.
When people think of German, they usually think of articles first: der, die, das. Then the endless words, and the long sentences where the verb runs off to the very end. That's why so many people start German, spend a few weeks with a grammar book, and give up.
But starting to speak German is much easier than it looks.
German is friendlier than its reputation
- It's (mostly) written the way it sounds: unlike English, when you see a German word you can usually guess how to say it.
- Lots of words you can guess: *Haus, Hand, Wasser, Information, Telefon*. If you speak English, many everyday German words will feel familiar.
- Clear patterns: German has rules, and once you notice them they repeat everywhere. That makes it very learnable once you start using it.
Relax about the articles
Articles matter, but they shouldn't stop you from speaking. If you say "die Tisch" instead of "der Tisch", people will still understand you. Focus on building sentences and saying what you want to say first; the articles settle in as you speak and repeat them.
First steps
- Learn to introduce yourself: your name, where you're from, what you do, why you're learning German.
- Collect ready-made phrases: "Ich möchte…" (I'd like…), "Können Sie…?" (Could you…?), "Ich habe … nicht verstanden" (I didn't understand…).
- Speak out loud: repeat sentences aloud. Your mouth needs time to get used to new sounds.
- Know why you're learning: work, study, moving to Germany, family. Learning towards a goal keeps you going.
German at Bean
German lessons at Bean are built around speaking. There's no fixed coursebook: your teacher chooses the grammar you need and adds listening and reading when it helps. You can reach your teacher directly on WhatsApp.
At Bean you start by having a 30-minute lesson with two different teachers, then choose the one you feel most comfortable with. This first step is 150 TL; it is credited to your first invoice if you continue, and refunded if you're not happy. Lessons are live and one-to-one on Google Meet, can be 30, 45 or 60 minutes, and each month you only pay for the lessons you've had.
Meet our German teachers or try the free speaking test first.